Columbia, Mo.ÑFrom the iconographic to the unexpected, sixty-seven photographs capturing the U.S. presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to George W. Bush have been assembled in an exhibit that will be featured at presidential debate sites in the coming weeks.

"The Presidential Image: 60 Years of the Best of White House Photography" showcases presidential images from the archives of Pictures of the Year International, one of the world's largest and most highly respected photojournalism competitions. Famous photographs such as young John F. Kennedy Jr. saluting his father's casket are contrasted with seldom seen and often revealing images of the U.S. president, the most photographed human being in the world.

"It is a wonderful set of pictures and a great stimulus and backdrop for discussions about our history, the political process and how we remember these world leaders," said David Rees, director of Pictures of the Year International.

Produced by the Missouri School of Journalism and the University of Miami School of Communication, "The Presidential Image" is being exhibited in several Columbia locations prior to being shown at the first two 2004 presidential debate venues at the University of Miami on September 30 and Washington University on October 8. It will be on display in Lee Hills Hall on the MU campus September 1-7, at Boone County National Bank September 8-15 and at the Roger B. Wilson Boone County Government Building September 16-24. Boone County National Bank is sponsoring the exhibit's Columbia tour.

Voter registration drives will be held in conjunction with the exhibit the evenings of September 16 and 23, during the Columbia Twilight Festival.

"The Presidential Image" was designed by David Griffin, design director for U.S. News & World Report and a 2004 POYi judge. Other corporate sponsors include MSNBC, Fuji Film and National Geographic, which printed the exhibit.

Founded in 1944, Pictures of the Year International serves as an educational medium through its seminars, exhibits, books, online presence and work with university students. Its rich visual archive contains more than 34,000 of the world's great photographs of the past six decades. srael and the Palestinian territories, as well as images from Iraq.

Contact:

David Rees, Director, Pictures of the Year International
(573) 882-3635

Mary Wilkerson, Vice President of Marketing, Boone County National Bank
(573) 874-8100

Wendy Noren, Boone County Clerk
(573) 886-4295