For Immediate Release

“ America’s Victoria” released on DVD

 More than a century after she became the first woman to run for president, the controversial and colorful Victoria Woodhull is chronicled in a compelling documentary produced by Victoria Weston

 Atlanta, Ga. – This is a story of a diverse and bold woman many would call a true original. Unfazed by numerous detractors and undaunted by the scandals which seemingly shadowed her, she thrived in a world dominated by men and was brazen enough to run for president.

More than a century before Hillary Clinton emerged as a favorite to become the inaugural female president in American history, Victoria Woodhull (who lived from 1838-1927) was the first woman to pursue the nation’s most powerful office. Promoting a platform that touted free love, labor reform and equal rights for women (at a time when the suffrage movement was prominent), Woodhull declared her candidacy in 1872 about 50 years before women were granted the right to vote.

A current-day reporter described her as a mixture of Hillary Clinton, Madonna, Heidi Fleiss and Margaret Thatcher. Woodhull is believed to be the first woman to argue before Congress and open a stock brokerage firm on Wall Street.

In an age when sex was a taboo subject, Woodhull was also among the first women to publish a newspaper, which she used to advocate a single sexual standard for men and women (or free love), the legalization of prostitution, birth control and marriage reform. The radical feminist created so much controversy that she was labeled “Mrs. Satan.”

A colorful and historic life like Woodhull’s should be illustrated on film, Victoria Weston believed. A multi-faceted and contemporary woman in her own right – she is an author, motivational speaker and film producer specializing in intuition; and a psychic consultant to corporations – Weston was so captivate by Woodhull’s story that she decided to chronicle it for a new generation. The result is “ America’s Victoria: Remembering Victoria Woodhull,” a feature-length documentary produced and directed by Weston, whose company is Zoie Films (www.zoiefilms.com).

Previously aired on PBS and Canadian broadcast outlets, the first documentary about Woodhull’s life is now available on DVD. “ America’s Victoria” showcases rare archival images. Woodhull sought high-profile names to appear in the project. Actress Kate Capshaw performs the voiceover of Woodhull's own words, and there are illuminating interviews with historians contemporary feminist Gloria Steinem to present an accurate portrait about a woman mostly forgotten in history.

“Victoria Woodhull’s life is inspirational because she accomplished a great deal with intuition and passion. She was not afraid to share what she believed in and was not deterred by a negative public perception,” said Weston, who has lived in the Atlanta area for more than 20 years. "Her story is especially relevant at a time when Hillary Clinton has a legitimate chance to become American’s first female president.”

If a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket arises in 2008, it will not be the first time a woman and an African-American joined together for a presidential bid. In 1872, Woodhull and former slave Frederick Douglass were nominated by the Equal Rights Party.

Long before she sought the highest political office, Woodhull was born in Ohio to a life on the road. Since her parents ran a traveling medicine show, she did not attend school. Instead, she was self-taught and gained wealth by telling fortunes, performing faith healings and selling medicines.

Woodhull, whose original name was Victoria Claflin, married Canning Woodhull when she was 15. The marriage was unpleasant, and though divorcees were stigmatized and ostracized at the time, Victoria ended the union. Eventually, Woodhull married again and moved to New York City, where she established the Wall Street brokerage company with her sister, Tennessee. They opened the firm with financial assistance from millionaire benefactor Cornelius Vanderbilt, who was romantically linked to the beautiful Woodhull.

The women were hailed as the “Queens of Finance” by a New York newspaper. Woodhull capitalized on her notoriety and founded The Woodhull & Claflin’s Weekly in 1870. It was a perfect vehicle for her to express viewpoints that promoted everything from free love and sex education to the women’s suffrage movement and improved conditions for workers.

Woodhull’s newspaper was the first to print Karl Marx's ''Communist Manifesto'' in English. She championed issues like profit sharing and the eight-hour workday, and in 1871 spoke before Congress on behalf of the International Workingman’s Association, becoming the first woman to do so.

When she ran for president in 1872, Woodhull was 34, a year younger than the minimum age required by the Constitution. Vanderbilt used his significant influence to allow his mistress to pursue the presidency. Part of her platform involved the radical idea of free love, which endorsed sexual equality for women, or, as Woodhull explained, “the natural right to love whom I may…for as long or as short a period as I can, to change that love every day if I want'.”

Woodhull’s views, which were influenced by her unhappy first marriage to an alcoholic and philandering husband, were misconstrued, Weston thinks.

“People called her promiscuous and a prostitute, but free love was not about sexual promiscuity. It was centered on love, and not having to be constrained to an unpleasant relationship,” Weston said. “She saw pitfalls in contractual marriage, based on what she endured with her first husband. She felt that, if love diminishes, a person should be able to leave without the restrictions of that marriage contract.”

Woodhull’s strong stances on free love, civil rights, labor reform and the abolition of capital punishment gained support among socialists and unionists, but her radical thinking turned away well-known leaders of the woman’s suffrage movement like Susan B. Anthony. Douglass did not end up running with Woodhull, but his addition to the ticket hurt her chances, as did the fact that her promiscuous reputation kept her from being placed on the ballot.

Interestingly, Woodhull was tossed in jail with her sister, Tennessee, two days before the election. Henry Ward Beecher, a renowned minister, condemned Woodhull’s free love philosophy in his sermons. When a female member of his church disclosed to one of Woodhull’s associates that she was having an affair with the pastor, Woodhull wrote an article about Beecher’s hypocrisy. Woodhull, her husband and her sister were arrested and jailed for sending obscene material through the mail.

Woodhull divorced again in 1876 and moved to England with her sister. She married once more, published a magazine called The Humanitarian and retired to a serene English country village after the death of her husband before she died in 1927.

Weston - who also produced The Intuitive Factor; Genius or Chance and a series of audio tapes titled Intuition One on One, and wrote a book about predictions called “Into the Future: The Next Millenium” - launched the first online film festival of award-winning independent films, documentaries and animated pictures from around the world with the Zoie Films Festival (www.zoiefilms.com). “ America’s Victoria” is a personal favorite because she identifies with Woodhull’s intuitive passion.

“Victoria Woodhull was a clairvoyant who offered stock tips and I’m a psychic who is brought in to give advice to corporate executives,” Weston explained. “If she was alive today, I believe that she would feel gratified that a woman is a leading contender to be president. She would undoubtedly be in the center of the election herself.”

For more information about " America's Victoria: Remembering Victoria Woodhull," visit www.VictoriaWoodhull.org. Watch a clip at http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1243777133]

About Victoria lynn Weston
In addition to being a recognized intuitive and psychic consultant , Victoria lynn Weston has produced a series of film/video documentaries whose works include " America's Victoria, Remembering Victoria Woodhull" featuring Gloria Steinem and Kate Capshaw. And,"The Intuitive Factor; Genius or Chance" featuring Gary Zukav and parapsychologist Jeffrey Mishlove. These programs were featured on PBS Television, The Wisdom Channel and Canadian Broadcasts. As a producer, she launched the first online film festival showcasing award winning independent films, documentaries, animations from around the world in an annual Zoie Films Festival [www.ZoieFilms.com]. In addition to utilizing the world-wide internet for Zoie Films Festival, she launched Zoie Cellular Cinema Festival where telco subscribers including Sprint could download film shorts for the "cell screen" in the US and Pacific Rim area. Victoria has been a radio host of "Power Predictions" in Atlanta, Georgia and a featured guest on dozens of radio, television shows and print media including; the Atlanta PARADE magazine, The Atlanta Business Journal, ABC Talk Radio; CNBC; BUSINESS WEEK Online; INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE, WIRED NEWS and THE NEW YORK TIMES.

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Media Contact:

Victoria lynn Weston

Zoie Films, Inc.

404.816.0602 * vweston@bellsouth.net