The new film from documentary filmmaker Ken Burns centers on President Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address and won’t air until next year. However, for some early publicity for the film, Burns has gathered celebrities and politicians to recite the address, which takes less than two minutes to read.
A mashup video features all living presidents, starting with President Barack Obama. George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton also appear. Politicians like Senator Jay Rockefeller, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Senator Marco Rubio took part as well.
An eclectic group of celebrities also signed on, including comedians Louis C.K. and Stephen Colbert, singer Taylor Swift and actress Alyssa Milano. Whoopi Goldberg, Uma Thurman Robin Roberts, Lincoln director Steven Spielberg, Martha Stewart and Rita Moreno are some others.
According to USA Today, the video was posted on Learn The Address, where Burns urges all americans to learn the address, which turns 150 next year. The full addresses from each celebrity and politician are also available there.
Burns’ latest film is The Address, which is about a small school in Vermont that has its students memorize and recite the Address. Burns, whose most famous work is the epic Civil War documentary, also looks at the history of Lincoln’s speech.
The new documentary airs in Spring 2014.
image: YouTube screenshot