Feels Sure: Teamsters Union Vice President James Riddle Hoffa (1913-?1975) (right) seeking election as president during the Organizations Convention, Miami Beach, Florida 1957

Curator: Here we see "Feels Sure: Teamsters Union Vice President James Riddle Hoffa," snapped by United Press during a convention in Miami Beach. The black and white really amplifies the almost vaudevillian quality of the scene, doesn’t it? Editor: It does! The hats are wild. They look like car parts! What was Hoffa like? Curator: Larger than life, and about as subtle as a speeding truck. This photo captures that ambition, that "I’ve got this" confidence, just before things got, shall we say, complicated. Look at the supporters’ faces - do you see blind faith or skepticism? Editor: Good question! I see both. He looks pretty pleased in any case. Curator: It's a fascinating glimpse into a very particular moment in American history, a moment filled with hope and hubris, isn't it? Editor: Definitely a lot more going on here than I first thought.