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Ladies and gentlemen I should I would liken it to. A man we are proud to have on this program is one of New York's leading philanthropist industrialist and a connoisseur of the arts and the most devoted citizen having set a fine example of good citizenship in many ways so he qualifies with high honors for the chairmanship of I am an American today I give you see Michael Palm. Fellow Americans it is my privilege to greet you on this day Mayor Wagner proclaimed I am an American throughout the city of New York in order to have our ceremonies here today so that the greatest number of our citizens could participate especially young men and women who have come over age during the past year and foreign born New Yorkers who were granted citizenship during the year you know there is no greater obligation on Americans than the grave and solemn responsibility of citizenship when we say the words I am an American we do not only with a feeling of deep inner pride but with an implied challenge to those who are seeking to destroy our way of life I see these words not in a fighting spirit we do not seek to tell others how to conduct their daily affairs we are not in peril to impose our philosophy of daily living on other nations but Richelle tolerate no interference. With the basic principles that were laid down by the Founding Fathers when they sat in the fact that all men are created equal under God and should have equal opportunities. It godless form of government has no place now nor will it ever have in our society we have created. The greatest nation in all of recorded history. And faith in human dignity and in the spirit of decency compassion and understanding of our fellow human beings. Saw this thing when we are gathered here to observe by fitting ceremonies I am an American they let us remind ourselves as Americans that throughout our history we were never aggressors that we were defenders of the weak that we sought to creed harmonious relationship. Between all peoples It is true we have not succeeded fully but we shall not be deflected from our course until we have attained our objectives but of course each day brings new problems a turbulent world seems to be groping for bodies that appear elusive. Trade has placed us in the position of war leadership. We are on the way towards a goal which all free people desire I pray that those in other countries who do not see without. Will eventually take their place with those who believe that human freedom it's the only possible way of life. If you want to continue to make the only progress to make progress towards the ice idea you. Rooting through American isn't as the chairman of this event I say the words I am an American truly proud of it and being so I echo the feelings of all Americans May God guide us in the days ahead in our dedicated purpose to keep the peoples of our nation free Thank you. It is my pleasure and I'll chatter that I'll master ceremonies for this part of the day. As you remember him as one of the costars of the smash musical Guys and Dolls you have seen him in many pictures currently your hear him over W. N.B.C. and every evening you know what makes Sammy Run. Gentleman our good friend Mr Robert. Thank you. Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the festivities here for I am an American Day or citizenship days of but in all first of all I must compliment this great orchestra here they've been doing a grand job all afternoon which is like to give them a nice big round of applause. It's not easy to blow into the hot sun believe me it gets a little especially when you have a little bit of a well right. However it is my pleasure to be here with you the Saft and I believe this has been going on since one thousand nine hundred forty one every year we have an American Day Citizenship Day and this gentleman standing by here who I think has been attending each and every one of them if he's missed any it's only been one or two because he couldn't make it and he was here in spirit if not in body however this gentleman really doesn't have to go down the list of credits that he has because he's a fine man he's officially known as Mr New York let's say hello to one of the finest kind of gentlemen of all Mr Harry Hearst dear. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen thank you Mr all the distinguished guests and your all distinguished guests if you are Americans remember. It takes a lot of courage to follow man like all the and those who will still be here and while we're on the subject this wonderful sanitation band who have to sweat it out today the same as you do. Our commander in chief of this great band to celebrate his orchestra has given a hand into. You know I say it takes a lot of courage but I've got the right courage to tell you why I have the same courage that when the war was over in the Pacific in a saloon there were some American airmen in walked a Japs and he said I was enemy and Japanese army war is over let us be friends so they shook hands and the American said to him What is your name he said Charmayne. He said Charmayne What did you do in the Japanese army he said I was kamikaze flyer he said Charmayne you're a liar if you were a kamikaze flyer you wouldn't be here now they were a suicide squad he said I'm kicking child. I am not going to talk politics today and it will be no politics today but it tell you why I'm going to talk politics and my own point of view remember the Finnegan who was dying and the priest leaned over to him and said Are you ready to confess he said Yes I was a drinker and I was a runner and all I was terrible I was the way I was everything so the preacher said Are you ready now to denounce the devil he said this is no time to antagonize anybody. And you know what's the trouble with today everybody talks too much including myself now there's a time to be quiet and there's a very famous story on that. You know they were having a where they take you for twenty five dollars to for a ride you know the pilot takes around the city a Scotchman his wife come on the field they look over the plane but they don't go up to twenty five dollars Finally the pilot comes over and said I suppose you and your wife would like to go up for nothing said yes said Are you by chance Scotch said just we are we're Scotch he said I tell you what I'll do this right cost twenty five dollars I'll take you and your wife up for nothing but I give you a challenge I'm going to be pretty rough up there if either of you utter one word when you're up in that sky with me you'll pay fifty dollars when you come down he says would take the chance so what they go and oh they loop de loop they die boy it's a terrible situation for two hours finally come down in the pilot said well you when you didn't say anything he said I came near talking when my wife fell out. And now we have all races in creeds here as it should be. And will be in this country of ours and they tell a great story and this is a complimentary story for the negroes usually the stories are not complimentary but this one is two negroes are discussing the pope and one said I hear the Pope is a very powerful man is he powerful he said the most powerful man in the world the pope is I tell you how powerful he is that in Italy has a city all to himself called Vatican City that's how powerful he is Fela said who keeps him so powerful he said the cardinals the other one says Why don't the Giants do some for Willie Mays. Now one of our But my own people not my own people we got trouble too you know. There's a guy named Nash. And I heard. There's only one Jewish family left in Israel and Egypt. And the boy the Jewish boy comes home with a bad report card so the father said this I can understand a Jewish boy with a bad report card for three thousand years no matter how we were beaten no matter how we were chased we took up education and you a Jewish boy what a bad report card he said Papa you know the Arab boys in the class they know I am Jewish so they keep interrupting me so I can study father said anything for your future I'm going to convert you you're going to become an Arab So the boy becomes an Arab the next month he comes back with a worse report card even father said was the excuse this time he said you know papa we Arabs don't learn as fast as the Jewish boys. I'll give you one more thing going to give me I'm going to do so an act in a minute but anyway here it's a nice warm day we needed the sunshine over the months you got it maybe a little too much at one time but we've got it and naturally above everything else in America health got to keep this nation healthy for the future and what we must face always in that condition and everybody should take a check up so I heard of a poll in a Murphy goes for a kick up he gets the usual questions this that always sleeps and then they take a cardiogram of them and in case you don't know hope you don't have to a cardiogram is a long film and it shows up and down little dots how your heart works so he says this is wonderful Can I take this home to show to my wife so he brings this roll of film and he puts it on the table before he can show it to her she sends him out for an errand when he comes back it's gone he said where is the cardiogram said What do you mean that long filled that role she said I put it in the player piano. Said in The Player Piano suggestively played Nearer My God. It is now my pleasure to reintroduce to you a gentleman I understand you met earlier he is the honorable C. Michael Paul and he is chairman of one nine hundred sixty five I am an american day Colonel Paul. Well we shall proceed with the program now. In our comp to the address and also the legions which will be given by one of our. Two guests of honor who are veterans of the war in South Korea Sergeant First Class Herbert J. Bray now Attash of the first army of Governors Island. And before Sergeant Bray speeds through say hello to another veteran from Vietnam I'm a major Judge Young Judge Young when you're pretty bright. Edgy are. A. Funny guy. They have and had before them like you young Americans here the promise of a pole light which can be found only in our democratic system our military men and our No one million of them serving overseas know all of the daily fear that is part of the life of every combat man and yet they are not afraid to risk their lives for the democratic way of life and what it stands for we who have had the honor and privilege of serving our country overseas and returned with a deeper and more solemn understanding of what American citizenship me and what obligations this heritage carries with it American citizenship is not something to be taken lightly it is the richest gift anyone can have I'm not going to ask you to honor our servicemen who are overseas by showing them and demonstrate to them that we are all united by standing with me and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the fly of the United States of America and to all the nation. Just that one nation under God. With liberty and. Justice for all thank you. Fellow Americans I now have the honor to introduce a man who is the son of an immigrant who became one of the greatest and most beloved United States senators in our history the chief executive of New York City. The Honorable Robert F. Watch thank you thank you very much my good friend Colonel Michael Paul reverend clergy I guess excellencies and BAS of the council the core members of the judiciary. And representatives of the people offices and members of the unions and civic and political organizations and friends we are gathered here is we now to celebrate I am an American Day which was initiated twenty six years ago by the city of New York in conjunction with the New York Journal America today we honor newly naturalized citizens and new voters this day and this occasion are dedicated to them by which I mean to you to you assembled here and to the hundreds and thousands of others throughout the city who have recently become American citizens by naturalization and that very great number of young New Yorkers who have gained the right to vote by reaching their twenty first year under the joint sponsorship of the city of New York and that patriotic newspaper publisher is here to Kingsbury Smith and Mr Hawes Shorenstein who is another important man in that paper The New York Journal American we reaffirm our faith and representative government and democracy in freedom and in all of the other crucial values which we claim and assert for America nor is out of keeping with the character and spirit of this occasion for those assembled here to now and affirm their appreciation of those special benefits of living in the city and community of New York. I am confident that all of you assembled here today know what it means to be an American I do not mean just the usual facts about our form of government its structure and how it works I mean that I hope you now have the feeling of being Americans and that is a feeling of pride a feeling of hope for your life and the life of your family a feeling of confidence that your future is what you can make of it and the future of this city and country what you can help to make of it you and all of the other citizens of New York and of America I am sure that those of you who have come from countries that were born in countries which are under the heel of tyranny deeply appreciate the feeling of being an American you appreciate it more than many native born Americans you can tell some of us what freedom really means we who have enjoyed freedom all of our lives are sometimes inclined to over look at this value Saft unknown I want to put into very concrete and short terms what freedom and democracy mean in America and particularly what these values mean in our city I want to tell you I've chosen New York City as your home what being a citizen member of this great community means it means that you have a voice in the largest and most complex municipal government in the world which offers the greatest number of services to its citizens of any city in the world and cost the most to operate of any city in the world it will cost the city of New York Post to four billion dollars to operate in the year ahead. And almost all of that vast sum of money is to be spent on providing various kinds of services for the people police services Hospital and Health Services Housing Services street cleaning and garbage removal services firefighting services business services mass transportation services traffic services and lots more this government with its vast array of direct services to the people is yours the services are for you and it is a government of by and for the people all city officials are accustomed to meeting with citizens as individuals and as groups to answer their questions to help solve their problems and to hear their complaints the city government is the level of government closest to the people and he said citizen can gain the attention of the mayor by writing a letter to him the voice of every citizen as he did all the year round and once every four years which happens to be this year all voters can render their judgment at the polls and decide whether to endorse or reject the policies programs and performance of those who seek the privilege and responsibility of conducting the city affairs for an interval of four years New York City consists of more than eight million people of eighty three different neighborhoods of more than six thousand miles of streets of eight hundred and seven thousand buildings it includes within its limits the greatest collection of wealth of any city in the world yet it also includes hundreds of thousands of people living under conditions of poverty. We have find homes for the rich and also some fine homes from people who are people of moderate income and for poor people too we also have slums we have problems and you who have become first citizens and first voters have assumed an equal responsibility with the rest of us for helping to solve these problems you must participate in the affairs of government and of the political party of your choice your greatest obligation and responsibility as a citizen of New York is to live in peace and harmony with your neighbors of whatever national origin race color or creed this city contains the greatest variety of people in the world this is the sauce of our distinctiveness and is also our pride you come from many lands contribute to our variety and distinctiveness you must do your part by being a good neighbor to all your neighbors this is one of the first principles of Americanism our Declaration of Independence says that all men were created free and equal we must all practice that principle as well as preach it that is the challenge of your new citizenship you are now part of America which now belongs as much to you is to me. Let us all stand together to protect and preserve America home of freedom of equality of democracy and equal opportunity for all the land of the free and the home of the brave good luck and God bless us. Of a surprise. I want to present to you thanks a lot of you members of great American family. You had a phone and already. You want to give me the following. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen we are always in the hands of God No matter what's going on and at this moment we get the reading of the Scriptures by the rabbi of the west side is situational synagogue Dr Herbert Goldstein. Thank you. Mayor. Ladies and gentlemen I have a little story to tell you I just came here by taxi and unfortunately left my Bible in the taxi. And I happen to know that song in Hebrew by heart and my son who sat next to me he and I improvised the translation without reading the text I shall now read something I think is very appropriate for today this is I am an american day and we want to be thankful to God each and every one of us every day that we are Americans. Who were. Shout out to the Lord. The Lord with joy come before him with exultation No he that he is God The Lord is our God He has made us we are his people his flock come to him come to his gates with thanks giving and I do wish cards with praise give thanks to him bless his name for the law is good and his loving kindness and jurors for ever more. Us. Interests of ceremonies is a girl whose face you know just as well as if she were one of your family her name is better Leslie and she's currently appearing on Broadway in the smash comedy mystery play at the Morocco theater Catch Me If You Can Well we're lucky we caught her today she has been on Broadway in nine years and it's about time she's been in the films Captain Newman M D N A rage to live and on television you'll remember her as a regular on the Richard Boone show and she's appeared on Ben Casey and Perry Mason and checkmate and Gunsmoke and Have Gun Will Travel on the Bob Hope Chrysler show and all the rest here is the lovely Miss Leslie. I would a marvelous day to be back in New York. And New York it's great fun to be home. A very gifted young artist as our next attraction he's a singer in seven languages as well as a concert pianist he's one of the rarities of the entertainment world you seen him on The Ed Sullivan Show on The Tonight Show his records have been most successful He recently returned from a four week tour of Israel and is currently headlining the show with Jack Silverman's International we bring you now Mr Neil Sedaka. Equal. With the. Thank you. Thank you very much. Of thing in his eyes should be thankful for. I was goodly. And now as I sit. In the comfort. Of. My fine she takes me to. What he saw night it. Three flights up in the ring. To where my childhood were spared and it wasn't much like me but. I wove them. So the sweetest thing. One. That I find Lee. My. Money. I need her more than ever now. MA I. Was on. I love to kiss her ring. I. Was. Housing days gone by. And I ask. You to forgive me. For things I did it that made her cry. Me. How few. Well her. She. Fashioned. Her chewed I heard. She found them it. Was. On. That I. What I. Was to that. Lady. Saw. Him. Me too that one. Of my name. In a. Bone. In it hard on. I. Give a. Shit. Extra special pleasure to introduce the next. It's. Late the greatest thing that ever happened to me is taken to see the show. And it was great. Getting dressed up and going to the nearest hamburger. For the first. And I brought her here. From California this year and she had exactly the same reaction I had it was just marvelous she was just sitting there like a princess in a tower watching the Radio City Music Hall and she was here at Christmas which was especially marvelous because as you all know the Christmas show Radio City Music Hall is always miraculous So this year and incidentally Mr Russell Downing has been marvelous over the past several years to why an American Day here in the in the park he's always provided the Radio City Music Hall show for us or at least part of it and we have deeply appreciated and this year. He has sent us some of the chief attractions which are now playing at the Radio City we have the B W I A son Jack's the Julia Edwards Trinidad limbo dancers and the Radio City Music Hall Devon airs featuring ALAN KOHLER And Barbara Washington we are very grateful to have them and if you are like I am you'll be sitting on the edge of your seats waiting for you already. I guess they're ready. To. Do it this summer. Come come come. Play the. Riverside. You usually. Follows a sixty hour week. He. Was all over the place you on the way. You come. Here. Yes now. Oh yes. He's. Among them. Now do you kiss you on that Tuesday Tuesday or should. Or should you. Say Thursday Friday and Saturday is past. So you can see that the sun some time now oh. Yeah. That. Yellow Sun. Just. Come. Yes. The sun may not. Yet. Yeah yes. Oh yes. A. Bow wow wow wow wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. That was told. That. When stuff. Starts to. You now see. The. Spouse. Now just laugh out loud. Now. Now just now. Station you know these things happen. Here. Ladies and gentlemen. These are the B.W.I. a son jets the fellas here in purple are playing down at the Radio City Music Hall Well I couldn't get their instruments up here so where we have another contingent here which is called The New York B.W.I. a sun jets and they kindly very kindly consented to come here and play this afternoon now the first number was as you. Could tell was the theme from Exodus they will play for you now the very popular very lovely artist's life. With. Only one. Let. Me let. Me. For. The. Final. Also on the show at the Music Hall you have a very charming young lady who sings this number in a very very lush cafe scene Well we don't have a cafe here so you're going to have to use your imagination singing a song Harry Belafonte made famous coconut woman let's have a nice welcome for Barbara Washington.