Long Island Jewish Hospital Groundbreaking Ceremonies

New York Mayor Robert F. Wagner at the dedication of the new home of the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 4, 1959.

The groundbreaking of the research facilities for Long Island Jewish Hosptial (LIJH). Speakers include: LIJH's Jack Liebowitz, Irving Felt, President of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, Eugene Nickerson, county executive of Nassau County, Dr. Peter [Roges], executive director of LIJH, and Mayor Robert Wagner.

Host Jack Liebowitz laments that the festivities will not go on for days. He will preside over the afternoon's festivities. He thanks the attendees for coming.

Richard Tucker sings the national anthem with the Merchant Marine Band.
Rabbi Sandro of Temple Beth-El will provide the invocation.

[There is a gap in the audio]

Liebowitz notes the milestone in the hospital's development. We are 11 years into its existence. The idea began in the 1940s for a medical center in Queens/Long Island. A number of founders are in attendance. He names some of the prominent attendees. The hospital is a place where education and research goes along with patient care.

He talks about the growth of the hospital - it had a greater occupancy than any other hospital in NYC, necessitating its expansion. The expanded buildings include a research building. Funding came from both private donors and the federal government.
He counts the number of people attending at 700.
The program will cost 15 million dollars - there is a long way to go.

Liebowitz introduces the President of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. The LIJH is the first hospital built since the Federation came together. The President is Irving Mitchell Felt.

Felt is grateful to be a part of the LIJH and the Federation, and of the opening of the teaching and research facilities building. The building is part of a City of Life Building Campaign. He notes other buildings that are part of the City of Life program. This is the largest philanthropic effort every undertaken anywhere according to Felt. He recounts the link between the LIJH and the Federation.
Felt pays tribute to the founding president of the hospital, Saul Epstein. The auditorium is dedicated to Epstein and his wife. The pavilion is dedicated to Liebowitz' wife Rose, former president of the Women's Service Guild.
He thanks Ben Schwartz and his brothers for their donation of the Samuel and Lina Schwartz Research Institute.
Felt thanks those who have made the Federation and the LIJH, one.

Liebowitz notes the arrival of Mayor Wagner, who he argues holds the second most important position in America. He notes Wagner's concern for the people of New York.

Wagner jokes about the rain. He thanks those who have been working on the LIJH. He talks about the partnership began last July (1964) with the LIJH and NYC - the LIJH would take over for a failing Queens hospital. He talks about Medicare's potential impact on health care in the United States. He talks about change in the health care and the LIJH's role in providing it. He talks about the changing demographics in Long Island and in New York City.
The LIJH is different from the majority of community hospitals in three respects:
1. Department heads are full-time
2. There is an emphasis on teaching. It is the only teaching hospital in Long Island
3. It is a research hospital, doing more research than hospitals two or three times its size.
He thanks president Jack Liebowitz and Peter [Roges] and his staff for putting together the teacher's college.
[There is a cut in the audio]
Wagner reads a proclamation in honor of LIJH, naming the day Long Island Jewish Hospital day.

Liebowitz reads letters to people who could not attend, including Nelson Rockefeller, Senator Robert f. Kennedy, Senator Jacob Javits, He introduces Eugene H Nickerson.

Nickerson jokes about the whether in Nassau county (following Wagner's joke). He notes the importance of the union of Nassau and NYC in the LIJH. He talks about Nassau's pride in the hospital. 1/3 of its patients are from Nassau and 75% of employees are from Nassau County. He talks about the importance of its unique clinics for Long Island. He talks about the surprising relative youth the hospital.

[There is a gap in the audio]

Liebowitz introduces Dr. Peter Roges, executive director of the hospital.

Roges thanks his staffers for putting together the day's events. Roges talks about the role of the community hospital. He notes the idea of the Great Society. The LIJH is a microcosm of the Great Society. Excellence of Care, Education, and Research are the foci of the LIJH. He draws out the LIJh is Great Society metaphor. He notes its many unique programs, especially for handicapped children, and its educational role. He discusses near and distant goals


Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection


WNYC archives id: 150577
Municipal archives id: T1365