Ludwig Erhard, Chancellor German Federal Republic is welcomed at NYC City Hall by Transit Commissioner Charles Patterson and Mayor Robert Wagner. Wagner confers upon Erhard the Gold Medal of the city of New York.
Commissioner Charles Patterson notes the strong relationships between the United States, New York, and Germany. He then introduces the mayor.
Wagner thanks Patterson and greats the crowd. It is a privilege to greet Erhard. He notes Erhard's role in Germany's miraculous economic recovery. He notes his statesmanship and his role as a friend of democracy during the cold war. Wagner notes Germany's ties with New York, tying in his own Germany heritage. Wagner bestows on the chancellor, the gold medal of the city of New York.
Commissioner Patterson introduces Ludwig Erhard. Erhard gives his speech in his native German. He gave the mayor a map of Germany.
A translator gives an English version of Erhard's speech.
Erhard thanks Wagner for his welcome and the gold medal.Erhard refers to their shared "tragic hours" and that they are now "faithful allies." He talks about the common moral, sociological, and economic ideas they share. He notes that the US has extended its hand to Europe, including Germany, after it destroyed itself. He tells us that he will be meeting President Johnson.
He turns to address New York, which he feels reflects problems found everywhere in the world, problems being solved by Wagner and others. The more Germany inches to American life the more they notice that they have much to learn, especially in transportation. He talks about the density of populations in Germany, something shared with New York.
Whenever he comes to the US, he feels inspired by its spirit, to which he is dearly akin. He talks about the shared ideal of freedom in Germany and the US.
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 150581
Municipal archives id: T1421