
Robert Moses and Charles Poletti

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This episode is from the WNYC archives. It may contain language which is no longer politically or socially appropriate.
Commissioner Robert Moses talks about plans for the upcoming World's Fair in Flushing Meadows. He comments about the presence of foreign nations at the Fair and how the world has changed since WWII - notably the creation of new nations. Moses also speaks very highly of former New York Governor Charles Poletti, who worked on the International Area of the Fair.
Charles Poletti speaks of the excellent Fair staff who have visited many countries to develop the International Area. He says he believes that more countries will be represented at this fair than at any other international exhibition. He speaks about the goal of the Fair: to learn more about the other people of the world.
Poletti refers to countries that are not participating in the Fair because they are members of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). In the case of some of these nations they will be represented by private companies, essentially serving as a substitution for their governments (countries that did not participate include Canada, Australia, most of the major European nations and the Soviet Union, as well as many countries of Latin America). Poletti states passionately that he believes it is a mistake for these countries to not participate.
Questions and Answers follow.
Questions and Answers follow.
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 70495
Municipal archives id: T238
This is a machine-generated transcript. Text is unformatted and may contain errors.
And now it's my great pleasure to welcome to our Overseas Press Club weekly luncheon one of the men who has made. A contribution to the brighter and up a more modern life that we are all enjoying here in New York in a fashion that the very few others in our time and it could have dreamed of equally. It is a very great pleasure indeed for me to ask Mr Moses to speak to us. The other day over a playoff walled off they have a. A.T.O. birthday celebration for Rube Goldberg the cartoonist I don't know who the speakers were going to be and I had a vague notion that I might be roped in to be one of them and I really didn't have anything to say excepting of we all love brood but I found that the principal speaker was to be Bishop Sheen. I made the remark that if you're going to be on the platform with Bishop Sheen be sure to speak before he speaks I feel the same way about Bill a second off. I don't want to chew off a lot of time talking about the affair generally because you really want to hear from Governor Polani because he's in full charge of the international section. You're all familiar with theme and the themes of World's Fairs are always the same and gets started to play shades of semantics. Where all aiming at peace through international friendship The question is how do you how do you get out how do you implement. A more. Simpler more homely. Metaphor. Is afforded by the Olympic Games and I like to use that for the Olympic Games. From the early days of the order of an opportunity for people of all kinds and breeds to bring their best athletes the best performers. To some central place they all compete they're on equal terms. They're all supposed to be have the amateur spirit of police. And. That is what we're aiming at at the World's Fair we tell our industries bring your best products we tell the farm people to bring the best day out and they this show will not be rigged in favor of any particular. American or otherwise and. That in the nature of things leads to all sorts of friendships and understanding and in the end we hope will. Do a job on to the interest of peace. And a great deal as happened only. Far in field as you know better than we do in the last in the years of State of the Second World War. One of the astonishing things of course has been the emergence of. New nations new Republicans. It's not for me to say whether they can accomplish what they have in mind of the time of the play of set aside now I have some skepticism and doubt about that. I recall something which our boys in the fair talk about a good deal of. It has to do with a representative of one of the small countries copped out of the Sahara Desert and under French auspices and influence for many years. The man who represented them here the connection with a up a video affair. Talked about Heroes program for some two million two and a half million people and now I said to him I don't want to be. Impudent. Now I want to ask you of. A leading question. How many educated people all are in your country. And well he tried to duck that a little bit and he said do it all depends on what you mean by educated well I said all right I'll simplify that. How many graduates of colleges and universities all I've said that's not necessarily a badge or symbol of education in my book but anyhow it's a kind of a simple rule of thumb and he said there I think there are about eleven. Oh you we realize what what a problem it is to make a republic with only the relatively small number of people who are as yet gaited prepared to take over. How we have devoted. Some of our banking interests financial people people watch. The gate but I think there's been a disproportionate amount of time energy and money to these foreign countries and we haven't felt that way about it or. We have felt that this was not for to intervene to. See what we could do to get as many of these new countries as possible out of Flushing Meadows and frankly we've been more interested in lap and we have been and. Some of the older ones and even some of the people who have abstained or stayed out of whatever you want to call it. We get along without them. We've gone far out of our way and sending distinguished people abroad. To bring in as many of the foreign countries as possible and preferably as many of the of the new nations as we could get. Most of them. Are ambitious. They are intelligent. And far sighted they lack experience and they lack money. And one of the our tasks is jolly political to tell you it's time to try to persuade them that it isn't the size of the exhibit isn't the amount of money to spend on it it's the amount of imagination. That goes into it that will come in the long run and have a small exhibit. That will be. Tracked as many people as let's say General Motors will order the pricing for the big American industrial concerns that have the know how have the money that are able to put their best foot forward and don't have to have to save all warry about foreign exchange and all things that Bob these smaller countries. Are spot on I have to say. Except one thing and that is the government quality has been the ideal man to. Analyst particular job he's been all over the world he's visited these people at home he's made friends with them he knew would many of them already he had an immense amount of experience abroad particularly after the war. Particularly as governor of Italy of Sicily. He speaks languages he mixes them up something. I've heard him in the Spain talk combination of Latin. The Thai am I'm Spanish. And. I think Esperanto was somehow or all the thing always went over they always seem to understand him and he's never been inhibited about it. With those introductory MUP remarks I would like the present government a lot of. New. Ways to present. And present York World's Fair. Ladies and gentlemen I'm very happy to. Have this opportunity of. Answering whatever questions you may have about the international area. Of the New York World's Fair. But I will nonetheless take up a little time in presenting if you observations about the international area at the outset I want to thank Mr Moses for his gracious and generous remarks. All I can say is that I've had a wonderful time. I've enjoyed it immensely and I wish somebody could think up another will spare and persuade the new group to ask plenty to work on the international area that a new fair. It's been a great experience. For all of us to the work in the international area and I say all of us because we've had an excellent staff. Working with us full time and in addition we've had the help of soup verb people men and women Americans who have come with us to various parts of the world and or gone themselves on follow up trips follow up trips that includes not only pastors businessmen bankers newspaper men your own president Mr Luther was good enough to join one of our delegations and visited several countries and not be have so we've had a pretty astounding amount of cooperation. And collaboration and I think on the whole as I was saying to someone who asked me just before the luncheon I think we have been fairly successful I think that we're going to have at the New York World's Fair representation. Of more countries and I think it ever been assembled at any International Exposition. Course that in all fairness must be taken against the history we have many more countries now here we had in one thousand thirty nine and one nine hundred forty so we're way up to one hundred ten countries I think that we will have at the fair at the international area representation from about sixty to sixty five countries and not that many provisions because some of our provision is a joint and will be representing more than one country but in all of it we will have about I believe a good cross-section of the world which should enable us to present to the seventy or eighty million visitors that will come to the fair during the two years an opportunity to learn more about other peoples Now that's what we're after where. After a presentation at Flushing Meadow all of the best of these countries their culture their tradition their needs and their hopes and aspirations so that those of us who will have the chance to go to Flushing many better will come back a little. More knowledgeable about the other peoples of the world none of us naive enough that we think that by having the New York World's Fair we're going to achieve peace I don't think even able Harriman was over in Moscow on our kids himself about that but we're we think they're going to push the ball forward in the direction that we want to go by giving the American people a chance to learn more about other people and that brings me to this splendid occasion. In which I can express my appreciation and the appreciation of the international division and the appreciation of the executive committee to all those who. Are going to have pavilions we know it hasn't been easy for any participant to organize a pavilion it's been a hard job. Most countries including the United States have to be worried about their balance of payments and shortage of Foreign Exchange Commission Moses referred to that it's hard to find a foreign exchange the cost of putting up a pavilion and operating it of mine is no use kidding ourselves price levels in New York City are high so that it's been a sacrifice for any nation that's going to participate we want to thank the representatives of those nations that are here and also the nations people of them got representatives here we want to thank them sincerely and profoundly for all that they have done to bring about the participation of those countries. And also on I see here representatives of business groups who have organized pavilions in countries where we couldn't deal with the government officially because they are members of this well known Bureau and the nurse you know they expose these you know and those people have had even a harder job of bringing commercial and industrial and financial interest together and have them put up a pavilion in effect substituting for what their government ought to be doing but we're grateful to those people and all of them that are putting up their money these companies to have a pavilions because they all if you will give the American people who will come to this fair or not but to nitty to learn more about those countries I think of countries where it's been very hard like Sweden in Austria and Denmark in Switzerland where businessmen have gotten together and a putting up pavilions representing those countries now at the same time I think it it's only fair not only to commanders all these days and business and commercial groups who are putting up billions to say something about those who haven't made plans to participate I think it's. Necessary To be frank I have been in the past. We're not happy about certain nations not participating we think they ought to participate we think some of those nations ought to be here and at some sacrifice to present a provision to give the American people like a chance to learn about them. Among those groups are some of the countries of Latin America every time you meet a Latin American it seems he's always criticizing the United States but we're accustomed to that I heard about it even during the war when our boys were dying to liberate some of the countries so we're accustomed as Americans to be criticized by other people but they always say well you Americans don't make any effort to find out about Latin America. When my retort is one way in which we can find out about Latin America is percent of those Latin American countries to have put billions here at the New York World's Fair and show what they have and what they can do and what they have done but they have not participating some of them have legitimate reasons others in my opinion don't have legitimate reasons I regret very much that they're not going to participate I think they're doing a disservice to their country they certainly are not helping what we're trying to achieve in the New York World's Fair and that is to give I repeat the American people a chance to learn more about the peoples of other countries also think of countries. Like Italy and Germany. Italy and Germany which are members of the B I E but the businessmen of those countries haven't participated to do what Sweden Denmark Austria switchin and other countries have done I go to Germany and I'm told in Germany that by the businessmen that the poor all the poor they don't have any money but it's difficult for me as an American Mind you members of the overseas press go on talking as Charlie politely Personally I'm not talking on behalf of the New York World's Fair when I'm making these observations I'm giving my own observations after three years of beating around the world I'm not impressed when a German industrialist start shedding tears about how poor he is I have said openly to the German representatives that I think it's good for them to show the American people the new Germany that a lot of people in the United States still remember Germany as being controlled by the Nazis and we didn't like it and if there's a new Germany this is a wonderful forum for Germany to present its new democracy while the business manager only can find the opportunity to be present when there are other countries countries like the U.K. in which in my opinion were not of the way to be unfriendly to us at the New York World's Fair I regret it as an American I regret it is an American that has been honored by the British Empire for the declaration I think it's a mistake for the British to take that point of view new generations grow up while some of us may know a lot about Great Britain our children are coming along and millions of people want to know about these other countries so I say that I'm sorry. That some of these countries have seen fit not to participate I think they're doing a disservice to their own countries and they're not helping in one state to mold and formulate a public opinion pinion and sensitive and knowledgeable about this small world that's getting smaller every day we're going to have on the positive side wonderful pavilions. I've got here all kinds of information about each pavilion I'm not going to take up your time we're going to have some fascinating pavilions going to have just to name countries like Thailand is going to give us one of the pavilion Japan is going to have three people billions there Indonesia is going to have one of the nicest pavilions not happy to see you here representing Indonesia where very happy that you're here. We're going to have a pavilions of India and Pakistan. Spain is going to have one of the greatest appropriators with some extraordinary art and in addition some from a good dances in the restaurant that has some fun in and. Which is all right we're in favor of that and then we're going to have a nice interesting pavilions in countries like Central America Mexico Argentina Venezuela. We're going to I mention Austria and Switzerland and Sweden we're going to have pavilions of Belgium with pavilions West Berlin I think what I have a very a lot to be a very interesting up of in West Berlin is participating as West Berlin as I indicated before as gently as I could we're not having a West German civilians. And so all in all we're going to have a very fine show I think we're going to have countries from Africa I agree with the commission the most is that the younger people a particularly interested in these new countries throughout the world that recently acquired independence they're hungry to know more about them and I'm happy to say that we will have a good representation of that group. We deliberately went out to get the smaller. Countries to come to the New York World's Fair as United Nations proves. The world is a world of small and smaller nations and I think we've achieved that objective. So in conclusion I want you to know that. The World's Fair is going to open an April twenty second one thousand nine hundred four come hell or high water and the main reason that it's going to open on April twenty second nine hundred sixty four is that we get a tough guy that's president of the New York World's Fair Palmer says they. Will. Thank you Governor Colletti for that very interesting and very frank presentation of the international participation side of the fair and Thank you Commissioner Moses for your opening remarks are always of great interest to us of the press are there any questions now as usual will give the priority to the working press table. Or. The question is how many field trips were made to just put into the market how many field trips were made by a World's Fair officials to Latin America and how many you know Latin American countries are participating. I should think in all. Every country of course has been visited. I would say from two to three times in Latin America and some of them a business did more than that in addition we've had constant contact with their embassies here in Washington and also with their counsel generals or their trade delegations here in New York so that we worked we worked on him pretty hard. The score presently stands that we will have Mexico we'll have all the countries of Central America. Panama and the five neighbors that are associated in the Central American common market that President Kennedy this did not so long goal of Venezuela will have a pavilion. Which is government. Colombia will have a pavilion which will be not government Chile will have a pavilion which is not government because the governments can't dial out Brazil the government can't out and the businessmen to count out those poor businessmen around San Paolo that don't have any resources except my banker friends appear in New York to tell me that despite a lot of Latin American money scattered around some of the large banks in New York and in other parts of the world well those people couldn't put up or produce a Brazilian pavilion to show the people at the New York World's Fair what Brazil's Argentina the government can't doubt we have a private group of Argentinians that are going to put up a pavilion or Euro quiet. I have my fingers crossed the government signed a contract they said they're going to put up a pavilion Well I'm waiting to see I doubt it just my own opinion they say they're going to put it up I doubt it well that's about the situation in South America or I would say I should add that the Caribbean we're organizing a Caribbean pavilion that's going to I had pretty well as the gentlemen that are working on it are here and we are intending to bring together in the Caribbean pavilion the new nations down there like Trinidad and Tobago Jamaica and Haiti and the Dominican Republic and we're also grouping Puerto Rico course which is an independent nation and then the Barbados and mutism so forth to put a want. The villian of the Caribbean and I think that's going to hand I think it ought to be very interesting at least he's been urging that they bring up some of those steel bands and a little limbo dancing a little Calypso and you know something that's intellectual. So. There's a question. I mean here I'm the consul general sure. Me I don't want any one. Like you the first part but. Yes you know. What I mean we get one myself in the next time I got. One with the side and I said No you eat with your neighbors maybe. The watch is the best that. You won and lost the war or we want to leave you with all of what we have. We have the support of I guess the things you've done here but we're. Told that our United States and we want our company. On the course. Also want their wars all over. The sand not be that what you're. Now. He says when he leaves. Done with. It he's going to go. The way it was what he really knows. You know the way. The nine hundred sixty. There were. Here what they were discussing it was the one you don't go out. With have. In the last three years why don't I start I'm on your part from your real point of. All the national debt was. That what you because that is one of the reason was that you know God love him and he surely cannot represent you and he said the man does have some weaknesses men don't have some extremist. Surges the question that you wanted to ask was the political Is there a question that you want to put to governor politically I think it do you wish to pursue put a question to Governor politically No I'm just. You know now let me tell you what I thought like that you. Would want us. To. I would say thank you we want to hear you say that one. Best Friend other any any clue one hour for and. We thank the consul general Chile for the comments that he made it to Mr Paletta with regard to Latin American friendship the United States are there any questions. There. That. There. Would be if the funds are available and they probably would be what the fare at this late date permit or alleged religions Pavillion not only with Christians and Jews but Buddhists Confucian as Muslims who number two billion people. Nine eight seven six five four three zero one. Zero. The answer is yes we not only would permit him we. Would like to have them fact we worked very hard to get him. I worked for many many months with the Arab League I worked with the Islamic Center in Washington because I think it's important to have a presentation to the American people or some of these religious like the Buddhists in the in the muslims I think the Muslim religion from what I've been able to see is one of our great stalwart bulwarks in preserving what we value in life and I think that the American people by and large don't understand that we've tried we've tried to get them but they were unable to arrange it the Arab League and the Islamic center and the difficulties they were up and down they said they were going to do it one time then they felt they couldn't we tried to get. The Buddhist groups of course to see that when you deal with the buddhist groups you've got no centralized group you can deal with and that was our difficulty there but anybody can organize a presentation of those religions we're very happy to have. I should say that we're going to have quite a few religious presentations one is the Vatican pavilion we're going to have the Christian Science pavilion done by Edward dual stone which is very good we're going to have a pavilion by the Mormon church we're going to have the Protestant Senate we're going to have something called sermons from science which was it Seattle which is very successful. And. We're going to have a. Billy Graham. For those of us who feel that they want to hit the trail. So that way the answer is yes. Ralph. Roughed up an. Zero zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Here. In the hill Tribune asked us whether we have to fear that there's not going to be any fun at the fair no Midway and he says that Abel green a variety has already complained that too many international visions are no fun. Well I think that debt it depends on each person's definition of fun. Somebody came up. Radio. Somebody came up the other day and recommended that. We should have more entertainment and I soberly and seriously explain that we are going to have quite a bit of an attainment in all sorts of pavilions a lot of the industrial provisions are in a team and they're going to have rides going through exciting rides like the General Motors the Ford. International Business Machine the international pavilions are going to have a lot of fun and then I referred to. Indonesia I'm going to bring quite a few advances from Bali now Paul let me think says fun maybe younger people don't I don't know I think that's fun to see those advances from Bali there's a group that's going to organize a Polynesian pavilion and they're planning to bring over some dance groups from he and some more and some of the other islands in that quadrant of the world. Then you know that in the so-called amusement area we're going to have a wonderful empty theater where the show run. And he seems to doing pretty well at Radio City for some years still on the payroll anyway there so he's getting along and then we're going to have circuses we're going to have even Indians I mean American Indians and some of their right to produce So all in all I think we're going to have a lot of entertainment we're not going to have anything that's lewd. Or that so that a court would step in with an injunction we don't believe in that. For many reasons one reason we don't believe in it is because our president Robert Moses doesn't believe in it. So. My sense I've been connected with things of this current for some. Thirty five years. When we. First. Made the plans for Jones Beach now I was told by wiseacres including those that are making the most noise now of the most articulate. Who it would never could operate a beach on any such theories as laugh. Later on I took over the city beaches five of something to do with advising other communities on the subject and we have never brought into Jones Beach any of the things that were advocated by the people who said that they spoke for the amusement industry while we fill the place. It works very well ninety seven percent of the people who go there maybe ninety eight a perfectly satisfied the other two or three we don't care very much about. No there is no evidence whatever that if we introduced of the fan the kind of things that are handed out but never described. That it would add to the attendance I know this that when the word gets out that anything now that character is proposed that we're flooded with letters from people you can say they're bluenoses of their people and you know that don't have any fun in their lives I don't know I can't tell by their signatures or by the addresses on their levels but I know the volume of the mail not to want to two of the things at the last fair were all the wailing that some of these things said and within a very short time the protest from the churches and other groups was such that a committee had to be formed and there's never appeared on the press of the city to censor these things. I missed Rockefeller John Jr was asked to be chairman he didn't act as chairman but he designated one of his top people at Rockefeller Center who was engaged in working up plans for things that later developed into Radio City and that sort of thing and at least five of these things were shut down within one week three of the most offensive things that were in Seattle were shut down within forty eight hours now we're not going to have anything like that at the fair and I would suggest that if Mr Chapman is really interested in pursuing this subject to get up and tell us exactly what amusements he would propose. Outlook. Brown says he's going to leave the leave it all to Abel green to talk about. If there are no further questions there we will keep to the our schedule which as you know we promise always to respect the busy time of the busy people of the heart of this city these are ninety minute lunches We've just come to the end of it thank you all for being with us.