
World Bank President Eugene R. Black Honored by New York City

( AP Photo )
Toastmaster Richard Patterson hosts this luncheon to honor Eugene R Black, former President of the World Bank, on the occasion of his retirement. Patterson introduces each speaker who adds their laudatory messages.
Governor Adlai Stevenson describes Eugene black as the best doctor for sick financial institutions. US Secretary of Commerce, Luther Hartwell Hodges, reads a congratulatory telegram from President John F. Kennedy. Robert Moses jokingly suggests that Black be commissioned to settle the financial affairs of the World's Fair and then the City of New York. Robert F. Wagner reviews his career as the President of the World Bank, emphasizing his sound banking practices for underdeveloped countries which, "feed more mouths and save more lives than charity." He then presents black with a Certificate for Distinguished and Exceptional Service for work as President of the International Bank for reconstruction and development for nations "determined to be free."
Black then gives an acceptance speech recounting his career and life in New York. He congratulates Moses and Wagner on their work and expresses a wish to be of some service to the city of New York as he has in the past. He stresses the importance of increasing the standard of living in developing countries and welcomes George Woods as his successor.
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 150469
Municipal archives id: LT9510
This is a machine-generated transcript. Text is unformatted and may contain errors.
I want to tell you that this informal setting with no long there says largely because we're dealing with a guest of honor who really enjoys in Ramallah. And maybe that's maybe that's one reason he has been so successful in dealing with the sensitive bankers and politicians the door. At this time let me permit me to read excerpts from. Two or three telegrams and. Many many of them have come in from those who are abroad or out of the city or California Phoenix or Florida can't be here but here's one. From George Ward's the. The successor to Jean Black my deep Sunseri grants to Mary Wagner and commissioned most of my inability to be among those present to do honor to Jean Black The truth is that working diligently sixteen hours a day I find myself barely able to keep on top of this three pronged job which Jeanne was able to do with greatest of ease with time left over to attend a worthwhile functions. Here's one from a. Former governor Tara splatting who was abroad who by the way was vice president in charge of it and I saw relations for the World's Fair and has been has actually physically been and seventy's some countries. Having to do with the World's Fair. I'm just reading excerpts yes please congratulate Mr back on the blue ribbon job so generally generously rendered to our country and the nations of the world and here's one from Douglas Dillon It says the United States and the world Oh Jean Black a debt of gratitude for his imagination his courage his perseverance his understanding and his skill and then. There are. Piers. Here's one that. Here are two more that are interesting. Here's one from former United States senator Flanders he says and I quote If I were to pick the most effective public servant of our generation. My choice would fall on your gene black. Uncle. Was. Then here's another from the publisher of The Washington Post and Newsweek Philip Graham and his last one except one. And he says he is one of the very few great public servants of our time. That's from Philip great now this gentleman is the story in all of these all of these telegrams of course I have given you. Now I'm going to call on. And I've just asked him to step up here and he's graciously consented to do it and I've been there. Stevenson to say a word. Was. I have a message for you. Gentleman from. Mr from. The secretary general of the United Nations who says I think the world of Jean Black I might say he's one of the few people who can say that. And have appointed him honorary financial consultant to the United Nations now Mr Chairman if I'm not mistaken he was consultation will be more than honorary I've known Gene black. Only briefly. About twenty years. So of course my judgment is rather more objective than yours. I've read some bank is saying not only in this city but in. Chicago and in remote places in the world that if they have a sick financial institution the best doctor would be back well. My friend. You are all too late because I have an institution that is suffering from certain financial infirmities. And we have call in the DR extraordinary. I've seen what he has done at the world over and his assignment is again the word so you can all be easier and I can take a vacation thank you. Was. Thank you when I'm out as a nothern final telegram I'm going to be distinguished secretary of commerce of the United States as Jimmy. Of the. I'm happy to read this telegram because it. Is me that got me going to saying if I read it proud I am of Jean Black and the work he has done not only for this country but for the whole world. As the telegram was to read I extend to the mayor and the distinguished company my warmest greeting on this occasion Donna Eugene black an American and outstanding public service has contributed so much in the history of time I join with you in expressing sincere gratitude and high esteem for the guest of honor John F. Kennedy president and state. Room. Thank you. Thank you Governor. And I have the pleasure down on one of resenting. The president in New York or elsewhere nineteen sixty four nine hundred sixty five Corp Robert Moses. Mush. Dick Patterson. Are friends of the banks and braise of New York. I come here not only as a great bearing a gift but armed with gratuitous advice and let no one say I'm not singing for my lunch. Your fee is not already accepted the honor. I urged that Eugene black be commissioned fourth wealth to be odd delegates at the United Nations to collect the budget debts of all countries in a rears. And to express polite skepticism as to the attitude of those which combine a curious just regard of past favors with a lively sense of benefits to Kong. Then if he still has leisure time we're at the World's Fair would like him to get after foreign countries which are a bit slow in building the pavilion. In return which will broadcast the impressive and hot want to achieve ones in the field of international construction and development to which Eugene Black has devoted so many years of his life. Let him also as an avocation lay up treasures in heaven by accepting the chairmanships of drives to raise modest funds for a thousand good causes and bring the millennium to our door. After this modest autism many sided consultant to let Gene black show the city and state of New York how to raise more money painlessly and without new taxes perhaps by a formula which will overcome the scruples of pious folks who think on track betting house heavenly sanction and off track betting is contrary to divine law. By these timely suggestions I'm sure that I have earned your applause if not the undying gratitude of the hero of this luncheon. By accepting these responsibilities Jean Black will soon earn the honorable Nick James of Black Death Midas Muffler and world Al Manar But seriously Eugene black is a tremendously successful worker in the field of international cooperation and joint enterprise Ugh I'm a Leo to whom we look confidently for advice and A And we at the World's Fair offer you was fellow workers. This golden symbol of our efforts to organize an Olympics of progress to bring peace through understanding on a shrinking goal in an expanding universe most black. Gentleman and I had the privilege of presenting the chief executive of the city of New York the on about Robert F. way. Much. As to Patterson. The remnants can solving. Our guest of honor. And best. Stevenson secretary I just. Moses and gentlemen I am. Glad to be able to join in welcoming back to New York that banker of the world Eugene black. We welcome him back to New York to Manhattan to work and to Brooklyn I understand to live as he will be covering waterfront. Eugene Black has had a unique experience as the money lender to the governments of the Western world as the man who. At the head of the World Bank has sought to reconcile a values of social and economic progress with the values of sound business and banking practice. I am sure that in his unique position as head of the World Bank James Black learn a great deal and taught a great deal. I'm sure that in his special capacity as an internationally authorized banker he learned for himself. The wisdom in what a great American colonizers said many many years ago it was William Penn the settler and founder of Pennsylvania who wrote almost three hundred years ago lend not beyond viability refuse to lend out of viability especially when it will hurt others more than it will hurt. If the identical be honest and capable has money again if not with increase then with praise if he proves insolvent do not ruin him to get that which it will not which it will not ruin the to lose. But is still what and another is that I own or master and judge I think the great quake I must have been thinking about the World Bank. It was a profound statement and the World Bank has been a profoundly successful institution because it had this a philosophy which as I understand it can be pretty well defined in the works I have just quoted from William Penn. In the fourteen years since he left New York City in the Chase Bank Eugene black it's been around the world with the World Bank. While he has been away and Hatton has added many new features to its skyline while the Chase Bank has added Manhattan. And his association with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Mr Black showed the underdeveloped lands that loans for self-help programs which move mountains and build bams in the end feed more mouths and save more lives than charity. Mr Black has shown that there is nothing inconsistent between sound banking practices and acute sensitivity to the needs of undeveloped peoples Eugene Black has appreciated the difficulties and gendered by the so-called revolution of rising expectations economic development in these countries he has said has been creating human desire as much faster than it is proving providing Robert the means for their gratification. Here in New York City we have maintained an active interest in the success of the World Bank's undertaking. One out of every four New Yorkers directly or indirectly derives his livelihood from the export import trade. With the help of the rising trade of the newly emerging nations helped in turn by the World Bank and by our own nationally sponsored foreign assistance programs New York has become a great terminal where the shipment and transshipment of the world's goods including the products of many of these nations and of cost is host city to the United Nations we are vitally interested in the economic social and political health of each of the member nations of the UN as a prerequisite for the effective use of the World Bank's results since Eugene black and seen the necessity for social and land reforms in many of the countries applying for assistance at the same time he has become the protagonist of something like a world revolution and helping to transplant Western industrial civilization to New an alien soil Eugene Black has shown that in country anxious and skilled hands business trade and commerce can be a force for economic good social development and democratic fulfillment. He is a banker for the world and a citizen of the world but at the same time he is a New Yorker we welcome him back among us and now it is my privilege to present this. Certificate for distinguished and exceptional service to this to Eugene our black who as president of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development by his genius and sense of honor I firmly in equitably developed this extraordinary institution as the bulwark of the economic system of men and nations determined to be free and to merits the eternal gratitude of the leaders and peoples of the world Mr Black I'd be honored to present this to you and behalf of the people of our city with their love and appreciation and gratitude for your contribution to a better world. Thank you. Gentleman I now I have a high privilege of presenting a guest of honor Eugene back. To about a small town that's tens of and. Best the steam engine sector and I just missed most of his friends. And. This is a perfectly amazing occasion for me. I don't think I've ever attended a luncheon or demo. Well there was many friends of mine is here today. I've never. Also attended a luncheon or dinner or this large. By a group of people who didn't want to borrow any money. I. Went through a very emotional experience leaving Washington. And the various farewell part is it was given to me. I think that this welcoming party. Is equally if not more emotional than my family up of. This business of retiring. It's quite difficult. I never have retired before. And I'm never going to retire again. It's discouraging. The latter part of the Senate run. President Kennedy telephoned me one day. And asked me at that time if I would save on the committee he's appointed to study the American foreign aid policy. And in that conversation he says by the way what day are you finished. The next night I went to dinner. And you go up given by the Lotus Club and of President Eisenhower. And as I walked in and spoke to him. He says I understand you're through with. These two rocks were bad enough but the next day I got a letter. From a friend of mine and Atlanta. Who said he had read that I was about to retire. And he want to know if I would like to buy a cemetery lot. Or. Over the weekend I had a visit from my seven year old grandson. And my wife asked him about his grandfather's. And he said one grandfather of his was retired general. And the other right grandfather was a retiring bank and. I'm very grateful. For the remarks made about me. And of course I'm very flattered and honored. By receiving this medal and this citation. I think that. After the way you complimentary mocks you had about me I give you some of the more on DRAM details of my life. This is the third time that I have moved to New York. I might say this is the face welcome in the luncheon given to me by the mayor when I was. The first time I moved here I was forty four years ago. When I came away for fame in Wall Street. And at that time I lived in Brooklyn. There was no particular enthusiasm shown about me arriving him. I felt a little lonesome and bewildered. But I came in my wife. And I got fifty dollars a month. After that been here for about a month the president of my company sent for me one day and said I just learned that she was married and why didn't you tell me you were married and I said well you didn't ask me. And he said well it isn't that difficult for you to live on fifty dollars a month. I said Well it's slightly slight hardship he said I'll be going to raise you to seventy five dollars a month. I then left New York after. Soon as I could. And moved to Atlanta. And spent a number of years that happily. And there was one thing that I was definite about that under no circumstances what I ever come to New. I received several flattering offices and turned them down but finally I didn't come to New York about thirty years ago. Again that was no enthusiasm. I stayed here. For several years. And I made another time a nation that under no circumstances would I have a go to Washington. And finally I ended up in Washington. And then when I got through my job in Washington. I was anxious to come back to New York. I didn't expect when I left Brooklyn forty four years ago I would end up living in Brooklyn but here I am and booked in today. I have a very proud. Of being a New York and. I'm very proud of being from Wall Street. I've traveled around the world and. And I've always. Don't people why I came from. And I was proud of it. I remember the first time that I met Nasser of each. I walked in to see him. With a very delicate negotiations in connection with I asked one of them. And then we started the conversation I said the president has a I want to before we start I want to lay my cards on the table I want you to know that I'm from New York I'm a Wall Street bank. And I'm not ashamed of it I'm proud. But he said this is the first time I have so. But I. Am proud of the fact that I'm from New York and I I think that. That the tendency in Washington. And this applies to the both Republican and Democratic administrations. Is that. Incompletion to try to pick people of important jobs from other places and New York and send in other places and was free but it's very instant to find how frequently they have to come to Wall Street the get the right kind of man to do the right kind of job in Washington. That's the most is I on. Appreciate the things that you had to say and I appreciate your suggestions. I've been a little bit worried now that I'm out of a job. As to trying to find something to keep me busy. And. You've certainly got some good ideas about the way that I can and I occupy occupy my time. I want I want to say to you that I think you'd be surprised at how many times in traveling around the world and seeing problems of the different countries how I had pretty that I had you along with me that you could be in that country. To really do the the kind of job which you have done in this city which is so outstanding. To. Land why not I. Haven't had the opportunity of meeting you before today and I'm very glad of this opportunity. And I hope that. Now that I'm in New York that I can be of some service to the city from time to time. Before I left you had to go to Washington. I did have experience. With different mayors in New York beginning with Jimmy welcome and The Guardian. And the Dr. At that time I was with the Chase Bank and part of my job was dealing with a financial affairs of New York City and I remember when Mr O'Dwyer became mail he sent for me and said he wanted to know what kind of fix New York City was in. And I said but the New York City was in some difficulties. And he said What do you recommend we do. Well I said there's only one thing you can do you've got to raise the subway fare from five cents. But he said that's impossible that was one of my principle platform clicks that we have to have a five cent five. Well I said that may be a platform plank but this has got to be done this is the only thing you can do to put New York City's affairs and in good shape. And I predict that before you leave the office you will do it and I would suggest that you go ahead and get this disagreeable action over just as soon as possible but he said you just talk like a bank on this and this is absolutely impossible for me to do but as you remember this was done before Mr. Leftist left office I have many and a good many as I think the subway fare has been raised seven times since that. I am I have spent the last fifteen years in a most exciting. And rewarding job. I think they're the happiest years that in my life. I don't know of any thing more important. Faced in the world today even the. The development of underdeveloped countries is on tap to increase the standard of living of the people in these countries. I think this is. Of paramount importance that this be done I think it's equally important at this be done properly because I without any question regardless of the amount of money that is spent on foreign loans on foreign aid and I'm soft on loans in foreign aid in the Regardless of the amount of money spent if it isn't spent properly it doesn't accomplish results. I'm very happy. And leaving my job that there's another Wall Street Land going to take my place and I don't know anyone better qualified than than George Woods. To take oh he was my number one choice all the way through and I'm sure that in the next five years as everyone will applaud this selection because I'm sure he will do he will put in an outstanding performance. I met Sam and I. And Reg grateful. For this legend and I'm very grateful to all my friends who came here today. I'm looking forward with pleasure. To being here in New York having the opportunity. Of seeing you more than I have been able to in the past thank you very much thank you. Gentlemen before I let you be seated these before. Calling for the benediction. I want to present. Certain guests. In just a moment. I'd like to have. The two sons of Jean Black arise Eugene a black Jr and William Black now out of the city. Thank you. And that the table on my left Mr and the honorable Eugene Zucker secretary of the Air Force I thank I am the controller of the control of the city of New York a honorable Abraham Beame. Chairman of the Coca-Cola export corporation on all James a filing. President of the bar of Queen John a bone marrow injector Elio. United States commissioner for the federal provision Mr Norman came when I. Called still executive in the city of New York on the Robert White dolling. Formerly president Atlas cooperation and investments philanthropist and civic worker and a strong member of the board of directors of the World's Fair Mr Floyd B.. The former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission the. Author of the recent bestseller man on decisions last how strong. That many prominent representatives United Nations ambassador Francis Plimpton. Mr Arthur H. Dean former ambassador etc etc. The benediction gentlemen will be given by the Reverend Dr Meekin solving president of the Protestant Council of the city of New York. And now into God's gracious mercy and protection we commit you made a lot bless you and keep you the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious and you may the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you courage and compassion and perseverance and peace in his days this is day four of them.