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Good morning ladies and gentlemen we interrupt our broadcast last work hours so that we can bring you a special is this program from City Hall where Mayor John Lindsay just called a news conference. Main purpose of which is to swear in the new chairman of the city's commission on human rights Mr William H. booth we will let the mayor of the U.N. a little more fully will Mr Booth is and is qualifications and his plans this news conference is coming to you from. The city hall reception room. Or rather the City Hall Board of Estimate room the reason we said reception room was because that's where we usually have these news conferences that all reception room is now the mayor's office and so this news conference is coming from the Board of Estimate chamber and a large group of dignitaries and friends of Mr Booth are present we see such. Civic leaders as a former general there is no is there your attention please. And this morning I'm pleased to announce the appointment. Of. An old friend of mine I say old friend I've known him last year quite closely. As the new chairman of the Commission on Human Rights Mr William H. Bush. Is still a bill says Ben the state chairman of the N.A.C. he and if I checked if I mean he's been. A member of the Queens community and one of the most constructive civic gentleman in Queens and in a New York City. For a number of years. We're about the same age he's forty three years old. Gender schools it end. We expect a graduate of King's College had a distinguished war service or record he's been chairman and head of more community groups on human relations and other areas and I would care to. Of the list at the moment because it will take too much time. Is the activities have included the area of narcotics. Which is increasingly one of the big problems of our city he's a professional men. A crackerjack lawyer. Experienced in fields of civil and criminal law. And has represented clients bowls with ease and without she says. It's true. I'm pleased that his family is here. His wife Harriet is here and his daughter Jenny flew in from California today to Smorgon her last night specially for her father's swearing in. I have given Mr Booth a very wide mandate first of all I intend to work and he intends to work closely with me and I intend to work closely with him on a personal basis. Will work well together because we have the same objectives and and the same long view of what our city should be all about demanded that he has is to see to it that every citizen in our city. Is given a fair shake and is treated right. I want him to use to make maximum use of all of the city's existing laws. Which prohibit discrimination in all walks of life. He will launch a city wide program community by community to open up opportunities in housing employment and education for every person. I've asked him to make every effort. To eliminate bias in unions. I've asked him to seek out all forms of discrimination in any area of the city's life that does business with the city of New York those that are under contract with the city. And to make a complete survey of where we stand in that area. They asked him to take whatever steps are necessary and important to beef up the Commission on Human Rights and to make it to a more vigorous body one that is in the forefront of the fight against discrimination. I've asked him also and to do whatever is necessary to advise me about expanding the commission's role. I've also asked us to boost to work closely with several and state officials in this field. And also to make a complete survey of where the city of New York stands in this area on its own in its own officialdom. He's got a big job ahead of him and I can think of no person in this city. Or in fact this country will be better qualified or is more qualified take on this job than Mr Bush I want to say that they express my fish ation to the outgoing chairman Mr Brown for his complete cooperation his suggestions to me is his advice. And in the months and years to come I want to say that MS Both Mr Bill's and I will feel free with Mr Brown's permission which is more than readily granted to us to call on him for suggestions advice and counsel as we go as we go along Mr Brown has had a distinguished record as a newspaperman correspondent. Educator. And leader in the community and. I expressed the sense of the city dam for his stewardship of the Civil Rights Commission of the Commission on Human Rights over the years. Now they'll be going on the business of where I am. So if you let's say you put your left hand on here you would see your left hand on the way to the right he'd ask to meet. William H. Both night William H. he will do solemnly swear to Sally swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and I will support excuse me the United States and the constitution of your state your hand and the Constitution of the state of New York and then I will face a good judge a good result and I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of the office member and chairman of the Commission on Human Rights member and chairman of the Commission on Human Rights of the city or of the city of New York according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability. Just first oh. Yes. I certainly appreciate it very much I think. About what I would. Like right now the mayor in this to Booth are. Going through a silent rerun the swearing in ceremony for the benefit of the film cameras as well as the still photographers. Just with his remaining with his right hand raise his hand on the bible of talkers get their. Last pictures. Listening to a broadcast from the Board of us from the chambers in City Hall Mayor John Lindsay has just sworn in the new chairman Mr Garrett writers and they were again. I should like like Mrs Bush perhaps to stand that everybody have a look at his jacket wife and. Daughter thank. God. Thank you Mrs Bush. Thank you. Brad said in a very close friend of Bilbo's Is that him tell the new district attorney of Julie thank you for the surest Thank you. Mr Mayor I certainly appreciate this appointment I told Mr Handel coming over here that this is a major change in my life because I never thought for once that I would ever consider the possibility of giving up my law practice the sixteen years of law practice that I've had has been rich for me and rewarding not in money but rich in experience and I had never thought I would want to do that I do though because of the challenge and the work that I can see I can carry on as chairman of the New York City Commission on Human Rights I believe that the opportunity to bring about understanding between peoples of this city is an opportunity I could not pass up for anything else. I should not I No mention people's names but there are two other people in the room who are toward the rear who should be known. One is my district leader in the old eleventh assembly district where I live Mr Al Gore Dino He's right here thank you thank next to him. Mr Henry let's come the president of my republican club to which I belong for many years. Thank you it is my aim in this challenging position to help to cement better relations between peoples in the city. I would like to also bring the commission to the people this is in line with Mayor Lindsey's about campaign pledges and also what he has already shown that he's going to do with city government in line with that idea I shall seek immediately to have meetings open meetings of the commission in every bar of the city in the Baro halls once every week we shall have open meetings of the City Commission on Human Rights I believe that there has been too little known about the work of the commission to little known about the powers of the commission and too little known about what should be done or what can be done and what is being done by the New York City Commission on Human Rights I believe that taking letter from the commission explaining the commission's work to the Barros so that each borrow will have a meeting of the commission at least once every five weeks will be helpful in the work of this body. I should also. Have these meetings so as to bring to the attention of all peoples who do not understand and who will not accept the law to let them know that they must cooperate with the commission and that they must obey the law with reference to human rights substantively I think that the major focus of my job will be on job opportunities in the city for I believe that when people have job opportunities open to them on an unlimited basis except with reference to their abilities then I think that this will help to ease the human relations problem that we have in New York City all other avenues will open when job opportunities proper job opportunities are open along that line also I believe it's necessary and I will certainly seek to institute a program of retraining and education for all peoples so that those people who are displaced for whatever reason by reason of automation by reason of any other incident in this city will have an opportunity to retrain themselves and to educate themselves for new positions. These are the major goals substantively that I see. In this commission there are some other things I'm concerned about. Very much concerned about for example home remodeling contracts have always been my concern because as a lawyer I know that Negro people are high pressured into signing. Remodelling contracts that they should not sign I should like to institute some kind of program soon so that people who sign these contracts under high pressure can within the day or two afterwards without that high pressure cancel such contracts. There are many other things I think I'll leave them to questioning but the major point as I say is to eliminate the discrimination in job opportunities. As one other person I think I must mention who is here today the past president of the New York State Conference of the N.A.C. pay Dr Eugene rate I'm glad he's here with me. And the mayor I don't know how the timing is here. The normal practice is to recess questions and you do your best to feel. I'll be asking you understood ground personnel. And Mr Low those are the first commissioner for human rights. That's very very very very. Important. I know that very well. I can't give you any statistics that have not been on the Strabane My been fighting in the courts recently but I can tell you this that I was arrested as a result of my feelings in this matter and the Rochdale village demonstrations those demonstrations were against the labor unions which did to discriminate at that time and as I understand it they still do I certainly will make a concerted effort to see to it that all unions do obey the law. But. I've just been sworn in and I was just told yesterday by the mayor that I would be sworn in so that I haven't really given any detail thought to this I certainly will start this afternoon now to work upon it and I'll be letting you know shortly. I have had a good working relationship with Adam Clayton Powell for all of my life my mother and Mr Powell went to school together and I've known him for as long as I've lived. He has called upon me and I call upon Him I will still call upon Him This does not say though that I will not disagree with him when I believe it's necessary to do so. It isn't the biggest problem but I believe in tackling one problem at a time and I believe that this would be the first problem that I'd be concerned with because I think that from elimination of job discrimination can come elimination of other discriminations people talk about housing discrimination people talk about education discrimination there are discriminations in all fields and I've been working in all these fields but I think that job discrimination is the first one because from that can follow the elimination of the others. There has not been substantial progress at all there's just been token progress and it has been brought about a sacrifice a sacrifice as I say I was arrested and I think that was part of the sacrifice I know that many other persons were arrested and hurt and many other persons had suffered other sacrifices during this short period of time I believe that nine hundred sixty three was the year of decision for all Americans and that from nine hundred sixty three forward we are moving but we're not moving fast enough. That's correct the Rochdale village demonstrations. I dare say that if he were if he were not in Washington at the time he would have been arrested to. Me as I tried to express because I tried to make clear I support and support Mr Bruce and you know only sanctities from this point onward and I support him and all his activities in the past as well but thank you very much for your. You see when you pose that question then you're begging the question because actually you should be attempting to. Eliminate any such possibility at all without trying to find out whether there is any such possibly because as long as there is discrimination as long as there is prejudice as long as there is some wrongdoing certainly there is always the possibility of unrest there's always a possibility of some difficulty. Well I don't say there were riots you say that's another question I think this is bad when you start labeling things as riots. I'd rather the word on rest because I don't think there was a riot in New York City. During that period of time however. I do believe that there is a better working relationship however I believe it comes about because people can see. In Mayor Lindsay some hope for the future. You point. Out. Where. Oh oh oh oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh oh I demonstrated on another occasion against a union which I felt was just going to lie in their housing practices out in elections to the election how is it housing project. Demonstrations are good for the purpose of bringing to the public the knowledge of the wrongdoing in the community demonstrations for themselves alone are no good what about. We haven't had civil disobedience in New York City and I'm not concerned at this time with whether or not there is going to be any I would rather use the law I now feel able to use the full weight of the city to accomplish a complete elimination of discrimination in the city but. I cannot say that because I'm speaking now as an official of the city of New York. Oh. Well now this yes I would certainly enforce the law at all times this does not mean that I would call upon the police or call upon the mayor to have people arrested for that civil disobedience this is not so at all I don't know when I would have to make and answer that question I think until it happens. I haven't thought of that at all yet as to new legislation I believe that we can use the commission as it is and make it better known to the community make a. Better known to those people who have complaints and should make those complaint make it easier for them to make the complaints and make it certain that the complaints are followed up immediately and that these complaints do result in a change in addition to that to make it known to the rest of the community that part of the community which wants to discriminate or wants to continue the old idea is that they can no longer do so I believe that if sufficient publicity is given if public relations is used properly that we can help to eliminate and we can certainly eliminate many areas of discrimination in the city without the necessity of getting new law. That particular job did not see the hiring and the of any nonwhites But now I've got to be a little partisan because you see this uneasy people and this is the club one hundred ten of which I'm quite proud but I say that the N.E.A. sci fi does have a what well rounded program there are many other civil rights organizations to in this city that have well rounded programs but from the civil rights demonstrations at Rochdale village came action in the courts by our general counsel Mr Robert Carter and that action was ended in May of one thousand nine hundred sixty four just a year after the demonstrations with a determination by a court of by the N.L.R.B. rather the National Labor Relations Board that in the event any union is found guilty of discriminatory practices that unions can no longer represent the workers before the N.L.R.B. now that this hit the unions and their economic breadbasket and therefore caused the union some of the unions to cooperate and to end the discrimination in their membership practices but this is a combination of the demonstrations along with the legal istic approach. I can't say specifically because. I say I was just a point of this morning and yesterday I was and advised that I would be a point if I haven't had time to get any any in-depth study. Of this. Well I think that the construction unions are particularly guilty that doesn't mean that they're the only ones that are guilty now. I'm particularly concerned about that because of of my experience in one thousand nine hundred sixty three I'm concerned about other areas also though. I will have to get into that after I've had some time to study. It is most serious there yes. Well the chief problem and in New York City. And in my book is used to really one is is jobs and the other is education around them and part of it and built into what is everything else including housing. I think that the important thing to do is to set certain goals. Because that's the first goal and the big one is the umbrella goal which is seeing to it that. If the law of the land isn't forced and if that law in any respect is deficient it ought to be changed in strength and I think that's clear part of this to boost early surveys will be to examine our whole legal structure and to make any recommendations to me as mayor for submission to the city legislative body the city council or the Albany or Washington is the case maybe. Within that framework the specific goals of jobs and schooling. They are critical I think good jobs and education as goals and education in the broad sense and the sense that every child should have the expectation of of pursuing education to his fullest capacity and those goals ought to be the goals of a commission of the sky and they ought to be the goals of that the poverty work that is being undertaken by communities in this country. And as long as you have your targets there in your goals then your then the intermediate steps. You take to reach those goals jobs is terribly critical in our city at this moment in history. What do you. Feel. Well having appointed me who is a well known and a valued civil rights worker in this community I think this indicates the mayor's position on this question and I think it's going to have an impact upon the civil rights movement within the city the impact of which we can only judge after it has happened but I'm sure the impact is going to be great starting with this moment I looked at my watch because it's ten after ten I think I want to get on the job and. I think they did not assume the portions of the riots that I knew when one hundred thirty four I believe it was or in the late thirty's and you know. It was unrest but it did not assume the forces that the police of the city of New York and the rest of the community could not cope with and I think I would call it a riot only if it got completely out of hand Mr Bush referred all over. York City. P.D.. You are one of the corporative them. On I don't think I said that there is no civil disobedience I said that I had not had that question to concern myself with I had not committed civil civil disobedience and they actions with which I have been connected in the past have not been considered civil disobedience again they've been merely an aid and expression of protest under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and that's all they were at every stage of the game. When. Conflicts with first round you may no good in the executive budget it indicates that the flatlands. Industrial park area has been is so far down the track and so much work it been done on it to develop that into industrial park area that it looks this moment as if it's wise to go forward on that basis there's a good deal of conflict as to whether that ought to be used as an industrial park or whether it should be used for a school park or school complex. There's merit on both sides are going to may well be that. That it's been in the in the pipeline for so long and so much has been committed already by the time I took office towards using this property chiefly as an industrial park that the decision may well be to go forward on that and let it continue. No it's not final it's it's not to the stamps or not on the moment but. That is my thinking at that this time there's too much work been done and too many people have committed. Capital wise construction wise there's been too much committed on it to be. Too quick and trying to do it I'd like to talk to the mayor privately about that because I know that this was approved by the Board of Estimate. During the month of November I believe it was in sixty five and that the mayor is carrying this out as an administrative matter right now my member to the county Muttley The borough president of the borough of Manhattan was vehement in her objection to the industrial park being placed in that site and I certainly concur with her that an education park would have been better however she would last only. Voting in a Board of Estimate I'd like to talk and they privately them. I think thank you. Thank you I was brought to a live broadcast from the Board of Estimate chambers and city hall a news conference called by Mayor John Lindsay for intention of writing William H. booth as chairman of the city's commission on human rights. This program was a special presentation of W N Y C News and now we resume our regular programming I'm returning to our studios in the municipal building.