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Provo, [UT] Rally 7/18/92 [OA 7575] [3]
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Provo, [UT] Rally 7/18/92 [OA 7575] [3]
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MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
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Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Backup Files
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Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13821
Folder ID Number:
13821-009
Folder Title:
Provo, [UT] Rally 7/18/92 [OA 7575] [3]
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26
22
6
4
808
May 8 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
ticipated in any way in helping this great city
normal. But I want to thank everybody in-
of Los Angeles.
volved in facilitating this visit that came, I'm
And the last point is this: I went around
sure, at a very complicated time for the city.
to a lot of the communities. And I have a
The Governor, the Mayor, the police, the
genuine feeling in my heart that Los Angeles
L.A. community, everyone has been just fan-
is going to bounce right on back and be this
tastic.
great city that it's always been.
And let me say I am truly heartened by
So may God bless everybody here from
the speed with which the millions of dollars
Los Angeles, and my profound thanks to the
of Federal relief have reached the city, from
rest of you. God bless you all. Thank you
FEMA grants to the small business loans to
so very, very much.
urgent food aid. And I salute David Kearns
and others who came here to coordinate not
Note: The President spoke at 8:22 a.m. at
to dictate, not to try to dominate but to co-
the Los Angeles Coliseum. In his remarks,
ordinate with the city and local officials. And
he referred to Scott Miller, a Los Angeles fire-
I'm very pleased to see that there is smooth
fighter who was injured during the disturb-
coordination, everyone pulling together on
ances. A tape was not available for ver-
the Federal, State, and local level.
ification of the content of these remarks.
It was important I feel that, as President,
I come here to Los Angeles. The community
has been the site of a terrible tragedy. Not
just for you who were impacted the most,
Remarks to Community Leaders in
but for our entire country. And everyone
Los Angeles
around the world feels this trauma, everyone
May 8, 1992
who looks to us as a model of freedom and
justice.
I would get off to a bad start if I didn't
And that's why I want to say just a few
say what I think everybody else is feeling,
things about my visit, to speak to you about
and I want to just congratulate Larisse for
what I've seen in this city and, most impor-
that marvelous rendition of the Star-Span-
tantly, as I said at that marvelous ecumenical
gled Banner.
church service yesterday at Mt. Zion, we are
And may I first thank all of you for being
one people, we are one family, we are one
here today. I think they were introduced at
Nation under God. And so I want to speak
the very beginning, but I want to single out
about our course as a nation.
two members of my Cabinet, Secretary Lou
I can hardly imagine. I try, but I can hardly
Sullivan of HHS and Secretary Jack Kemp
imagine the fear and the anger that people
from Housing and Urban Development who
must feel to terrorize one another and burn
are here with me. We've really had a good
each other's property. But I saw remarkable
tour. I want to salute Senator Seymour, Gov-
signs of hope right next to the tragic signs
ernor Wilson, who's been at my side, both
of hatred. This marvelous institution, this
of them, as we've made this tour through the
boys and girls club stands unscarred, facing
city. Pat Saiki of SBA, the Administrator of
a burned-out block. And its leader is this
the Small Business Administration, came out
wonderful man next to me, Lou Dantzler.
early and she is on the ground and doing
And he started it on the back of an old pickup
a first-class job. And of course, I would like
truck with a group of kids that wanted to
to also salute Mayor Tom Bradley who has
get off the street. And its existence proves
been so extraordinarily helpful on this visit.
the power of our better selves. And let's
And I'm not going to forget the inspirational
never forget it, and let's count our blessings.
leader of the Challenger, Lou Dantzler.
Now let me personalize it a little bit and
I would also say to the city officials that
tell you why clubs like this matter. A story
I can just imagine, given what you all have
about a little kid, Rudy Campbell. I saw him
been through, the headache that this visit has
on television. He looked about 8 years old.
caused. And I promise you we plan to leave
His father was murdered a few years back,
right on schedule so things can get back to
and I didn't see his mother. Rudy is raised
sh, 1992
Administration of George Bush, 1992 / May 8
809
body in-
me, I'm
by his 22-year-old sister who has five kids
look around. For anyone who cares about our
the city.
of her own. And he lives in South Central.
young people, it is painful that in 1960 the
lice, the
Think about what he has already been
percentage of births to unwed mothers was
just fan-
through. Now he says he fears that things
5 percent, and now it is 27 percent. It's hard
will only get "badder and badder and
to read about a young black man dying when
ened by
badder." And it breaks your heart, and our
the odds are almost one out of two that he
f dollars
children deserve better than that.
was murdered. Kids used to carry their
ity, from
I talked a week ago about the law and the
lunches to school, and the parents that I've
loans to
pursuit of justice. And today I want to talk
talked to know that today some kids carry
I Kearns
about what went wrong in L.A. and the un-
guns. I'm afraid some of you kids, you know
nate not
derlying causes of the root problems. It can
that, too. Everyone knows that drug and alco-
at to co-
all be debated, and it should be, but not to
hol abuse are serious problems almost every-
als. And
assign blame. Casting blame gets us abso-
where.
smooth
lutely nowhere. Honest talk and principled
In the wake of the L.A. riots, in the wake
ether on
action can move us forward. And that's what
of a lost generation of inner city lives, can
we've got to do for Rudy; that's what we've
any one of us argue that we have solved the
resident,
got to do for our children, these kids right
problems of poverty and racism and crime?
nmunity
here.
And the answer clearly is no. Some programs,
edy. Not
This tragedy seemed to come suddenly,
ones like Head Start or Aid to the Elderly,
e most,
but I think we would all agree it's been many
have shown some time-tested, positive re-
everyone
years in the making. I know it will take time
sults. All programs were well-intentioned; I
everyone
to put things right. I could have said "put
understand that very, very well. Many simply
dom and
things right again," but that would miss a
have not worked.
point I want to make: Things weren't right
Our welfare system does not get people
st a few
before a week ago Wednesday. Things aren't
off of welfare, it keeps people trapped there.
ou about
right in too many cities across our country.
The statistics are sobering. The reality is so-
t impor-
And we must not return to the status quo.
bering. The sum and substance is this: The
umenical
Not here, not in any city where the system
cities are in serious trouble, and too many
1, we are
perpetuates failure and hatred and poverty
of our citizens are in trouble. And it doesn't
are one
and despair.
really have to be this way.
to speak
Most Americans now recognize some un-
Government has an absolute responsibility
pleasant realities. Let me just spend a minute
to solve this problem, these problems. I'm
in hardly
on those. For many years we've tried many
talking about all levels of government. And
it people
different programs. All of them, let's under-
I've taken a hard look at what the Govern-
and burn
stand this, had noble intentions to meet the
ment can do and how it can help commu-
narkable
need of adequate housing or education or
nities with concerns that really matter: how
gic signs
health care. Much of it went to construct
people can own property, own their own
lion, this
what has been known as "the safety net," a
home, start a business, create jobs, and en-
d, facing
compassionate safety net to provide security
sure that people, not Government, make the
r is this
and stability for people in need. Many other
big decisions that affect the health and the
Dantzler.
programs and policies aimed at stemming the
education and the care of one's own family.
d pickup
tide of urban violence and drugs and crime
Think of the way that the world looks right
anted to
and social decay.
now to the single mother on welfare. Govern-
e proves
And we have spent huge sums of money.
ment provides you just enough cash for the
And let's
Some estimates are as high as $3 trillion over
bare necessities. Government tells you where
blessings.
25 years. And even in the last decade Federal
you can live, where your kids go to school.
bit and
spending went up for these kinds of efforts,
And when you're sick, Government tells you
A story
everything from child care to welfare to
what kind of care you get and when. And
saw him
health care has been the subject of some
if you find a job, the Government cuts the
ears old.
Commission or report or study.
welfare benefits. And if you save, if you man-
ars back,
But where this path has taken us I think
age to put a little money away, maybe to-
is raised
we would all agree is not really where we
wards a home or to help your kid get through
wanted to go. Put away the studies and just
college, the Government says, hey, welfare
810
May 8 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
fraud. Every one of those things happen with
drug dealers and career criminals and then
the system that we have in place right now.
seed those neighborhoods with expanded
And then we wonder, why can't folks on wel-
educational employment and social services.
fare take control of their lives? Where's their
With safe and secure neighborhoods we can
sense of responsibility?
spark an economic revival in urban America.
Well, if we had set out to devise a system
And so, the second part of the agenda is
that would perpetuate dependency, a system
to ask Congress to take action on enterprise
that would strip away dignity and personal
zones. With a zero capital gains rate-create
responsibility, I guess we could hardly have
these zones with a zero capital gains rate for
done better than the system that exists today.
entrepreneurs and investors who locate busi-
Every American knows that it is time for a
nesses and create jobs right here in America's
fresh approach, a radical change in the way
inner cities.
we look at welfare and the inner city econ-
And yes, I recognize that at the same time,
omy.
we must help States bring innovation to the
Every hour of meetings yesterday-and
welfare systems. And at the Federal level,
they were, for me, very emotional, very mov-
we've got to reform our own AFDC rules;
ing-confirmed why I believe in the plan that
stop penalizing people who want to work and
we have proposed for urban America. I kept
save. These are the people who are mus-
hearing words like ownership, independence,
tering the individual initiative to get off wel-
dignity, enterprise, a lot of time from people
fare. And we've got to pledge ourselves to,
who have never had a shot at dignity or enter-
at the Federal level, change the rules that
prise or ownership. And it reinforced my be-
keep them from doing just that.
lief that we must start with a set of principles
Three: safe, drug-free schools are places
and policies that foster personal responsibil-
where our children can learn, but that's not
ity, that refocus entitlement programs to
enough. We've got to revolutionize our
serve those who are most needy, and increase
schools through community action, through
the effectiveness of Government service
competition, through innovation, through
through competition and true choice.
choice: principles at the heart of the strategy
I believe in keeping power closer to the
that we call America 2000. We must give
people, using States as laboratories for inno-
children, these kids, these kids right here,
vation. We cannot figure it all out back in
the same opportunity as kids out in the sub-
Washington, DC, in some subcommittee or
urbs.
in the White House. And I believe in policies
And the fourth point: we must promote
that encourage entrepreneurship, increase
new hope through homeownership. People
investment, create jobs.
want a real stake, a real stake in their commu-
And these form the heart of the agenda
nity, something of value that they can pass
for economic opportunity that I want to men-
along to their kids. And that's what this
tion here. Families can't thrive, children can't
HOPE initiative does. It turns public housing
learn, jobs can't flourish in a climate of fear,
tenants into homeowners.
however. And so first is our responsibility to
Now, these are just the highlight of an ac-
preserve the domestic order. And a civilized
tion agenda to bring hope and opportunity
society cannot tackle any of the really tough
back to our inner cities. We have other ideas
problems in the midst of chaos. And you
to try as well. Many in this room have innova-
know and I know it's just that simple. Vio-
tive ideas they're trying right now.
lence and brutality destroy order, destroy the
My first order of business upon my return
rule of law. And violence must never be
to Washington will be to build a bipartisan
rationalized. Violence must always be con-
effort in support of immediate action on this
demned.
agenda. And I know some will say, well,
We can reclaim our crime-ravaged neigh-
you've proposed all this before, and that's
borhoods through a new initiative that we call
true, they're right. And I'm proposing it
"Weed and Seed." And today I'm announc-
again. Because really we must try something
ing a $19-million "Weed and Seed" operation
new. We've got to try something new. It does
for the city of Los Angeles to weed out the
not take a social scientist to know that we
ge Bush, 1992
Administration of George Bush, 1992 / May 8
811
hals and then
must think differently. We've tried the old
the fairest and the most just and the most
ith expanded
ways of thinking. And now, as Lincoln says,
decent country on the face of the entire
ocial services.
"It is time to think anew."
Earth. And we now-I know that we have
hoods we can
And our approach is really a radical break
the drive and the gumption to prevail over
rban America.
from the policies of the past. It's new. Yes,
these problems we face.
the agenda is
it's new because it's never been tried before.
Tom Bradley, your Mayor, was among a
on enterprise
And for the sake of the people of South
group of mayors who came to see me last
rate-create
Central, and the people in America's inner
January. He and I may differ on how we ap-
gains rate for
cities everywhere, I will work with the Con-
proach one Federal program or another. But
o locate busi-
gress to act now on this commonsense agen-
I've repeated often what he and others said
in America's
da.
to me that day. They said that the most im-
You've been through an awful lot. You've
portant problem facing our cities is the dis-
e same time,
been through an awful lot. And when I saw
solution, the decline of the American family.
vation to the
the verdict in the King case my reaction was
And they're absolutely right. He was right;
Federal level,
the same as yours; I told the Nation that.
a mayor from a tiny town in North Carolina,
AFDC rules;
But I remain confident in our system of jus-
he was right. The decline of the family is
it to work and
tice. And when I saw the violence and rage
ho are mus-
something we must be concerned about. And
erupt in your streets my reaction was the
history tells us that society cannot succeed
) get off wel-
same as yours. We all knew we had to restore
order. And when I saw and read about the
without some fundamental building blocks in
ourselves to,
he rules that
place.
heroic acts of firefighters and police or the
The state of our Nation is the state of our
selfless acts of so many citizens, my reaction
ls are places
was one of relief, one of hope for the future.
communities. And good communities are
out that's not
This morning I stopped by the hospital,
safe and decent. And the young people are
utionize our
Cedar, to see a young fireman who had been
cared for and they're instilled with character
tion, through
wantonly shot in the head as he was driving
and values and good habits for life. Good
on, through
a fire truck to go out and put out fires that
communities have good schools. And they
f the strategy
were ravaging somebody's neighborhood,
provide opportunity and hope, rooted in the
e must give
maybe yours. The man's fighting for his life.
dignity of work and reward for achievement.
S right here,
And I think when we all go home we ought
And that's why guaranteeing a hopeful fu-
it in the sub-
to pray for him.
ture for the children of our cities is about
In the very short time that I've been out
a lot more than rebuilding burned-out build-
ust promote
here I could sense that the real anguish in
ings. It's about the love right here under this
ship. People
south central L.A. is a parent's concern about
roof. It's about building a new American
heir commu-
the kids, neighbors' concerns about the kids.
community. It's about rebuilding bonds be-
hey can pass
And people are worried sick about the chil-
tween individuals and among ethnic groups
's what this
dren. All must agree that whatever we do
and among races. And we must not let our
iblic housing
must be about the children. These kids are
diversity destroy us. It is central, you see,
our future. And our actions in the wake of
it is central to our strength as a nation.
ght of an ac-
the tragedy are for them, not just here in
Our ability to live and work together has
opportunity
Los Angeles. This is showcased now because
really made America the inspiration to the
e other ideas
of what you've been through, but it's all
entire world. Across this country tens of
have innova-
across the country.
thousands of groups, hundreds of thousands
And so for these remarks I've mentioned
of individuals who have never been involved
n my return
what Government can do. And now let me
before, who will never be paid one single
a bipartisan
talk just a little about what society must do.
nickel for their efforts, must become partners
ction on this
And yes, we have tried hard, spent a lot of
in solving our most serious social problems.
11 say, well,
money and haven't solved the problems. And
The people right here in this room know
and that's
some critics say that we are a morally, spir-
exactly what I'm talking about. An officer in
proposing it
itually, and intellectually bankrupt nation. I
the LAPD who's a board chairman right
y something
don't believe that for one single minute. And,
here, I believe, in this organization, giving
new. It does
yes, we have problems. We have tough prob-
of his time, he knows what I'm talking about.
.ow that we
lems to solve. But we remain the freest and
Government alone cannot create the scale
812
May 8 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
and energy needed to transform the lives of
laws that frighten people away from helping
the people in need.
others. We ought to càre for each other more
And I look around this auditorium and I
and sue each other less.
am preaching to the choir because you're the
But there's something else. There's some-
ones that have your sleeves rolled up in your
thing else that society must cultivate that
churches and in your communities, trying to
help the other guy. In my conversations with
Government cannot possibly provide. Some-
the leaders of L.A.'s many communities, I
thing we can't legislate, something we can't
heard over and over again that L.A. has many
establish by Government order. And I'm talk-
of the answers within itself.
ing about the moral sense that must guide
I see our friend Bill Milliken here. He lives
us all. The simplest, I guess the simplest way
halfway across the country. There are four
to put it is, I'm talking about knowing right
of his Cities in School programs, helping chil-
from wrong and then trying to do what's
dren learn here. And many members of a
right.
group called 100 Black Men, an inspirational
Let me come back again to the little boy
group, they mentor, for those not familiar
I spoke about earlier, Rudy Campbell. Re-
with it, they mentor to the kids, the boys in
member, "badder, badder, badder?" There's
south central.
a lesson he learned that survived the horror
Now, if instead of 4, there were 25 Cities
and the hate. And in the midst of all the
in School programs, and instead of 100,
chaos, in the midst of so much that's gone
10,000 black men working with boys, and so
wrong, he knows what's right. When he was
on with the hundreds of people in groups
asked about the violence, here's what he said:
that work with the kids, there is no question
"They should know what's right and wrong.
that what happened last week wouldn't have
Because when I was four, that's what I
been as bad. And so it only makes sense that
learned."
a large part of our challenge is to dramatically
Now, that has got to give us hope. May
expand in community after community the
God bless the person who cared enough to
scale of what we already know works.
teach that little guy right from wrong. But
The phrase that I've repeated a lot and
it's up to us to guarantee that all the millions
perhaps more than any other is worth repeat-
of kids like him grow up in a better America.
ing: From now on in America, any definition
of a successful life must include serving oth-
And I believe we are right about family.
We're right about freedom and free enter-
ers. And when we look to restoring a decent
and hopeful future for our children, I mean
prise. And we're right with respect to the
this about every community.
clergymen here and the church men and
First, every group and institution in Amer-
church women here. We are right about
ica, schools, businesses, churches, certainly,
faith. And most of all, we are right about
must do its part. We must praise what works
America's future.
and share what works.
You see, I fervently believe that we have
And secondly, all leaders, all leaders-
the strength and the spirit in our Govern-
must mobilize and inspire their people to
ment. You can see it here today in our com-
take action.
munities and in ourselves to transform Amer-
And third, community centers must link
ica into the nation that we have dreamed of
those that care with those that are crying out
for generations.
for help.
May God bless each and every one of you
And fourth, with respect, the media needs
in your work. And thank you very, very much.
to show from time to time what's working,
needs to cover what is working. And that way
Note: The President spoke at 9:18 a.m. at
would help us share, that would really help
the Challenger Boys and Girls Club. In his
us share and repeat these successes many
remarks, he referred to William Milliken,
times over.
former Governor of Michigan. A tape was
And finally, this one perhaps a little tech-
not available for verification of the content
nical, but we've got to change our liability
of these remarks.
13 July 1992
MEMORANDUM FOR STEVE PROVOST
FROM:
JEANNIE BUNTON JB X 7750
SUBJECT:
RESEARCH ANSWERS
Attached please find the info you asked about Friday.
1.
Quotes/literary references to New York, The Big Apple,
Gotham City, the Empire State City, Melting Pot;
2.
Articles/ anecdotes about Video rentals during the 88
Democratic Convention;
3. Info on Brian Watkins, Provo, Utah youth murdered in New
York subway in 1990;
4.
Current article about convention from New York mag.
For what it's worth: NYC is a city of the past; whereas Houston
is a city of the future. Will forward additional blips on NYc as
we dig them up.
PAGE
1
LEVEL 1 - 1 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
QUOTES ON NYC
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Politics & Government; Politicians & Critics
:
THE BIG APPLE
GOTHAM CITY
LENGTH: 153 words
SOURCE: Edward Koch, Mayor of NYC
QUOTE:
I'm not the type to get ulcers. I give them.
NY Times 20 Jan 84
If you don't like the president, it costs you 90 bucks to fly to Washington to
picket. If you don't like the governor, it costs you 60 bucks to fly to Albany
to picket. If you don't like me, 90 cents.
ib 28 Feb 85
We're in the hands of the state legislature and God, but at the moment, the
state legislature has more to say than God.
On requesting additional funds for NYC, ib 27 Jun 86
The knife of corruption endangered the life of New York City. The scalpel of
the law is making us well again.
On recent scandals, State of the City Address, ib 25 Jan 87
If you turn your back on these people, you yourself are an animal. You may be a
well-dressed animal, but you are nevertheless an animal.
Calling for civic compassion in AIDS epidemic, ib 16 Mar 87
LEVEL 1 - 2 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Politics & Government; Politicians & Critics
LENGTH: 28 words
SOURCE: Roger Starr
QUOTE:
Reality is the best possible cure for dreams.
On the near financial collapse of NYC in the mid 1970s, The Rise and Fall of
New York City Basic Books 85
LEVEL 1 - 3 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
TM
TM
TM
LEXIS:NEXIS®
LEXIS·NEXIS®
LEXIS'NEXIS®
Services of Mead Data Central, Inc.
Recyclable
PAGE
2
Copyright 1988 Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Law; Criminology
LENGTH: 24 words
SOURCE: William J Dean
QUOTE:
In New York City we need police officers to protect even the dead.
On desecration of graves in Potter's Field, Time 29 Aug 83
LEVEL 1 - 4 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Business; Memorable Advertising
LENGTH: 13 words
SOURCE: New York City Opera
QUOTE:
Come to the opera for a song
Advertising subscription tickets
LEVEL 1 - 5 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Business; Memorable Advertising
LENGTH: 19 words
SOURCE: New York City Transit Authority
QUOTE:
After all, to make a beautiful omelet, you have to break an egg.
Advertising subway reorganization
LEVEL 1 - 6 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Education; Educators & Participants
TM
TM
TM
LEXIS:NEXIS®
LEXIS-NEXIS®
LEXIS·NEXIS®
Services of Mead Data Central, Inc.
Recyclable
PAGE
3
Copyright 1988 Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
LENGTH: 32 words
SOURCE: New York City Board of Education
QUOTE:
It's like being grounded for 18 years.
Poster warning against teen pregnancy, pictured in NY Times 12 Oct 86
Don't make a baby if you can't be a father.
ib
LEVEL 1 - 7 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Travel; Travelers on Traveling
LENGTH: 89 words
SOURCE: Lucinda Franks
QUOTE:
In the railroads, some people read clearly printed departure signs and then
proceed to ask several times what they say. On airplanes, they demand things
they know they cannot have. In their cars, they load up, drive away and then
suddenly realize they don't know where they're going.
"Thousands Ineptly Get Away from It All" NY Times 30 Aug 75
They can be cranky, bewildered, giddy, frustrated and sometimes moved to
violence. In short, they are afflicted with the New York City Getaway Fever.
ib
LEVEL 1 - 8 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Travel; Travelers on Traveling
LENGTH: 32 words
SOURCE: Carl Sandburg
QUOTE:
I been a wanderin'
Early and late,
New York City
To the Golden Gate
An' it looks like
I'm never gonna cease my
:
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Copyright 1988 Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
Wanderin'.
Folk-music lyrics recalled on his death 22 Jul 67
LEVEL 1 - 9 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Travel; Travelers on Traveling
LENGTH: 25 words
SOURCE: Mary Lee Settle
QUOTE:
She dreamed, lulled by the train, of getting off at heaven or New York City,
whichever she got to first.
The Scapegoat Random House 80
LEVEL 1 - 10 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Travel; The Eye of the Traveler
LENGTH: 36 words
SOURCE: Tom Buckley
QUOTE:
The voluptuous curve of the riverbank at 79th Street
escapes from the
city's rigid grid of streets and avenues like a fat woman slipping out of a
corset.
On New York City, NY Times 13 Apr 75
LEVEL 1 - 11 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Travel; The Eye of the Traveler
LENGTH: 23 words
SOURCE: Agatha Christie
QUOTE:
It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City
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Copyright 1988 Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
is itself a detective story.
Life 14 May 56
LEVEL 1 - 12 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: The World
SUBJECT: Travel; The Eye of the Traveler
LENGTH: 44 words
SOURCE: William E Geist
QUOTE:
New York is a city of conversations overheard, of people at the next
restaurant table (micrometers away) checking your watch, of people reading the
stories in your newspaper on the subway train.
"A Quiet Sendoff at the Barbershop" NY Times 25 Oct 86
LEVEL 1 - 13 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: Humankind
SUBJECT: Family Life; Observers & Critics
LENGTH: 18 words
SOURCE: Trevor Fishlock
QUOTE:
Babies here seem to be almost as rare as panda cubs.
On New York City, London Times 9 May 85
LEVEL 1 - 14 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: Humankind
SUBJECT: Humor & Wit
LENGTH: 174 words
SOURCE: Fred Allen
QUOTE:
I have just returned from Boston. It is the only thing to do if you find
yourself up there.
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Copyright 1988 Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
Letter to Groucho Marx 12 Jun 53
A vice president in an advertising agency is a "molehill man" [who] has until 5
pm to make [a] molehill into a mountain. An accomplished molehill man will
often have his mountain finished even before lunch.
Treadmill to Oblivion Little, Brown 54
A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then
wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.
ib
Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborne - sounds like a trunk falling down a flight
of stairs.
On NYC advertising agency, recalled on his death 17 Mar 56
Life, in my estimation, is a biological misadventure that we terminate on the
shoulders of six strange men whose only objective is to make a hole in one with
you.
Forbes 1 Aug 67
Everywhere outside New York City is Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Quoted by Alistair Cooke America Knopf 73
LEVEL 1 - 15 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: Communication & The Arts
SUBJECT: Architecture; Observers & Critics
LENGTH: 36 words
SOURCE: Cecil Beaton
QUOTE:
After 20 annual visits, I am still surprised each time I return to see this
giant asparagus bed of alabaster and rose and green skyscrapers.
On New York City, It Gives Me Great Pleasure John Day 55
LEVEL 1 - 16 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: Communication & The Arts
SUBJECT: Architecture; Observers & Critics
LENGTH: 18 words
SOURCE: E E Cummings
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QUOTE:
The sensual mysticism of entire vertical being.
On New York City, Architectural Digest Sep 86
LEVEL 1 - 17 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: Communication & The Arts
SUBJECT: Food & Drink; Observers & Critics
LENGTH: 42 words
SOURCE: William Emerson Jr
QUOTE:
New York is the greatest city in the world for lunch
That's the
gregarious time. And when that first martini hits the liver like a silver
bullet, there is a sigh of contentment that can be heard in Dubuque.
Newsweek 29 Dec 75
LEVEL 1 - 18 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: Communication & The Arts
SUBJECT: Food & Drink; Observers & Critics
LENGTH: 88 words
SOURCE: Edward Koch, Mayor of NYC
QUOTE:
If they don't want to pay for it, they can stop drinking it.
On charging diplomatic missions for using city water, NY Times 21 Jan 80
The best way to lose weight is to close your mouth - something very difficult
for a politician. Or watch your food - just watch it, don't eat it.
People 10 May 82
Water, water, everywhere
Atlantic and Pacific
But New York City's got them beat
Our aqua is terrific!
To Amer Water Works Assn convention in Dallas, NY Times 11 Jun 84
LEVEL 1 - 19 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
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SECTION: Communication & The Arts
SUBJECT: Food & Drink; Observers & Critics
LENGTH: 30 words
SOURCE: John V Lindsay, Mayor of NYC
QUOTE:
Not only is New York City the nation's melting pot, it is also the casserole,
the chafing dish and the charcoal grill.
To State Restaurant Assn, NY Times 10 Nov 66
LEVEL 1 - 20 OF 20 QUOTATIONS
Copyright 1988 James B. Simpson
Simpson's Contemporary Quotations
SECTION: Communication & The Arts
SUBJECT: Music & Dance; Observers & Critics
LENGTH: 264 words
SOURCE: Shana Alexander
QUOTE:
Until quite recently dance in America was the ragged Cinderella of the arts
Terpsichore was condemned to the chimney corner, and there she languished
until the early 1930s, when Lincoln Kirstein, founding father of the New York
City Ballet, stole Balanchine from Europe in the manner of Prometheus stealing
fire.
Nutcracker Doubleday 85
An artificial style of dance confected for 18th-century kings evolved into a
popular American art form.
an astonishing development for what until
recently had been considered manna for aesthetes only, the quiche of the
performing arts.
ib
The Sugarplum Fairy herself could have made no grander gesture.
On Ford Foundation grants to the NYC Ballet, ib
Every member of the inner ballet world, the entire peerage-pantheon of high
culture-bearers, ladies bountiful, fiscal bigwigs, serious artists, jet-set
sprinters, fading Tsarists, prima donnas, prime aesthetes, bursting
stuffed-shirts, and the whole train of strenuous social mountaineers puffing
uphill behind them all knew that Frances Schreuder was the great work's sole,
albeit anonymous underwriter.
On Frances Schreuder's support of NYC Ballet, 1b
Ballet's image of perfection is fashioned amid a milieu of wracked bodies,
fevered imaginations, Balkan intrigue and sulfurous hatreds where anything is
likely, and dancers know it.
ib
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When the prima ballerina found ground glass in her toe slipper
every other
dancer in the company was equally suspect.
1b
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57
1967
WHRC
t: THE HOME BOOK
OF
QUOTATIONS
Classical and Modern
SELECTED AND ARRANGED BY
BURTON STEVENSON
Editor The Home Book of Verse
I can tell thee where that saying was born
SHAKESPEARE, Twelfth Night
Acti,sc.5,1.9
TENTH EDITION
DODD, MEAD & COMPANY
NEW YORK
1396
NEIGHBOR
NEW YORK CITY
1
Providence to the destruction of his neighbor.
All is well with him who is beloved of his
QUINTILIAN, De Institutione Oratoria. Bk. xii,
neighbours.
ch. 1, sec. 1.
GEORGE HERBERT, Jacula Prudentum.
12
2
There is an idea abroad among moral people
A bad neighbor is as great a plague as a good
that they should make their neighbours good.
one is a blessing; he who enjoys a good neigh-
One person I have to make good: myself. But
bor has a precious possession.
my duty to my neighbour is much more nearly
HESIOD, Works and Days, 1. 346.
expressed by saying that I have to make him
A bad neighbor brings bad luck. (Aliquid mali
happy-if I may.
esse propter vicinum malum.)
R. L. STEVENSON, A Christmas Sermon.
PLAUTUS, Mercator, 1. 772. (Act iv, SC. 4.)
13
Quoted as a proverb.
Love thy neighbor. ('Ayáπa TÒV π/noiov.)
If you're a neighbor to a neighbor who is bad,
THALES. (STOBÆUS, Florilegium. Pt. iii, 1. 59.)
you must learn to suffer what is bad. But if you
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
are neighbor to a neighbor who is good, more
Old Testament: Leviticus, xix, 18; New Testa-
and more reciprocal good do you both teach
ment: Matthew, xix, 19. It will be noted that
and learn.
Jesus was quoting the Old Testament.
MENANDER, Fragments, No. 553.
Once again success has crowned
3
Missionary labor,
Your own safety is at stake when your neigh-
For her sweet eyes own that she
bor's house is in flames. (Tua res agitur, paries
Also loves her neighbor.
cum proximus ardet.)
G. A. BAKER, Thoughts on the Commandments.
HORACE, Epistles. Bk. i, epis. 18, 1. 84.
I love my neighbour as myself,
When a neighbor's house is on fire the flames are
Myself like him too, by his leave,
with difficulty kept from your own. (Proximus a
Nor to his pleasure, power, or pelf
tectis ignis defenditur ægre.)
Came I to crouch, as I conceive.
OVID, Remediorum Amoris, 1. 625.
JOHN BYROM, Careless Content.
4
Every man's neighbour is his looking-glass.
NELSON, HORATIO
JAMES HOWELL, Proverbs: Brit.-Eng., 3.
14 She's [England] lost her Nelson now,
5
(A worthy man: he loved a woman well!)
"Tis need that tests one's neighbor.
THOMAS HARDY, The Dynasts, vi, 8.
HENRIK IBSEN, Peer Gynt. Act i.
15
6
For he is England; Admiral,
A system in which the two great command-
Till the setting of her sun.
ments were to hate your neighbour and love
GEORGE MEREDITH, Trajalgar Day.
your neighbour's wife.
Admirals all, for England's sake,
MACAULAY, Essays: Moore's Life of Byron.
Honour be yours and fame!
7
HENRY NEWBOLT, Admirals All.
We are nearer neighbors to ourselves than
16
whiteness to snow, or weight to stones.
Keep the Nelson touch.
MONTAIGNE, Essays. Bk. ii, ch. 12.
HENRY NEWBOLT, Minora Sidera.
8
A PEERAGE OR WESTMINSTER ABBEY, see 2083:14.
The same reason that makes us wrangle with a
NEW YORK CITY
neighbor causes a war between princes.
17
MONTAIGNE, Essays. Bk. ii, ch. 12.
No king, no clown, to rule this town!
9
WILLIAM O. BARTLETT, in New York Sun,
Whate'er the passion-knowledge, fame, or
about 1870, referring to "Boss" Tweed and
pelf-
Peter B. Sweeny, master-mind of the Tweed
Not one will change his neighbour with him-
ring.
self.
18
POPE, Essay on Man. Epis. ii, 1. 261.
New York is a sucked orange.
See plastic Nature working to this end,
EMERSON, Conduct of Life: Culture.
19
The single atoms each to other tend,
Attract, attracted to, the next in place,
Stream of the living world
Form'd and impell'd its neighbour to embrace.
Where dash the billows of strife!-
POPE, Essay on Man. Epis. iii, 1. 9.
One plunge in the mighty torrent
10
Is a year of tamer life!
Withdraw thy foot from in thy neighbour's
City of glorious days,
house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate
Of hope, and labor and mirth,
thee.
With room and to spare, on thy splendid bays,
Old Testament: Proverbs, XXV, 17.
For the ships of all the earth!
11
Better that man be born dumb, nay, void of
R. W. GILDER, The City.
20
reason, rather than that he employ the gifts of
In dress, habits, manners, provincialism, rou-
CITY
NEW YORK CITY
NEW YORK CITY
1397
struction of his neighbor.
tine and narrowness, he acquired that charm-
Shall make a new Zodiac, guiding the wise,
itutione Oratoria. Bk. xii,
ing insolence, that irritating completeness,
And Broadway make one with that marvelous
that sophisticated crassness, that overbalanced
stair
among moral people
poise that makes the Manhattan gentleman
That is climbed by the rainbow-clad spirits of
their neighbours good.
so delightfully small in his greatness.
prayer.
make good: myself. But
O. HENRY, Voice of the City: Defeat of the City.
VACHEL LINDSAY, A Rhyme About an Electri-
1
cal Advertising Sign.
pour is much more nearly
Far below and around lay the city like a
that I have to make him
Give my regards to Broadway.
ragged purple dream, the wonderful, cruel,
GEORGE M. COHAN. Title and refrain of popu-
enchanting, bewildering, fatal, great city.
Christmas Sermon.
lar song. (1904)
O. HENRY, Strictly Business: The Duel.
2
The Sidewalks of New York.
'Ayáπa TÒV πynoiov.)
Well, little old Noisyville-on-the-Subway is
JAMES BLAKE AND CHARLES LAWLOR. Title and
Florilegium. Pt. iii, 1. 59.)
good enough for me.
refrain of song, later made famous by Al.
neighbour as thyself.
O. HENRY, Strictly Business: The Duel.
Smith. (1894)
xix, 18; New Testa-
7
19. It will be noted that
If there ever was an aviary overstocked with
A stillness and a sadness
the Old Testament.
jays it is that Yaptown-on-the-Hudson, called
Pervade the City Hall,
crowned
New York
"Little old New York's good
enough for us"-that's what they sing.
And speculating madness
she
O. HENRY, Gentle Grafter: A Tempered Wind.
Has left the street of Wall;
that
The Union Square looks really
What else can you expect from a town that's
on the Commandments.
shut off from the world by the ocean on one side
Both desolate and dark,
myself,
and New Jersey on the other?
And that's the case, or nearly,
by
his
leave,
O. HENRY, Gentle Grafter: A Tempered Wind.
From Battery to Park.
or
pelf
3
GEORGE POPE MORRIS, Dark Days. (c. 1860)
I
conceive.
The renowned and ancient city of Gotham.
8
Content.
WASHINGTON IRVING, Salmagundi. No. xvi,
Up in the heights of the evening skies I see
Wednesday, 11 Nov., 1807, ch. 109. Chapter
my City of Cities float
HORATIO
heading. The earliest reference to New York
In sunset's golden and crimson dyes: I look
lost her Nelson now,
City as "Gotham." At the beginning of the
and a great joy clutches my throat!
a woman well!)
chapter, it is referred to as "the thrice re-
Plateau of roofs by canyons crossed: windows
Dynasts, vi, 8.
nowned and delectable city of Gotham."
by thousands fire-furled—
The proverb about the wise men of Gotham
dmiral,
is believed to refer to Gotham, a village in
o gazing, how the heart is lost in the Deepest
sun.
Nottinghamshire, England.
City in the World.
4
JAMES OPPENHEIM, New York from a Sky-
Trafalgar
Day.
Manhattan's a hell where culture rarely grew;
scraper.
sake,
But it lets two lives do all they care to do.
9
dmirals
All.
ALFRED KREYMBORG, Two Lives and Six Mil-
Who that has known thee but shall burn
lion.
In exile till he come again
Harlem has a black belt where darkies dwell in
To do thy bitter will, 0 stern
Sidera.
a heaven where white men seek a little hell.
Moon of the tides of men!
ABBEY, see 2083:14.
ALFRED KREYMBORG, Harlem.
JOHN REED, Proud New York.
10
CITY
New York, the hussy, was taken in sin again!
Just where the Treasury's marble front
THOMAS BEER, The Mauve Decade, p. 141.
rule
this
town!
5
Looks over Wall Street's mingled nations,
in New York Sun,
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
Where Jews and Gentiles most are wont
to "Boss" Tweed and
With conquering limbs astride from land to
To throng for trade and last quotations;
master-mind of the Tweed
land;
Where, hour, by hour, the rates of gold
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall
Outrival, in the ears of people,
stand
The quarter-chimes, serenely tolled
orange.
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
From Trinity's undaunted steeple.
of Life: Culture.
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
E. C. STEDMAN, Pan in Wall Street.
vorld
Mother of exiles.
11
of strife!-
EMMA LAZARUS, The New Colossus.
City of hurried and sparkling waters! city
torrent
6
of spires and masts!
Some day this old Broadway shall climb to
City nested in bays! my city!
the skies,
WALT WHITMAN, Mannahatta.
and
mirth,
As a ribbon of cloud on a soul-wind shall rise,
Mighty Manhattan, with spires, and
on thy splendid bays,
And we shall be lifted, rejoicing by night.
The sparkling and hurrying tides, and the ships.
the
earth!
Till we join with the planets who choir their
WALT WHITMAN, When Lilacs Last in the
City.
delight.
Door-Yard Bloom'd. St. 12.
The signs in the streets and the signs in the
The ferries ply like shuttles in a loom.
provincialism, rou-
skies
Zoë AKINS, This is My Hour.
1398
NEWS
NEWS
1
8
A little strip of an island with a row of well-
It is good news, worthy of all acceptation, and
fed folks up and down the middle, and a lot
yet not too good to be true.
of hungry folks on each side.
MATTHEW HENRY, Commentaries: I Tim. 1, 15.
HARRY LEON WILSON, The Spenders. Ch. viii.
9
2
Stay a little, and news will find you.
We plant a tub and call it Paradise.
New
GEORGE HERBERT, Jacula Prudentum.
York is the great stone desert.
10
ISRAEL ZANGWILL, The Melting-Pot. Act ii.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the
Vulgar of manner, overfed,
feet of him that bringeth good tidings.
Overdressed and underbred.
Old Testament: Isaiah, lii. 7.
BYRON R. NEWTON, Owed to New York. For
full quotation see APPENDIX.
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news
from a far country.
NEWS
Old Testament: Proverbs, XXV, 25.
11
For Newspapers see Press
3
No news is better than evil news.
A master-passion is the love of news.
JAMES I. (Loseley MSS., 403. 1616.)
GEORGE CRABBE, The Newspaper, 1. 281.
The best news is when we hear no news.
4
When a dog bites a man that is not news, but
DONALD LUPTON, London and Country. No. 12.
(1632)
when a man bites a dog that is news.
Usually attributed to CHARLES A. DANA, fa-
No news is good news.
mous editor of the New York Sun, but the
GEORGE COLMAN THE ELDER, The Spleen. Act i.
evidence lavors JOHN B. BOGART, city editor
(1776)
of the Sun from 1873-1890. In a letter to the
No news, good news. (Pas de nouvelles, bonnes
compiler, Mr. Frank M. O'Brien, the present
nouvelles.)
editor of the Sun, says, "The late Edward P.
MEILHAC AND HALÉVY, La Belle Hélène. Act ii,
Mitchell, Dana's right hand man for many
SC. 5.
years, told me that the author was Mr. Bo-
12
gart. Mr. Mitchell was meticulous about such
Into authentical and apocryphal-
things, and if it had not been true I think
Or news of doubtful credit, as barbers' news,
Mr. Bogart, a most modest man, would have
And tailors' news, porters', and watermen's
demurred." Stanley Walker (City Editor,
news
p. 20) attributes the saying to Amos Cum-
Vacation news, term-news, Christmas-news.
mings, another of Dana's editors.
Asked for a definition of news, I can give you
BEN JONSON, The Staple of News. Act i, SC. 2.
13
no better answer than the one on which we were
brought up in the Sun office. Mr. Dana used to
Evil news fly faster still than good.
say, "When a dog bites a man that is not news,
THOMAS KYD, Spanish Tragedy. Act i. (1594)
but when a man bites a dog that is news."
Ill news hath wings, and with the wind doth go:
RICHARD HARDING DAVIS. (HARRINGTON, Es-
Comfort's a cripple, and comes ever slow.
sentials of Journalism.)
MICHAEL DRAYTON, The Barons' Wars. Bk. ii,
News is as hard to hold as quicksilver, and it
st. 28. (1603)
fades more rapidly than any morning-glory.
Ill news, madam, are swallow-winged, but what's
STANLEY WALKER, City Editor, p. 20.
good walks on crutches.
Women, wampum and wrongdoing are always
MASSINGER, The Picture. Act ii, SC. 1. (1630)
news.
STANLEY WALKER, City Editor, p. 44.
It is an old saying that Ill News hath wings and
5
Good News no legs.
Good news may be told at any time, but ill
MARGARET CAVENDISH, DUCHESS OF NEW-
in the morning.
CASTLE, Sociable Companions. Act i, SC. 1.
(c. 1660)
GEORGE HERBERT, Jacula Prudentum.
Do not awake me when you have good news to
For evil news rides post, while good news baits.
communicate, with that there is no hurry. But
MILTON, Samson Agonistes, 1. 1538. (1671)
when you bring bad news, rouse me instantly,
Ill news is wing'd with fate, and flies apace.
for then there is not a moment to be lost.
DRYDEN, Threnodia Augustalis, 1. 49. (1685)
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. To his Secretary.
Ill news goes quick and far.
(Quoted by Emerson, Napoleon.)
6
PLUTARCH, Of Inquisitiveness. Quoted.
Where village statesmen talked with looks
14
profound,
What, what, what,
And news much older than their ale went
What's the news from Swat?
round.
Sad news, Bad news,
GOLDSMITH, The Deserted Village, 1. 223.
Comes by the cable; led
7
Through the Indian Ocean's bed,
News, the manna of a day.
Through the Persian Gulf, the Red
MATTHEW GREEN, The Spleen, 1. 169.
Sea, and the Med-
AMERICA THE
QUOTABLE
Mike Edelhart and
James Tinen
Facts On File Publications
460 Park Avenue South
New York, N.Y. 10016
NEW YORK CITY
inveterate propensity of their husbands
West Point:
and the world has occurred in New York than any
the village tavern on market-days."
other place in the country-Washington, D.C. in-
Washington Irving
"The scenery around it [West Point] is magnificent,
cluded. So it is only fitting that a great deal has been
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
and though the buildings of the establishment are
1849
said about New York. Whether in love or loathing,
constructed with the handsome and unpicturesque
New York always inspires comment from visitor and
regularity which marks the work of governments,
denizen alike.
they are so nobly placed, and so embosomed in
reover, this vague sense of old-world ro-
woods, that they look beautiful."
THE CITY
[occurs] in the hilly regions of 'upstate'
Frances Trollope
of which I am speaking. The hills are not
Domestic Manners of the Americans
[A Southerner explains why he is 'finally, at peace
the woods are not too continuous. Grassy
1832
with New York']: " New York no longer had any
reaches, winding rivers, pastoral
boundaries
It was everywhere that telephones
walls, old water mills, old farmsteads,
and radio and television and airplanes could reach-
old burying-grounds give to the contem-
for New York is not simply an uncomfortable place
agination that poetic sense of human conti-
NEW YORK CITY
to live and work in, but a state of mind, and in that
generations following each other in slow
sense there is nothing left now to confine it, no
uccession.
"
physical barriers and no permanent, distinctive re-
John Cowper Powys
gional attitudes. So I was at peace with New York not
Autobiography
because I had conquered it, or tried to, but because I
1962
had surrendered; like my grandfathers I had turned in
***
my sword because the invasion was complete and I
in rural areas]: "The people of these
had nothing left to defend."
settlements have hung on to their immatur-
Harry S. Ashmore
tenaciously, I believe, than the people of
An Epitaph for Dixie
section of America. They may not actually
1958
Chartered: 1898
backward than some of the hill towns of
***
Population (1980): 7,071,030
or the rural sections in the vast hinterlands
"New York is the Mecca of everyone in the world
but they have fought harder to retain their
New York City, the nation's largest, is actually five
who has an independent will and a conception of the
and against far greater odds."
different communities, each of which contains its
century he lives in. New York is the gateway to the
Charles W. Wood
These United States
own distinct ethnic and geographical subcultures.
48 [number of states at the time] freedoms-which
1924
The five boroughs that make up New York-
may not be enough, but which are unquestionably
Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten
better than the seven devils left behind. New York
Island-are enormously diverse, a reality denoted by
means all this and earns its greatness, but by a
the fact that only Queens and Brooklyn touch another
paradox of equal magnitude, it fails in all the practi-
a very handsome town seated on the banks
borough. The rest are separated by water.
cal modernity it supposedly stands for. As a city to
Mohawk which is here reduced to a very
New York culture differs markedly from the rest of
live in, New York is a squatter's camp."
stream. The people about this part of the
American society. Its roots lie closer to the ethnic
Jacques Barzun
from New England generally, and afford
homes of its citizens than to the rest of the American
God's Country and Mine
contrast in looks and manners to the Dutch
continent. Even the high-style society of Manhattan
1954
has a distinctly cosmopolitan flavor. Yet America
***
settled on the lower parts of the river."
Washington Irving
cherishes New York as it does few places, primarily
"As for New York City, it is a place apart. There is
Journal
because the city, almost like a living museum, pre-
not its match in any other country in the world."
Aug. 7, 1803
serves the nation's ethnic roots and diversity.
Pearl S. Buck
***
In addition, New York creates an enormous part of
America
ought Utica the most extempore place we had
American culture. Art, theater, books, advertising all
1971
The right-up shops, the daubed houses, the
emanate from the Big Apple. The ideas all America
***
unning into the woods, all seemed to betoken
talks about come from New York.
"When can a city be said to be dying? For one thing,
place had sprung up out of some sudden
Historically, New York has held a vital role. It was
when its past far outshines its present and over-
much more ancient and respectable did it
the nation's first capital. Its port brought most of our
whelms the future, and New York is at that point.
my return from the West, where I had
immigrants and for decades handled most of the
The giants have gone, along with the good days and
so
much
newer
still!"
seagoing trade that spread American influence
easy nights."
Harriet Martineau, English novelist
around the world. It has been America's largest city
Herb Caen
Retrospect of Western Travel
since 1820.
One Man's San Francisco
1838
It can be said that more of importance to this nation
1976
347
NEW YORK CITY
***
and harlots than all Asia, and yet it has no more
"I mean that I was in love with the city, the way you
charm than a circus lot or a second-rate hotel."
H.L. Mencken
love the first person who ever touches you."
Joan Didion
"On Living in Baltimore"
"Goodbye to All That"
Prejudices: Fifth Series
1967
1926
***
"Sailing around the Battery from one river to the
***
other, gliding close to shore, night coming on, the
"New York was no mere city. It was instead an
streets dotted with scurrying insects. I felt as I had
infinitely romantic notion."
always felt about New York-that it is the most
Joan Didion
horrible place on God's earth."
"Goodbye to All That"
Henry Miller
1967
The Air-Conditioned Nightmare
1945
***
***
[A definition of hell]: "New York City with all the
"My one thought is to get out of New York, to
experience something genuinely American."
escape hatches closed."
James R. Frakes
Henry Miller
New York Times
The Air-Conditioned Nightmare
1945
May 19, 1974
***
"The City of New York, the noblest of the American
***
symbols."
"It is the lodestone for ambition, the ultimate of
James Morris
human gregariousness, the culmination of 20th cen-
As I Saw the USA
tury civilization."
1956
Ernest Gruening
These United States
***
1924
"And so in the end I was left, like so many voyagers
before me, trapped by the great port. I loathed it like
***
a lover. The questions it asked I resented; the an-
" 'The filthiest, most crime-ridden spot in the
swers it gave I mistrusted; the delight, I felt to be
world,' one fashionable New York lady called it.
unfair. Damn you, New York! Damn the bright
Helen [Hayes] instantly blazed out in its defense.
sweep of your spaces, and the ungainly poetry of
'But can't you realize,' she demanded, 'that our city
your names! A curse on all your archipelago, and
is so big it's got to have the most of everything? And
those rough fresh winds off your bay-which, catch-
by the very same token, it's got more that's good than
ing me like an embrace as I stepped out of the
helicopter, so often ravished my spirits and made my
any place I know.'
Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
heart sing."
James Morris
Twice Over Lightly
1972
The Great Port
1969
***
***
"It's a town you come to for a short time."
"Unfortunately there are still people in other areas
Ernest Hemingway
who regard New York City not as a part of the United
Quoted by Lillian Ross
States, but as a sort of excrescence fastened to our
The New Yorker
Eastern shore and peopled by the less venturesome
1950
waves of foreigners who failed to go West to the
genuine American frontier."
***
Robert Moses
"
the greatest city of the modern world, with
Working for the People
more money in it than all Europe and more clowns
1956
348
NEW YORK CITY
all Asia, and yet it has no more
***
lot or a second-rate hotel."
***
"The two moments when New York seems most
H.L. Mencken
desirable, when the splendor falls all around and the
"The insecurity center of America."
"On Living in Baltimore"
city looks like a girl with leaves in her hair, are just as
John Weitz and Everett Mahlin
Prejudices: Fifth Series
1926
you are leaving and must say good-bye, and just as
Man in Charge
you return and can say hello."
1974
***
The New Yorker
***
und the Battery from one river to the
Jan. 11, 1955
"A poem compresses much in a small space and adds
close to shore, night coming on, the
music, thus heightening its meaning. The city is like
with scurrying insects. I felt as I had
***
poetry: it compresses all life, all races and breeds,
about New York-that it is the most
"The feeling I have for this city is akin to sexual
into a small island and adds music and the accompa-
on
God's
earth."
love. It lies here waiting like a mistress for her
niment of internal engines."
Henry Miller
demon lover at the very beginning of the affair."
E.B. White
The Air-Conditioned Nightmare
Alex Phillips, English entrepreneur
"This is New York"
1945
Quoted by Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
Essays of E.B. White
***
Twice Over Lightly
1977
ought is to get out of New York, to
1972
***
omething genuinely American."
Henry Miller
"New York is to the nation what the white spire is to
***
The Air-Conditioned Nightmare
the village-the visible symbol of aspiration and
1945
"A sallow waiter brings me beans and pork
faith, the white plume saying the way is up!"
10
Outside there's fury in the firmament.
E.B. White
***
Ice Cream, of course, will follow; and I'm content.
Quoted in Mental Health in the Metropolis
New York, the noblest of the American
O Babylon! o Carthage! o New York!"
1962
Siegfried Sassoon
***
James Morris
"Storm on Fifth Avenue"
As I Saw the USA
1926
"I too lived, Brooklyn of ample hills was mine,
1956
I too walk'd the streets of Manhattan Island, and
bathed
***
***
in the waters around it. "
the end I was left, like so many voyagers
trapped by the great port. I loathed it like
"The chief complaint I have about living in the Big
Walt Whitman
Town is the necessity now and then of showing it off
"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry"
questions it asked I resented; the an-
to my kinfolks or other unreasonable citizens from
1881
I mistrusted; the delight, I felt to be
the Edgar Guest country."
***
you, New York! Damn the bright
H. Allen Smith
your spaces, and the ungainly poetry of
"New York is surrounded on all sides by Bridge-
"New York Is Mostly People"
port."
A curse on all your archipelago, and
1943
fresh winds off your bay-which, catch-
Old show biz maxim
an embrace as I stepped out of the
so often ravished my spirits and made my
***
[A remark prompted by the demolition of the old
THE LANDSCAPE
James Morris
Pennsylvania station]: "This city has the right
The Great Port
name-New York. Nothing ever gets old around
"Man's history is not inscribed on these poised and
1969
here."
knowingly-calculated buildings; they are nearer to
Ralph Stephenson, counterman at restaurant in
prehistoric caverns than the houses of Paris or
***
Rome."
there are still people in other areas
Pennsylvania Station
Quoted in New York Times
Simone de Beauvoir
New York City not as a part of the United
as a sort of excrescence fastened to our
Oct. 29, 1963
America Day by Day
1953
and peopled by the less venturesome
***
foreigners who failed to go West to the
***
merican
frontier."
"The capital of the world."
world." "New York is the biggest collection of villages in the
Robert Moses
Kurt Vonnegut
Working for the People
Alistair Cooke
Palm Sunday
1956
One Man's America
1981
1952
349
NEW YORK CITY
***
the builded majesties of the world as we have hereto-
"Just around every corner lay something curious and
fore known such-towers or temples or fortresses or
interesting, something I had never before seen or
palaces-with the authority of things of permanence
or even of things of long duration. One story is good
done or known about."
Joan Didion
only till another is told, and skyscrapers are the last
"Goodbye to All That"
word of economic ingenuity only till another word be
1967
written."
Henry James
The American Scene
***
1907
"There was first the ferry boat moving softly from
the Jersey shore at dawn-the moment crystallized
***
into my first symbol of New York."
"Whenever spring comes to New York I can't stand
F. Scott Fitzgerald
the suggestions of the land that come blowing over
The Crack-up
the river from New Jersey and I've got to go. So I
1932
went."
Jack Kerouac
On the Road
***
1955
[On the growth and grid pattern of the city]: "New
***
York proceeded to suppress all traces of its heritage,
"Chemical air
to will nature to conform to its errors. Relentlessly it
sweeps in from New Jersey
has tunneled through rock, buried rods beneath the
and smells of coffee.
surface of the rebelling springs and streams it could
not annihilate, flattening every undulation, straight-
Across the river,
ening every variation, squeezing itself into endless
ledges of suburban factories tan
rows of rectangles, as impersonal as pig iron. Was
in the sulphur-yellow sun
not here for the first time cast and forecast the
of the unforgivable landscape."
regimentation that is America?"
Robert Lowell
Ernest Gruening
"The Mouth of the Hudson"
These United States
For the Union Dead
1924
1964
***
***
"Do you realize that one can't look in any direction
"Until you have been there it is difficult to conceive
in Manhattan without seeing water at the end of the
of a city so sparkling that at any time Mr. Fred
street: the Harbor, the Hudson and East rivers, the
Astaire might quite reasonably come dancing his
Narrows, and even the Atlantic. Here we are entering
urbane way down Fifth Avenue."
James Morris
the age of Aquarius, the age of water, with New York
As I Saw the USA
the wateriest city in the entire world. Yet we, who
1956
could be beachcombers on a dozen exciting water-
fronts, live here as if we were in the middle of the
***
Sahara!"
"The pneumatic noisemaker is becoming the em-
Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
blematic Sound of New York, the way the bells of
Twice Over Lightly
Big Ben are the Sound of London."
1972
Horace Sutton
Saturday Evening Post
***
March 11, 1961
"Crowned not only with no history, but with no
***
credible possibility of time for history, and conse-
crated by no uses save the commercial at any cost,
"Skyscraper national park."
Kurt Vonnegu
they are simply the most piercing notes in that
concert of the expensively provisional into which
Slapstic
197
your supreme sense of New York resolves itself.
They never begin to speak to you, in the manner of
***
350
NEW YORK CITY
majesties of the world as we have hereto-
[Leaving America on a ship]: "And suddenly as I
River and sunset and scallop-edg'd waves of flood-
such-towers or temples or fortresses or
looked back at the skyscrapers of lower New York a
tide?
the authority of things of permanence
queer fancy sprang into my head. They reminded me
The sea gulls oscillating their bodies, the hay-boat
of long duration. One story is good
quite irresistibly of piled-up packing-cases outside a
in the twilight, and the belated lighter?"
other is told, and skyscrapers are the last
warehouse. I was amazed I had not seen the resem-
Walt Whitman
nomic ingenuity only till another word be
blance before. I could really have believed for a
"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry"
moment that that was what they were, and that
1881
Henry James
presently out of these would come the real thing,
***
The American Scene
palaces and noble places, free, high circumstances,
"One is glad to come back to the gray New York air,
1907
and space and leisure, light and fine living for the
the cold faces, the colorless buildings."
***
sons of men."
Edmund Wilson
spring comes to New York I can't stand
H.G. Wells
"Return from Louisiana"
of the land that come blowing over
"The Future in America"
1926
New Jersey and I've got to go. So I
1906
***
Jack Kerouac
"The skyscrapers that are the New Yorker's perpet-
On the Road
ual boast and pride rise up to greet one as one comes
PEOPLE
1955
through the Narrows into the Upper Bay, stand out in
***
a clustering group of tall irregular crenellations, the
"New York is the place of casual acquaintances who
air
strangest crown that ever a city wore. They have an
become your Great-and-Good-Friends in Time [mag-
from
New
Jersey
effect of immense incompleteness; each one seems to
azine]."
of
coffee.
await some needed terminal-to be, by virtue of its
Nelson Algren
woolly jets of steam, still as it were in process of
Who Lost An American?
river,
eruption."
1963
suburban factories tan
H.G. Wells
***
hur-yellow
sun
"The Future in America"
orgivable landscape."
"It is often said that New York is a city for only the
1906
Robert Lowell
very rich and the very poor. It is less often said that
***
"The Mouth of the Hudson"
New York is also, at least for those of us who came
For the Union Dead
[The skyline] "One thinks of St. Peter's great blue
there from somewhere else, a city only for the very
1964
dome, finished and done as one saw it from a vine-
young."
shaded wine-booth above the Milvian Bridge, one
Joan Didion
***
thinks of the sudden ascendency of St. Paul's dark
"Goodbye to All That"
have been there it is difficult to conceive
grace, as it soars out over anyone who comes up by
1967
so sparkling that at any time Mr. Fred
the Thames towards it. These are efforts that have
***
quite reasonably come dancing his
accomplished their ends, and even Paris illuminated
"The thing that impressed me then as now about
down Fifth Avenue."
under the tall stem of the Eiffel Tower looked com-
New York was the sharp, and at the same time
James Morris
pleted and defined. But New York's achievement IS a
immense, contrast it showed between the dull and the
As I Saw the USA
threatening promise, growth going on under a pres-
shrewd, the strong and the weak, the rich and the
1956
sure that increases, and amidst a hungry uproar of
effort."
poor, the wise and the ignorant the strong, or
***
H.G. Wells
those who ultimately dominated, were so very
umatic noisemaker is becoming the em-
"The Future in America"
strong, and the weak so very, very weak-and so
Sound of New York, the way the bells of
1906
very, very many."
the Sound of London."
Theodore Dreiser
***
Horace Sutton
The Color of a Great City
Saturday Evening Post
"When million-footed Manhattan unpent descends to
1923
March 11, 1961
her pavements
"
***
Walt Whitman
***
[What New Yorkers think out-of-towners think
"A Broadway Pageant"
national
park."
1881
about them]: "New Yorkers
Kurt Vonnegut
Know less about their city than visitors.
***
Slapstick
Never get stiff necks from looking at tall buildings.
1976
"Ah, what can ever be more stately and admirable
Are the biggest hicks in the world when you come
***
to me than mast-hemm'd Manhattan?
down to it.
351
NEW YORK CITY
***
All cherish a secret hope of one day owning a farm
complete with Jersey cow, babbling brook and
"To start with, there's the alien accent. 'Tree' is the
no elevator service.
number between two and four. 'Jientz' is the name of
New Yorkers who made the grade all come from
the New York professional football team. A 'fit' is a
Kansas or Iowa."
bottle measuring seven ounces less than a quart. This
The Federal Writers Project of the WPA
exotic tongue has no relationship to any of the
Almanac for New Yorkers
approved languages at the United Nations, and is
1937
only slightly less difficult to master than Urdu."
Fletcher Knebel
***
Look
"It never occured to him [a New Yorker] that New
March 26, 1963
Jr
York might be a bad idea, that it might be caving in
***
under the artificiality of its existence. What was life
without a thousand Chinese restaurants?
"Robinson Crusoe, the self-sufficient man, could
not have lived in New York City."
]'
Joel Garreau
The Nine Nations of North America
Walter Lippmann
1981
Newsweek
Feb. 26, 1968
***
***
"New York is hard, cynical, ruthless, even beyond
other cities. From their early repression its children
"New York attracts the most talented people in the
emerge sophisticated, both stunted and overdevel-
world in the arts and professions. It also attracts them
oped, perverted, premature, forced by the artificial-
in other fields. Even the bums are talented."
Edmund Love
ity of their environment."
Ernest Gruening
Subways Are for Sleeping
These United States
1957
1924
***
***
"Part of the oncoming demise [of New York during
"The city of right angles and tough, damaged peo-
its terrible fiscal crisis] is that none of us can simply
believe it. We were always the best and the strongest
ple."
Pete Hamill
of cities, and our people were vital to the teeth.
New York Daily News
Knock them down eight times and they would get up
Nov. 15, 1978
with that look in the eye which suggests the fight has
barely begun."
Norman Mailer
***
New York Times Magazine
"New York is a city where everyone mutinies but no
May 18, 1969
one deserts."
Harry Hershfield
***
Quoted in New York Post
Dec. 16, 1974
"He speaks English with the flawless imperfection
of a New Yorker."
***
Gilbert Millstein
[On the 'zero' crime rate during a blackout]: "The
Esquire
main reason why the unlighted streets were not
January 1962
turned into a dark and steaming jungle was the
reaction of the community In the dark all men
***
were the same color. In the dark our fellow man was
"And it was to this city, whenever I went home, that
seen more clearly than in the normal light of a New
I always knew I must return, for it was mistress of
York night."
one's wildest hopes, protector of one's deepest priva-
Stephen Kennedy
cies. It was half insane with its noise, violence, and
Time
decay, but it gave one the tender security of fulfill-
Aug. 31, 1959
ment. On winter afternoons, from my office, there
352
NEW YORK CITY
***
were sunsets across Manhattan when the smog itself
"Africa, for New Yorkers, begins at East Orange
there's the alien accent. 'Tree' is the
shimmered and glowed. Despite its difficulties,
[New Jersey]."
two and four. 'Jientz' is the name of
which become more obvious all the time, one was
Raymond Sokolov
professional football team. A 'fit' is a
constantly put to the test by this city, which finally
New York Times
seven ounces less than a quart. This
came down to its people; no other place in America
Feb. 14, 1971
has no relationship to any of the
had quite such people, and they would not allow you
* * *
guages at the United Nations, and is
to go stale; in the end they were its triumph and its
reward."
"The truly terrible costs of New York are special and
difficult to master than Urdu."
Willie Morris
spiritual. These accrue in endless human discomfort,
Fletcher Knebel
Yazoo
inconvenience, harassment and fear which have be-
Look
March 26, 1963
1971
come a part of the pervasive background, like the
noise and the filth, but are much deadlier. For it is
***
people who breathe life into an environment, who
***
"Most human beings are driven to seek security and
create and sustain a healthy city. If people are driven
rusoe, the self-sufficient man, could
comfort. But there is another group that can only
and their senses dulled, if they are alienated and
in
New
York
City."
thrive on change and the unexpected of New York."
dehumanized, the city is on the way to destroying
Walter Lippmann
Cathleen Nesbitt
itself."
Newsweek
Quoted by Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
Richard Whalen
Feb. 26, 1968
Twice Over Lightly
A City Destroying Itself
1972
1965
***
***
***
ttracts the most talented people in the
"I couldn't sleep after reading how those Washing-
and professions. It also attracts them
"Mass hysteria is a terrible force, yet New Yorkers
ton politicians hate us New York City people. If only
Even the bums are talented."
seem always to escape it by some tiny margin."
Edmund Love
those poor creatures knew how we pity them. They
E.B. White
only breathe in and out, but we New Yorkers live."
Subways Are for Sleeping
"Here Is New York"
Letter to editor
1957
Essays of E.B. White
New York Daily News
1977
***
Oct. 5, 1981
***
oncoming demise [of New York during
***
"Many people who have no real independence of
crisis] is that none of us can simply
"The thing I can't tell is whether cab drivers yield to
spirit depend on the city's tremendous variety and
were always the best and the strongest
each other out of fear or respect."
sources of excitement for spiritual sustenance and
our people were vital to the teeth.
New York policeman
maintenance of morale I think that although
down eight times and they would get up
Quoted in New York Times
many persons are here from some excess of spirit
in the eye which suggests the fight has
March 10, 1968
(which caused them to break away from their small
***
town), some, too, are here from a deficiency of
Norman Mailer
[On why cats are popular pets in New York]:
spirit, who find in New York a protection, or an easy
New York Times Magazine
May 18, 1969
the truth about cats may be that they fit into this
substitution."
city well because they seem to possess some of the
E.B. White
salient traits of New Yorkers: a sleek self-assurance,
"Here Is New York"
***
a slight attitude of arrogance, and unconcern with
Essays of E.B. White
English with the flawless imperfection
public opinion, a nose in the air."
1977
Anna Quindlen
Gilbert Millstein
***
New York Times
Esquire
"They come from all over the country to New York.
January 6, 1982
January 1962
The executive's wife decided they will move to New
***
York. She says, 'John, you're the boss now. I've
***
"One day there was four innocent people shot.
been doing the laundry and raising the kids all my
this city, whenever I went home, that
That's the best shooting ever done in this town. Hard
life. It's time we enjoyed opening nights in New
I must return, for it was mistress of
to find four innocent people in New York."
York.' So the company packs up and moves."
hopes, protector of one's deepest priva-
Will Rogers
William Zeckendorf, president of
insane with its noise, violence, and
The Best of Will Rogers
Webb and Knapp
gave one the tender security of fulfill-
1979
Life
afternoons, from my office, there
***
Aug. 10, 1959
353
NEW YORK CITY
WAY OF LIFE
"Prostitution is the only business that isn't leaving
the city."
"Never had misery appeared so horrible as in New
Roy Goodman, state senator
York and Chicago."
Speech to New York Press Club
Simone de Beauvoir
Oct. 24, 1976
***
America Day by Day
1953
"It was early June and New York was already a ghost
***
town. The rich had departed at the first sign of a
"There is something in the New York air that makes
Puerto Rican with a transistor. Politicians hung in to
sleep useless."
turn on a few fire hydrants and pose with some wet
Simone de Beauvoir
Third Worlders before taking off on junkets that kept
America Day by Day
them away until Labor Day."
1953
Heywood Gould
Glitterburn
***
1981
"The constant need for reassurance-nowhere is it
***
more apparent than here in this dying metropolis
where the American dream began and is now running
"The two eternal verities, time and space, alone are
out its string (well, nobody lives forever)."
restricted amid the city's abundance. Where leisure
Herb Caen
has become exotic, the supreme experiences-love,
One Man's San Francisco
friendship, and human contacts-are harassed and
1976
trammeled. Courtship in New York is of necessity
hurried, furtive, interrupted, irrationally exposed or
***
confined Friendship in New York is hindered by
"I began to cherish the loneliness of it."
its distances, its haste, its proprieties, its irresistible
Joan Didion
propulsion. As for casual contacts, the city's philoso-
"Goodbye to All That"
1967
phy is everyone for himself."
Ernest Gruening
***
These United States
"When I first saw New York I was 20, and it was
1924
summertime, and I got off a DC-7 at the old Idlewild
temporary terminal in a new dress which had seemed
***
very smart in Sacramento but seemed less smart
"The great charm of New York is that it's still
already."
unpredictable. Any sidewalk might lead us to some-
Joan Didion
thing unexpected, something that could exist no-
"Goodbye to All That"
where else in the world."
1967
Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
Twice Over Lightly
***
1972
"I began to like New York, the racy, adventurous
feel of it at night, and the satisfaction that the
***
constant flicker of men and women and machines
"The most positive thing of all is that nobody ever
gives to the restless eye."
has to be alone in New York. You're alone with New
F. Scott Fitzgerald
York, which makes a whole world of difference.
The Great Gatsby
What other companion could be so varied, stimulat-
1925
ing, dramatic, and so available?"
Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
***
Twice Over Lightly
"No city in the Union furnishes the same supply of
1972
the material [corpses] for the study of practical anat-
omy as the city of New York."
***
Anonymous
"Here was the expensive as a power by itself."
Quoted by Thomas Gallagher
Henry James
The Body Snatchers
The American Scene
June, 1967
1904
***
***
354
NEW YORK CITY
is the only business that isn't leaving
"The gutters overflow and nothing ever works but I
glad and gay ones, too. For there is gaiety in this
know now I shall live and die here. Anything I do is
sprawling metropolis. You hear it in the cheep of
Roy Goodman, state senator
all right just as long as I make a go of it. Last night
sparrows in the park, the laughter of children in
Speech to New York Press Club
my water pipe burst at 3 a.m. I had to figure a way to
playgrounds, the banter of taxi drivers lightly insult-
Oct. 24, 1976
mend it. And I did!"
ing other motorists, and it is a truer gaiety than that
***
Alan Pryce Jones, English critic
which glitters in the night spots or theatres, where
June and New York was already a ghost
Quoted by Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
visitors so often seek it."
rich had departed at the first sign of a
Twice Over Lightly
Sister Maryanna, Dominican Academy
with a transistor. Politicians hung in to
1972
New York Daily News
fire hydrants and pose with some wet
* * *
April 9, 1960
before taking off on junkets that kept
"I don't like the life here. There is no greenery. It
until
Labor
Day."
would make a stone sick."
***
Heywood Gould
Nikita Khruschev
"If, in New York, you arrive late for an appointment,
Glitterburn
Quoted in Time
say 'I took a taxi.'
1981
Oct. 10, 1960
Andre Maurois, French writer
***
***
Quoted in New York Times
verities, time and space, alone are
"No other city in the United States can divest the
Aug. 13, 1950
the city's abundance. Where leisure
visitor of so much money with so little enthusiasm.
***
exotic, the supreme experiences-love,
In Dallas, they take away with gusto; in New Or-
and human contacts-are harassed and
leans, with a bow; in San Francisco, with a wink and
"What makes New York so dreadful, I believe, is
Courtship in New York is of necessity
a grin. In New York, you're lucky if you get a
mainly the fact that the vast majority of its people
have been forced to rid themselves of one of the
interrupted, irrationally exposed or
grunt."
oldest and most powerful of human instincts-the
Friendship in New York is hindered by
Fletcher Knebel
instinct to make a permanent home. Crowded,
its haste, its proprieties, its irresistible
Look
shoved about and exploited without mercy, they have
As for casual contacts, the city's philoso-
March 26, 1963
lost the feeling that any part of the earth belongs to
yone
for
himself."
***
them, and so they simply camp out like tramps,
Ernest Gruening
"Now the midwinter grind
waiting for the constables to rush in and chase them
These United States
is on me, New York
away."
1924
drills through my nerves
H.L. Mencken
as I walk
***
"On Living in Baltimore"
the chewed-up streets "
charm of New York is that it's still
Prejudices: Fifth Series
Robert Lowell
Any sidewalk might lead us to some-
1926
spected, something that could exist no-
"Middle Age"
For the Union Dead
***
in
the
world."
1964
Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
"Indeed, you may as well admit that the whole place
***
is built on greed."
Twice Over Lightly
1972
"A car is useless in New York, essential everywhere
James Morris
else. The same with good manners."
As I Saw the USA
***
Mignon McLaughlin
1956
positive thing of all is that nobody ever
The Second Neurotics Notebook
***
in New York. You're alone with New
1966
makes a whole world of difference.
"There are those who say New York City is a
***
companion could be so varied, stimulat-
provincial enclave, and that it is unrepresentative of
"The frayed tissue of New York manners seems
and
so
available?"
the rest of the nation. I have lived on Manhattan
ready to splatter on every city street."
Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
Island eight years now, and for the first two or three
Norman Mailer
Twice Over Lightly
in the Big Cave, in the dreadful hardening of one's
1972
New York Times Magazine
senses for survival in the cultural capital, I shared in
May 18, 1969
many of these fears. But gradually I grew to feel that
***
***
New York, far from being an estuary of our national
the expensive as a power by itself."
"I never tire of singing my own 'Manhattan Magnifi-
life, is if anything more representative, than not,
Henry James
cat'
Often I look out of my sixth floor window at
more American than otherwise, precisely because it
The American Scene
midnight or an early hour of the morning at the
brings together the whole range and spectrum
of
1904
squares of gold and topaz and I pray for all the
the American temperament, of the American races,
***
worry-weary souls behind those windows-and the
of all our ways of living and our ways of speaking.
355
NEW YORK CITY
New York has become to me the crux and apogee of
***
our contemporary experience. "
"If you are confused ask somebody. New Yorkers
Willie Morris
are very helpful. However, the first person you ask
Yazoo
will give you the wrong answer. So ask loudly
1971
enough that others will overhear and make correc-
***
tions. New Yorkers love to correct each other."
"I prayed for the city to be cleared of people, for the
George Weller
gift of being alone-a-l-o-n-e: which is the one New
Note on subway map he designed and published
York prayer that rarely gets lost or delayed in chan-
1977
nels, and in no time at all everything I touched turned
***
to solid loneliness."
"The link is just spending. You come to New York
J.D. Salinger
and spend; you go away again."
"De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period"
H.G. Wells
Nine Stories
"The Future in America"
1964
1906
***
***
"There's no room for amateurs, even in crossing the
"On any person who desires such queer prizes, New
streets."
York will bestow the gift of loneliness and the gift of
George Segal, actor
privacy."
Newsweek
E.B. White
Dec. 14, 1972
"Here Is New York"
***
Essays of E.B. White
"Your native New Yorker relishes the sport of the
1977
apartment hunt the way the English gentry love to
***
hunt foxes."
[Office windows at twilight]: You can see in
Rufus Sharman
pantomime the puppets fumbling with their slips of
Saturday Evening Post
paper (but you don't hear the rustle), see them pick
April 19, 1952
up their phone (but you don't hear the ring), see the
***
noiseless, ceaseless moving about of so many passers
"As we drew near New York I was at first amused,
of pieces of paper: New York, the capital of memo-
and then somewhat staggered, by the cautious and
randa, in touch with Calcutta, in touch with Reykja-
grisly tales that went round. You would have thought
vik, and always fooling with something."
we were to land upon a cannibal island. You must
E.B. White
speak to no one in the streets, as they would not leave
"Here Is New York"
'til you were rooked and beaten. You must enter a
CBS-TV
hotel lobby with military precautions; for the least
1958
you had to apprehend was to awake the next morning
***
without money and baggage, or necessary raiment, a
"The last time I visited New York, it seemed to have
lone forked radish in a bed; and if the worst befell,
suffered a personality change, as though it had a
you would instantly and mysteriously disappear from
brain tumor as yet undetected."
the ranks of mankind."
E.B. White
Robert Louis Stevenson
Preface
The Amateur Emigrant: the Silverado Squatters
The Essays of E.B. White
1923
1977
***
***
" New York, where 250 people die each day, and
"Proud, cruel, everchanging and ephemeral city, to
where the living dash for empty apartments.
whom we came once when our hearts were high, our
Where on page 29 of this morning's newspaper are
blood passionate and hot, our brain a particle of fire:
pictures of the dead; on page 31 are pictures of the
infinite and mutable city, mercurial city, strange
engaged; on page one are pictures of those who are
citadel of million-visaged time!-Oh! endless river
running the world, enjoying the lush years before
and eternal rock, in which the forms of life came,
they land back on page 29."
passed and changed intolerably before us, and to
Gay Talese
which we came, as every youth has come, with such
New York-A Serendipiter's Journey
enormous madness, and with so mad a hope-for
1961
what? To eat you, branch and root and tree; to devour
356
NEW YORK CITY
***
you, golden fruit of power and love and happi-
confused ask somebody. New Yorkers
sized Irish county units were available. Marchers
"
ness.
pful. However, the first person you ask
wore costumes that still smelled of native peat."
Thomas Wolfe
ou the wrong answer. So ask loudly
Meyer Berger
Of Time and the River
others will overhear and make correc-
New York Times
1935
Yorkers love to correct each other."
March 17, 1954
* * *
George Weller
***
subway map he designed and published
"Gigantic city [New York], we have taken nothing-
not even a handful of your trampled dust-we have
"The Easter Parade tradition isn't as old as many
1977
made no image on your iron breast and left not even
people seem to think. It started in a small way about
***
the print of a heel upon your stony-hearted pave-
100 years ago down around Old Trinity when the city
just spending. You come to New York
ments."
had not begun to spread. Ladies and gentlemen in
you go away again."
Thomas Wolfe
spring finery usually strolled up Broadway toward
H.G. Wells
Of Time and the River
Canal Street, or down to the Battery after church, and
"The Future in America"
1935
took the new sun with neighbors until it was time for
1906
the noonday meal."
***
***
Meyer Berger
rson who desires such queer prizes, New
"Much of what is chalked off as New York's rude-
New York Times
estow the gift of loneliness and the gift of
ness, aggressiveness or impersonal treatment is in
March 17, 1954
fact nothing more than some poor bastard, convinced
* * *
E.B. White
that he is in the 'big-league' town, trying to put a
"Here Is New York"
little extra spin on his delivery."
[In 1871]: "For five years the Tweed Ring had led a
great treasury raid. Tammany Hall had been re-
Essays of E.B. White
Tom Wolfe
That Kandy-Kolored, Tangerine-Flake,
modeled into an awesome political machine, sup-
1977
***
Streamline Baby
ported by the immigrant and the native poor, and
sustained on election day by a horde of Tammany
dows at twilight]: You can see in
1965
warriors, repeaters, and corrupt election officials
the puppets fumbling with their slips of
* * *
who made a mockery out of the power of the ballot.
you don't hear the rustle), see them pick
"In New York a man does not have to devote himself
No wonder Boss Tweed could ask the reformer,
one (but you don't hear the ring), see the
to a woman, or think about her or even pay attention
'What are you going to do about it?' "
easeless moving about of so many passers
to her. He can glide at will."
Alexander B. Callow Jr.
f paper: New York, the capital of memo-
Tom Wolfe
The Tweed Ring
uch with Calcutta, in touch with Reykja-
That Kandy-Kolored, Tangerine-Flake,
1965
ways fooling with something."
Streamline Baby
E.B. White
* * *
1965
"Here Is New York"
"I don't suppose there was a day, an hour, when the
CBS-TV
middle class got their marching orders, but toward
1958
the end of the 1940s the middle class began to move
***
the rich of the city were getting richer and the
time I visited New York, it seemed to have
HISTORY AND POLITICS
friable middle ground where we stood was vanish-
personality change, as though it had a
ing."
or as yet undetected."
"Until about 50 years ago, it was possible to think
John Cheever
E.B. White
there was something cozy and quaint about New
"Moving Out"
Preface
York straggling upward from the Battery. Central
Essay reprinted in Esquire: The Best of Forty Years
The Essays of E.B. White
Park was way uptown, goats grazed on Morningside
1973
1977
Heights, and a native poet, Joseph Rodman Drake,
***
* * *
could exclaim:
ruel, everchanging and ephemeral city, to
'My own romantic Bronx!'
"First New York was a sort of provincial capital,
came once when our hearts were high, our
without being suspected of writing a caption for a
bigger and richer than Manchester or Marseilles, but
ionate and hot, our brain a particle of fire:
New Yorker drawing."
not much different in its essential spirit. Then, after
nd mutable city, mercurial city, strange
the war, it became one among half a dozen world
Jacques Barzun
million-visaged time!-Oh! endless river
cities. Today it has the appearance of standing alone,
God's Country and Mine
11 rock, in which the forms of life came,
as the center of culture in the part of the world that
1954
d changed intolerably before us, and to
still tries to be civilized."
***
came, as every youth has come, with such
Malcolm Cowley
madness, and with so mad a hope-for
"It was not until the 1850s that the St. Patrick's Day
New Republic
parades assumed large proportions. By that time
eat you, branch and root and tree; to devour
1939
immigration from Ireland was at flood and good-
***
357
NEW YORK CITY
"From every quarter, as you glance about in these
play the pale, unhealthy children who even allowing
dark streets, some figure crawls half-awakened, as if
for the enormous death rate, still swarm in the
the judgment hour were near at hand, and every
horrible dwellings. Can a more frightfully unwhole-
obscure grave were giving up its dead. Where dogs
some system be imagined?"
would howl to lie, men and women and boys slink
Charlotte G. O'Brien
off to sleep, forcing the dislodged rats to move away
The Emigrant in New York
in quest of better lodgings. Here, too, are lanes and
1884
alleys paved with mud knee-deep; underground
***
chambers where they dance and game; the walls
"Now, a word about Tammany's love for the Ameri-
bedecked with rough designs of ships, of forts and
can flag. Did you ever see a Tammany Hall deco-
flags, and American Eagles out of number; ruined
rated for a celebration? It's just a mass of flags
houses, open to the street, whence through wide gaps
We don't care for expense where the American flag
in the walls other ruins loom upon the eyes, as
is concerned, especially after we have won an elec-
though the world of vice and misery had nothing else
tion."
to show all that is loathesome, drooping and de-
George Washington Plunkitt,
cayed is here."
Tammany Hall politician
Charles Dickens
Quoted by William L. Riordan
American Notes
Plunkitt of Tammany Hall
1842
1948
***
***
"Is New York a den of vice? When a bishop later
"Life in the tenements in July and August spells
proclaims that there are as many prostitutes in New
death to an army of little ones whom the doctor's
York as there are Methodists, the city administration
skill is powerless to save. When the white badge of
sniggers."
mourning flutters from every second door, sleepless
Oliver Jenson
mothers walk the streets in the gray of the early
American Heritage
dawn, trying to stir a cooling breeze to fan the brow
December, 1969
of a sick baby."
***
Jacob A. Riis
"Thousands of people lived under the shadow of the
How the Other Half Lives
elevated, with the smoke of the old-fashioned loco-
1890
motives puffing into their windows, with the clank
***
and rattle causing them to shout in daily conversation
"The gang is an institution in New York.
LS
to overcome the roar outside. The obliviousness to
Jacob A. Riis
low sounds, the indifference to cacophony which
How the Other Half Lives
makes the ideal radio listener of present-day Amer-
1890
ica, was part of the original acquisition of Manhattan
* * *
in [these early 20th century] decades."
"But there is no doubt anywhere that San Francisco
Lewis Mumford
can be rebuilt [after the 1906 earthquake], larger,
The Metropolitan Milieu
better, and soon. Just as there would be none at all if
1934
all this New York that has so obsessed me with its
* *
limitless bigness was itself a blazing ruin. I believe
"New York life among the poor has one central
these people [New Yorkers] would more than half
distinguishing feature-namely, the fact that all live
like the situation. It would give them scope, it would
in tenements or in houses built on much the same
facilitate that conversion into white marble in pro-
principle. This principle is about as bad as it can
gress everywhere, it would settle the difficulties of
possibly be. In the typical tenement house the stair-
the Elevated railroad and clear out the tangles of
case passes up a well in the center of the house. It has
lower New York."
no light from the open air, no ventilation; it is
H.G. Wells
absolutely dark at midday except for such glasses
"The Future in America"
over the doors of the flats, and possibly from a
1906
skylight at the top of the house. It is a well for all the
***
noxious gases to accumulate in; it cannot be aired;
[New York during the mid-1800s]:
the rays of the sun never penetrate to it; in the worst
"The countless masts, the white shore steamers,
houses it is foul with the coming and going of the
the lighters, the ferry-boats, the black sea-
innumerable denizens of the tenements. On its steps
steamers well model'd,
358
NEW YORK CITY
The down-town streets, the jobbers' houses of
unhealthy children who even allowing
"Summer night in the east Bronx. The men are inside
rmous death rate, still swarm in the
business, the houses of business of the ship-
playing pinochle. The men are sleeping, are talking
merchants and money-brokers, the river-streets,
ellings. Can a more frightfully unwhole-
shop. They have gone to see if [Leon] Trotsky is still
Immigrants arriving, fifteen or twenty thousand in
be imagined?"
sitting on a bench in Crotona Park. The street is full
a week,
Charlotte G. O'Brien
of mothers who have run out of the stuffy house to
The carts hauling goods, the manly race of drivers
look for air."
The Emigrant in New York
of horses, the brown-faced sailors,
1884
Grace Paley
The summer air, the bright sun shining, and the
"Mom"
sailing clouds aloft,
rd about Tammany's love for the Ameri-
Great American Things
The winter snows, the sleigh-bells, the broken ice
1976
id you ever see a Tammany Hall deco-
in the river, passing along up or down with the
telebration? It's just a mass of flags
flood-tide or ebb-tide,
re for expense where the American flag
"The south Bronx is a necropolis-a city of death."
The mechanics of the city, the masters, well-
1, especially after we have won an elec-
form'd, beautiful-faced, looking you straight in
Dr. Harold Wise, community leader
Quoted in New York Times
the eyes,
George Washington Plunkitt,
1973
Trottoirs throng'd, vehicles, Broadway, the
Tammany Hall politician
women, the shops and shows,
Quoted by William L. Riordan
A million people-manners free and superb-open
Plunkitt of Tammany Hall
Brooklyn
voices-hospitality-the most courageous and
1948
friendly young men,
City of hurried and sparkling waters! city of spires
"[Vaudevillian] Eddie Foy remarked, in discussing
tenements in July and August spells
and masts!
the engineering feat of the Brooklyn Bridge, 'All that
trouble just to get to Brooklyn.'
army of little ones whom the doctor's
City nested in bays! my city!"
Joey Adams
erless to save. When the white badge of
Walt Whitman
From Gags to Riches
utters from every second door, sleepless
"Mannahatta"
1946
lk the streets in the gray of the early
1855
to stir a cooling breeze to fan the brow
by."
"Now [after labor demonstrations] the streets are
[The Brooklyn Bridge]: "O harp and altar, of the
Jacob A. Riis
fury fused,
completely cleared-the great suction pumps of
How the Other Half Lives
downtown New York have pulled up their popula-
(How could mere toil align thy choiring strings!)"
1890
Hart Crane
tions again."
"To Brooklyn Bridge"
Edmund Wilson
1933
is an institution in New York."
"Cops and Communists"
Jacob A. Riis
1931
How the Other Half Lives
"It [Brooklynese] was a dialect of confusions
1890
these linguistic confusions were the reflection of
BOROUGHS AND REGIONS
deeper confusions. They mirrored the inverted psy-
is no doubt anywhere that San Francisco
chology of the natives who called their heroes
The Bronx
'Bums.'
ilt [after the 1906 earthquake], larger,
soon. Just as there would be none at all if
Frances Griffiths
York that has so obsessed me with its
"The sobriety and regularity of the life of the west
New York Times
gness was itself a blazing ruin. I believe
Bronx is suggested more by the even and dull archi-
Aug. 16, 1972
e [New Yorkers] would more than half
tecture of the side streets than by the color and
ation. It would give them scope, it would
movement of the shopping avenues."
"There's a trace of the erotic about the way we
at conversion into white marble in pro-
Ruth Glazer
Manhattanites regard Brooklyn. The Bronx may sup-
where, it would settle the difficulties of
Commentary
ply guffaws, Queens makes us yawn, and Harlem
d railroad and clear out the tangles of
May, 1949
starts us jiving but Brooklyn touches our very libi-
York."
dos."
H.G. Wells
"The Bronx?
Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
"The Future in America"
No thonx!"
Twice Over Lightly
1906
Ogden Nash
1972
"Geographical Reflection"
during the mid-1800s]:
Hard Lines
less masts, the white shore steamers,
"Boy, sure is quiet since the Dodgers left. They were
1931
rs, the ferry-boats, the black sea-
a lousy team, even when they won the pennant, but
well model'd,
there was noise around here. You could hear it from
359
NEW YORK CITY
here, a block away [from Ebbets Field], that yell
the world ocean. Here one can easily embrace the
which meant Duke Snider struck out on a bad pitch
suggestion, which Whitman felt so easily, that the
or Carl Furillo made a great catch or Pee Wee Reese
whole American world opens out from here, north
laid down a bunt. Ah-h-h, I hope they all get asthma
and west."
Alfred Kazin
out in L.A. They left us when they were getting real
lousy, so good riddance, but alla same, they were
Brooklyn Bridge
1946
great ball players, and I still remember Gil Hodges
hitting a grand slam against the Giants. I hated the
Giants. There's nobody left to hate anymore. Brook-
"Brooklyn, in a dignified way, is a fantastic place.
lyn is changed."
Comparing the Brooklyn that I know with Man-
Former Ebbets Field hot dog vendor
hattan is like comparing a comfortable and compla-
Quoted in Holiday
cent duenna to her more brilliant and neurotic sister.
March, 1960
Things move more slowly out here
and
there
is
a
feeling for tradition."
Carson McCullers
"The lingering sense of Brooklyn as a land of bound-
Brooklyn Is My Neighborhood
less mirth with baseball obbligato was the creation of
1941
certain screenwriters and comedians
In one old
patriotic movie, Bing Crosby defends the American
flag against a cynic by asking others 'to say what Old
"New York is Babylon; Brooklyn is the truly Holy
Glory stands for.' A Southerner talks of red clay and
City. New York is the city of envy, office work, and
pine trees. A Westerner describes sunset in the
hustle; Brooklyn is the region of homes and happi-
Rocky Mountains. But it is a Brooklynite who carries
ness
There is no hope for New Yorkers, for they
the back lot at Paramount pictures. His speech begins
glory in their skyscraping sins; but in Brooklyn there
with the apothegm, 'Hey, Mac. Ever see steam
is the wisdom of the lowly."
Christopher Morley
comin' out of a sewer in Flatbush?'
Parnassus on Wheels
Roger Kahn
1917
The Boys of Summer
1973
" 'Brooklynese' became conspicuous in American
"After World War II, Brooklyn, like most urban
lore about the time that Brooklyn's reputation
settlements, began a struggle to adjust which pres-
changed from that of a dull, respectable 'city O.
ently turned and became a struggle to survive.
homes' and 'city of churches' to a frenetic, surly
Brooklyn had been a heterogeneous, dominantly
wasteland of incivility and mindless baseball boost
middle-class community, with remarkable schools,
erism."
Geoffrey D. Needle:
good libraries and not only major league baseball,
Brooklyn US.
but extensive concert series, second-run movie
197
houses, expensive neighborhoods and a lovely rolling
stretch of acreage called Prospect Park. For all the
outsiders' jokes, middle-brow Brooklyn was reason-
"Brownsville was a Jewish island
Up to the ag
ably sure of its cosmic place, and safe. Then, with
of 12 or so, a Brownsville child scarcely saw an
postwar prosperity came new highways and the con-
members of other groups except for teachers an
queror automobile. Families whose wanderings had
policemen, and never really felt that the Jews wer
not extended beyond the route of the New Lots
anything but an overpowering majority of the huma
Avenue subway at last were able to liberate them-
race."
selves
Soon families began to leave their blocks
William Poste
Commenta
for good."
Roger Kahn
May, 195
The Boys of Summer
1973
"At the age of 10 I took upon my spreading shou
ders the full burden of being a Brooklynite-I starte
"Brooklyn Heights itself is a window on the port.
traveling daily in the subway. What drought is to tl
Here, where the perspective is fixed by the towers of
Oklahoma farmer, famine to the Bengalese peasar
Manhattan and the hills of New Jersey and Staten
silicosis to the coal miner, the BMT, the IRT, and t]
Island, the channels running between seem fingers of
newer Independent subway are to the dweller
360
NEW YORK CITY
cean. Here one can easily embrace the
Brooklyn
which Whitman felt so easily, that the
the sound of the underground wheels
roaring out of the DeKalb Avenue station is the beat
rican world opens out from here, north
"Its [Brooklyn's] situation for grandeur, beauty, and
of the living heart of Brooklyn."
-salubrity is unsurpassed probably on the whole sur-
Irwin Shaw
Alfred Kazin
face of the globe; and its destiny is to be among the
Holiday
Brooklyn Bridge
most famed and choice of the half dozen cities of the
1950
1946
world. And all this, doubtless, before the close of the
*
present century."
"Serene was a word you could put to Brooklyn, New
Walt Whitman
in a dignified way, is a fantastic place.
York
the Brooklyn that I know with Man-
Serene was the only word for it; especially
Brooklyn Standard
on a Saturday afternoon in summer."
1861
e comparing a comfortable and compla-
to her more brilliant and neurotic sister.
Betty Smith
*
more slowly out here
and
there
is
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
a
"In Brooklyn, in the neighborhood of Henry Street,
1932
radition."
the pleasant red and pink brick houses still worthily
*
Carson McCullers
represent the generation of Henry Ward Beecher; but
Brooklyn Is My Neighborhood
"Coney Island, the American Brighton, grew in
an eternal Sunday is on them now; they seem sunk in
1941
popularity as the city increased in size and conges-
a final silence."
*
tion in the [1870s]. On a hot Sunday, half a million
Edmund Wilson
is Babylon; Brooklyn is the truly Holy
people (making a carpet of heads) might crowd its
"On This Site Will be Erected"
wide stretch of sand in a few hours, a traveler of 1887
York is the city of envy, office work, and
1925
klyn is the region of homes and happi-
reported in the London Times. "They spread over the
*
ere is no hope for New Yorkers, for they
four miles of sand strip, with
bands of music
"That was a good time then, for then the sun came
skyscraping sins; but in Brooklyn there
in full blast; countless vehicles moving; all the min-
out one day and the [Brooklyn] bridge made music
of the lowly."
iature theaters, minstrel shows, merry-go-rounds,
through the shining air. It was like a song: it soared
Christopher Morley
Punch and Judy enterprises, fat women, big snakes,
like flight above the harbor.
And I saw all the
Parnassus on Wheels
giant, dwarf and midget exhibits, circuses and me-
faces of the people on the bridge, and they were
1917
nageries, swings, flying horses and fortune telling
coming towards me and there was something strange
shops open; and everywhere a dense but good hu-
and sad about it, and yet it was the most magnificent
mored crowd, sightseeing, drinking beer and swal-
became conspicuous in American
thing I had ever seen: the air was clean and sparkling
lowing clam chowder.'
the time that Brooklyn's reputation
like sapphires, and out beyond this was the harbor
Bayrd Still
and I knew that the sea was there."
that of a dull, respectable 'city of
Mirror for Gotham
'city of churches' to a frenetic, surly
Thomas Wolfe
1956
incivility and mindless baseball boost-
The Web and the Rock
* *
1937
"Brooklyn is a province. Although it lies but across
Geoffrey D. Needlep
the river from what is the most metropolitan of all
Greenwich Village
Brooklyn USA
cities, and is in fact a borough of it, one may as well
1979
hail from Hoosick Falls (N.Y.) or Possum Trot
"I remember how often some of us walked out of the
(Ark.) as from Brooklyn."
darkness of the Lower East Side and into the brilliant
was
a
Jewish
island
Up to the age
Boris Todrin
sunlight of Washington Square."
a Brownsville child scarcely saw any
Out of These Roots
Harry Golden
other groups except for teachers and
1944
Only in America
*
and never really felt that the Jews were
1958
an overpowering majority of the human
"The [Brooklyn] bridge was not built by fiat from
***
that fabulous island [Manhattan]. Instead, Brooklyn
William Poster
flung the pathway over the water as the crowning act
[On why developers have not yet built up Greenwich
of a century of almost unparalleled growth and ex-
Village]: "It's because there's an earthquake fault
Commentary
May, 1950
pansion
The genius of the Roeblings [the engi-
running underneath the Village that frightens off the
neers who designed the bridge] was used in a great
realtors from putting up any more skyscrapers. Geol-
* *
act of creation which was Brooklyn's glory and, in a
ogists have traced the fault along 14th Street and,
of 10 I took upon my spreading shoul-
sense, Brooklyn's doom. The city was committing
according to the soothsayer Edgar Cayce, a large
burden of being a Brooklynite-I started
corporate suicide, for shortly after came political
slice of Manhattan is going to break off someday and
in the subway. What drought is to the
union with Manhattan."
slide into the Atlantic."
armer, famine to the Bengalese peasant,
Ralph Foster Weld
Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
coal miner, the BMT, the IRT, and the
Brooklyn Is America
Twice Over Lightly
pendent subway are to the dweller of
1950
1972
*
361
NEW YORK CITY
"But now the famed Figaro coffeehouse [in
was grand blue benediction, and beneath it the won-
Greenwich Village], where more talented people
derful air of New York tasted like fine dry cham-
wasted their talents talking over caffeine than at any
pagne."
other place in New York, has made way for a Blimpie
Claude McKay
sandwich shop and Bleecker [Street] has become a
Home to Harlem
1928
parody of its former Bohemianism."
Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
Other Places
Twice Over Lightly
1972
Central Park:
***
"Greenwich Village is the only spot in New York
"To the park, accordingly and to the (Central) Park
where you can go out for the Sunday newspaper in
only, hitherto, the aesthetic appetite had had to
your pajamas and bare feet and nobody pays you any
address itself, and the place has therefore borne the
attention."
brunt of many a peremptory call, acting out year after
Helen Hayes and Anita Loos
year the character of the cheerful, capable, bustling,
Twice Over Lightly
even if overworked, hostess of the one inn, some-
1972
where, who has to take all the travel, who is often at
her wits' end to know how to deal with it, but who,
"Way down South in Greenwich Village,
none the less, has, for the honor of the home, never
That's the field for culture's tillage.
once failed of hospitality."
There they have artistic ravings,
Henry James
Tea and other awful cravings.
The American Scene
But then the inspiration stops.
1907
You'll find them anywhere
Round Washington Square."
Improvised song
Lower New York:
Quoted by Helen Ramsey
More Pious Friends and Drunken Companions
"Every evening is Pamplona in lower New York."
1928
John Steinbeck
Travels with Charley
1962
Harlem
[After coming to New York City from the South]:
"Then at the street intersection I had the shock of
NORTH
seeing a black policeman directing traffic-and there
were white drivers who obeyed his signals as though
CAROLINA
it was the most natural thing in the world
This
really was Harlem."
Ralph Ellison
Invisible Man
1947
***
"Lenox Avenue,
BOWN
Honey.
Midnight,
And the gods are laughing at us."
Langston Hughes
Capital: Raleigh
"Lenox Avenue: MIDNIGHT"
Entered the union (with rank): Nov. 21, 1789 (12)
The Weary Blues
State motto: Esse quam videri (To be rather than to
1926
seem)
State flower: Dogwood
"Light open coats prevailed and the smooth bare
State bird: Cardinal
throats of brown girls were a token as charming as
State song: "The Old North State"
the first pussywillows. Far and high over all, the sky
State tree: Pine
362
PAGE 20
LEVEL 1 - 16 OF 22 STORIES
Copyright (c) 1988 The Washington Post
July 31, 1988, Sunday, Final Edition
VIDEO RENTALS
SECTION: FIRST SECTION; PAGE A8; POLITICS
DURING DNC '88
LENGTH: 240 words
HEADLINE: Boosting Video Rentals
BYLINE: Maralee Schwartz, Lloyd Grove, Chris Adams
BODY:
It seems that when some people wanted to see action from a man named Jackson
during the Democratic National Convention, they didn't turn to Jesse. They
turned to Carl Weathers --- "Action Jackson" in the film of the same name.
And when viewers wanted to hear an inspiring dialogue on the pressing social
issues of the day, they opted for Eddie Murphy's "Raw," not Dukakis' "new era of
greatness."
Video rentals were 50 good that some outlets are planning a special
advertising push for the Republican National Convention, which begins Aug. 15.
"We'll let people know that there is an alternative to watching the politicians
go at it," said J. Ronald Castell, a vice president for Erol's Inc., a chain of
video rental stores with 74 outlets in the area. "It wasn't something we
expected, but we'll be ready for New Orleans."
Although national numbers are not available, Washington-area movie rental
outlets said the Democratic Convention was even better for business than bad
weather, as an unexpectedly high number of people found the prospect of watching
Dukakis, Sen. Lloyd Bensten (Tex.), Jesse L. Jackson, et al., uncompelling, at
[
best. At Erol's, for example, movie rentals were up over the corresponding days
last year by 38 percent Monday, 43 percent Tuesday and 46 percent Wednesday. On
Thursday ---- the Democrats' big night --- video rentals were up 49 percent.
"We can't wait for the Republicans to get together," Castell said.
TYPE: NATIONAL NEWS
SUBJECT: POLITICAL CONVENTIONS; TELEVISION / VIDEO; FILMS
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PAGE 19
LEVEL 1 - 15 OF 22 STORIES
Copyright 1988 A/S/M Communications, Inc.
ADWEEK
August 8, 1988, Eastern Edition
SECTION: CORRIDOR TALK
LENGTH: 71 words
HEADLINE: Video Vincit
BODY:
* Erol's, the largest video club in the District of Columbia, has come up
with the best measure yet of the (lack of) pulling power of the conventions.
During the four nights of the Democratic convention, video rentals surged
57.2% as compared to the same four days in 1987.
It's not clear whether the Republicans will be able to top that - but
Erol's, betting the Grand Old Party might, is laying on extra inventory.
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PAGE 18
LEVEL 1 - - 14 OF 22 STORIES
Copyright (c) 1988 The Washington Post
August 15, 1988, Monday, Final Edition
SECTION: FINANCIAL; PAGE F3
LENGTH: 269 words
HEADLINE: CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
BYLINE: Clay Chandler, Lena H. Sun, Mark Potts, Paul Farhi
BODY:
If this week's Republican convention in New Orleans proves anywhere near as
gripping as last month's Democratic convention in Atlanta, it may have local
video retailers yawning all the way to the bank.
Video outlets in the Washington area report that the four days of the
Democratic convention saw a dramatic jump in the number of tapes they rented,
as viewers apparently opted for "Dirty Dancing" and "Top Gun" over Michael
Dukakis and Jesse Jackson.
During the Democratic convention - when Nielsen ratings for TV viewing
fell sharply - video rentals at the Erol's Video Club chain were up a
whopping 43.5 percent over the same period last year, according to Erol's
spokeswoman Michelle Abballe.
"It was an unbelievable surge," Abballe said. "It just came out of nowhere."
While several factors unrelated to politics may have contributed to the boost
in rentals - including hot weather, the Hollywood writer's strike and the
release of a number of popular movies on video -- Erol's senior management is
convinced that convention-induced ennui was the primary culprit, Abballe said.
So this week, the Springfield-based video club chain is running a promotion
featuring a mack platform complete with popular movie videos presented as policy
"planks."
The platform's "foreign policy plank," for example, includes titles like
"Rambo" and "Missing in Action."
"We are not telling our customers not to watch the convention broadcast,"
Erol's marketing vice president Ron Castell said in a press release. "We do
feel, however, they should have something more on their plate when it comes to
home video."
GRAPHIC: ILLUSTRATION, JIM PATERSON FOR TWP; ILLUSTRATION
TYPE: NATIONAL NEWS
SUBJECT: TELEVISION / VIDEO
ORGANIZATION: EROL'S VIDEO CLUB
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LEVEL 1 I 11 OF 22 STORIES
Copyright (c) 1988 The Washington Post
August 23, 1988, Tuesday, Final Edition
SECTION: FIRST SECTION; PAGE A7; POLITICS
LENGTH: 197 words
HEADLINE: Vox VCR
BYLINE: Maralee Schwartz, Frank Swoboda
BODY:
Politicians and news executives are talking about shorter national political
conventions but, if owners of video-rental stores had their way, conventions
would last for weeks. Rentals were at record highs during the recent
conventions.
"Hot weather and hot movies played a significant part," said a very politic
Vans Stevenson, public-relations director for Erol's Inc., which has 165
outlets.
"Wall Street," "Action Jackson" and "Suspect" drew a lot more interest than
Dukakis or Bush. During the Democratic convention July 18-21, rentals were up
57 percent from the same time a year ago. During the GOP convention last week,
rentals were up 30 percent over the corresponding days in 1987.
Did viewers find the Democrats less interesting? "There was more news and
controversy during the Republican convention," Stevenson offered. "It was
Reagan's last appearance, and there was the vice presidential choice."
While rentals were down overall during the GOP convention compared with the
Democratic convention, one movie hit record highs. Viewers opted for Robin
Williams' war record over Quayle's, renting 34,078 videos of "Good Morning
Vietnam" during the GOP convention.
TYPE: NATIONAL NEWS
SUBJECT: UNITED STATES; TELEVISION / VIDEO; POLITICAL PARTIES; POLITICAL
CONVENTIONS
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PAGE 14
LEVEL 1 - - 10 OF 22 STORIES
Copyright (c) 1988 The New York Times Company;
The New York Times
August 23, 1988, Tuesday, Late City Final Edition
SECTION: Section A; Page 18, Column 6; National Desk
LENGTH: 225 words
HEADLINE: Washington Talk: Briefing;
Tuning Out
BYLINE: By JOHN H. CUSHMAN & DAVID BINDER
BODY:
Widespread ownership of television sets changed the way Americans followed
national political conventions. Now, burgeoning ownership of video recording
machines may encourage them to avoid the political process altogether.
Erol's Inc., a Washington-based video rental service with stores throughout
the mid-Atlantic region, determined that movie rentals were up substantially
during the two national political conventions.
Vans Stevenson, a spokesman for the company, said rentals rose 57 percent
during the Democratic convention, almost twice the increase of 30 percent
during the Republican convention.
''One of the things we theorized was that everyone already knew the outcome
of the Democratic convention beforehand, as opposed to the Republican
convention, Mr. Stevenson said.
However, he added that a number of things could have contributed to the
higher rental rate during the Democratic convention, including summer heat
hitting its peak during July.
One additional note: The company recorded a 39 percent increase in rentals of
the movie ''Hoosiers'' for the weekend following the acceptance speech made by
Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana, the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee. Mr.
Quayle's speech made several references to the movie, which chronicles the
winning season of a fictional high school basketball team in Indiana.
GRAPHIC: Drawing
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1988; TELEVISION; RECORDINGS (VIDEO);
CONVENTIONS, NATIONAL (US)
ORGANIZATION: EROL'S INC
NAME: CUSHMAN, JOHN H JR; BINDER, DAVID
TITLE: WASHINGTON TALK PAGE (NYT)
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PAGE 11
LEVEL 1 - 9 OF 22 STORIES
Copyright (c) 1988 The Times Mirror Company;
Los Angeles Times
September 4, 1988, Sunday, Home Edition
SECTION: Opinion; Part 5; Page 3; Column 3; Opinion Desk
LENGTH: 1235 words
HEADLINE: SLOGANS IN SECONDS: LOSING WEIGHT IN POLITICAL DEBATE
BYLINE: By Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, professor of
communication at the University of Texas, is the author of Eloquence in an
Electronic Age (Oxford University Press).
DATELINE: AUSTIN, TEXAS
BODY:
Thomas Jefferson's oft-cited comment about government without newspapers or
vice versa has a less-cited coda: "But I should mean that every man should
receive those papers and be capable of reading them."
What Jefferson did not envision two centuries ago was that his
great-grandchildren's great-grandchildren would search some major newspapers in
vain for an instance of extended political argument -- a transcribed speech, for
example, or a published debate.
The last century had its share of abbreviated messages, but the newspaper was
not their home. Bits of information and slogans inhabited street and parade
banners, professional torches and broadsides. Newspapers were made of longer
stuff. Although partisan, the papers of Jefferson's day were substantial.
Today the search for substance is more readily thwarted. Abbreviated forms of
communication abound. Political ads average 30 seconds in length. In network
news, candidates are rarely heard speaking for more than 15 seconds at a time.
Even the answers in debates have grown shorter -- down to one minute in a number
of the contests of the past primary season.
Survival of the briefest also governs network coverage of conventions. Lost
in CBS, NBC and ABC's rush to learn Bush's vice presidential pick and how would
it play in Peoria were two important speeches: the first, by Gov. John H. Sununu
of New Hampshire, previewed the fall campaign's indictments of the Democratic
nominee; the second, by former U.N. Ambassador Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, cogently
expressed the conservative philosophy of foreign affairs.
What substance TV reporters do find in speeches or debates is winnowed out in
their search for the candidates' strategic intent. When not focusing on the
"horse race" and "game plans," aspiring Dan Rathers fill our time with
prophesies about a future we will momentarily discover for ourselves: Who will
run? Who will win? Who's up in the polls? Who's down?
Substance is reduced to slogans and snippets. The 1980 primaries live in news
stories as "I paid for this microphone, Mr. Green"; the 1984 primaries as
"Where's the beef?" Repeated replays enable us to paraphrase television's
remembrance of debates past:
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12
(c) 1988 Los Angeles Times, September 4, 1988
"There you go again."
"Do you remember when you said 'there you go again'?"
"I will not hold my opponents comparative youth and inexperience against
him."
Lost in post-debate coverage were the philosophies, policies and proposals of
the debaters, their important similarities and differences, their alternative
visions of the country's future.
Voters without access to a good newspaper, C-SPAN or CNN must rely on
information accumulated in bites of a quarter of a minute to a minute in length.
Even those granules of information do not receive concentrated attention. Many
who pick up political information from TV news and ads are passive, their
political information gotten accidentally. Casual attention creates some
superficial sense of politics but not a solid command of information, issues or
candidates. Even at the most intense points in a senatorial campaign, more than
half the population cannot identify the candidates.
Cheated by an educational system that no longer teaches students to produce
or evaluate argument, the most educated electorate in American history routinely
chooses old movies or video rentals over convention speeches, and prefers
soaps and sitcoms to political substance. So "Peyton Place" and "Petticoat
Junction" drew larger audiences than Barry M. Goldwater's conversation with
Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1964; "Jaws" swallowed Roger Mudd's award-winning
interview with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) in 1980; and video-rental
stores experienced such a run of customers during this summer's conventions that
the political parties should consider putting voter-registration desks there in
1992.
When blamed for the decay in the quality of political discourse, political
consultants turn the indictment back on their accusers. A substantial speech
can't attract an audience as large as "Dynasty" or even "Dialing for Dollars,"
one practitioner told ME. "It's sports they'll watch 50 it's sports they'll
get."
Besides, speaking substantially produces pain but little gain. The public is
ill-disposed to listen to substance, the press ill-disposed to report it. As
does the opposing candidate's staff, the press will listen attentively for slips
or strategic missteps. Pens are poised and cameras set to capture Richard M.
Nixon declaring "I am not a crook," Michael S. Dukakis encouraging Iowa farmers
to grow Belgian endive, George Bush referring to his grandchildren as "little
brown ones,' Ronald Reagan declaring that facts are "stupid things.' Seeing
everything to lose and nothing to gain, in 1986 many candidates abandoned public
speechmaking entirely. Campaigns became ad wars.
The speeches that have adapted to the demands of the press and the
dispositions of television viewers are the public equivalent of the Johnny
Carson monologue -- strings of randomly assembled one-liners and anecdotes. No
camera crew will have to look long for a 30-second sound bite. No detailed
argumentative substructure will drive viewers away.
Texas State Treasurer Ann Richards' speech at the Democratic Convention is
illustrative. It contained one story of her memories of summer nights
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13
(c) 1988 Los Angeles Times, September 4, 1988
listening to the grown-ups talk; one letter from a constituent; humanizing
references to granddaughter Lily and the future, and some now very familiar
30-second sound bites, including: "For eight straight years George Bush hasn't
displayed the slightest interest in anything we care about. And now that he's
after a job he can't get appointed to, he's like Columbus discovering America.
He's found child care. He's found education. Poor George. He can't help it. He
was born with a silver foot in his mouth."
Endangered in the rush to abbreviate and the crush of news McNuggets and spot
ads is our capacity to create and thoughtfully consider discourse that invites a
reconsideration of who we are as individuals and as a people. Our ability to
create reasoned, informed public assent has waned. The great modern exercises of
the old eloquence a George Marshall framing the Marshall plan, Winston
Churchill warning about the descent of an Iron Curtain, Eisenhower and John F.
Kennedy arguing for arms limitation, Martin Luther King Jr. proclaiming that he
had a dream and Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts repudiating the war in
Vietnam --- stand out because the rhetorical terrain surrounding them is so flat.
Adlai E. Stevenson was offended by the notion that ideas should be cut to fit
the lengths in which television metered out its time. As he ran unsuccessfully
for the White House in 1952 and 1956, his paid air time sometimes ended before
his speeches did. His aides despaired. Unlike the robber Procrustes who
amputated the limbs of his victims to ensure that they fit his bed, Stevenson
refused to shave ideas to suit the clock.
As we undertake the serious business of electing the 41st President, we might
honor Stevenson's memory, and that of Jefferson and Lincoln as well, by seeking
out and savoring developed discourse -- discourse that defines its terms,
grounds itself in a sense of history, discusses alternative points of view,
fairly characterizes all sides of a case, warrants its claims with evidence,
dramatizes without demagoguery and only then concludes.
GRAPHIC: Drawing, CATHERINE KANNER / for the Times
TYPE:
Opinion
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6
LEVEL 1 - 6 OF 22 STORIES
Copyright (c) 1988 Newsday, Inc.;
Newsday
September 23, 1988, Friday, NASSAU AND SUFFOLK EDITION
SECTION: PART II; THE MARVIN KITMAN SHOW; Pg. 9
Other Edition: City Pg. 11
LENGTH: 950 words
HEADLINE: The Debate Winner: NBC
BYLINE: Marvin Kitman
KEYWORD: TELEVISION; REVIEW; COLUMN; DEBATE; MICHAEL DUKAKIS; GEORGE BUSH;
PRESIDENT; ELECTION; CANDIDATE; 1988
BODY:
NBC IS TO BE praised for its decision to run the presidential debates instead
of the Olympics Sunday night at 8. It is giving up a lot of money to demonstrate
solidarity with the other two networks on this issue - specifically, $ 330,000
per half-minute of commercials scheduled during 90 minutes of Olympic coverage
that have been preempted. Imagine: $ 8 million to show viewers the awe-inspiring
first debate between Vice President George Bush and Gov. Michael Dukakis.
Look, they could have said, what are we, C-Span? Besides, it's already on two
networks. And what about people who don't want to watch the debates? What about
the politically handicapped, those who are allergic to politics, or subject to
bouts of apathy? They have rights, too. After all, this is a real democracy, not
Korea.
Who knows, if NBC had gone ahead and televised the Olympics Sunday night
between 8 and 9:30 as planned, some Americans might have voted in November for
the Soviet gymnastics team.
This burst of patriotism on NBC's part must have dismayed the Bush camp.
People were saying the only reason Bush had agreed to the debate is that nobody
would be watching Sunday night. Everybody would be tuned in to the Olympics on
NBC.
So already the debate is a big setback for Bush, even before either candidate
has opened his mouth.
On the upside, the 90-minute special event is a chance for Olympic TV fans to
see Dukakis, the great debater, in action. Everybody knows he is a good debater,
a better public speaker with wide experience on TV ("The Advocates" on PBS). He
would have done anything, made any concession, to get Bush on the screen, even
if it meant holding the debate on "Wheel of Fortune" in between Vanna White's
walks to the board.
Bush is not as experienced. His best debate during the primaries was against
Dan Rather, but Dan wasn't running for anything, which might account for his
poor showing.
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7
(c) 1988 Newsday, September 23, 1988
I don't believe the Bush-Dukakis debate Sunday night will equal Bush-Rather
in excitement, provided that Bush doesn't try to rattle Dukakis by bringing up
tennis matches.
An incumbent vice president debating a man from Massachusetts. Inevitably, it
makes one think of Nixon VS. Kennedy in 1960. The vice president was coming off
an era of pretty good feeling in the Eisenhower age, and managed to lose.
But everyone is more savvy about television today. Bush knows enough about
the medium, for example, to avoid sweating on camera. He will get the right
makeup, 50 that he won't look like he hasn't shaved.
Will the first major debate of the fall season be as exciting as the boxing
matches on the Olympics? The choice of moderators will be crucial. If they pick
somebody like Olympia Dukakis, you can expect unequal treatment of the two
debaters. Morton Downey Jr. might make the debate a livelier show, especially if
audience participation is allowed.
The rules have been changed 50 often since the debates were announced, I have
no idea what exactly is going to happen. We'll be lucky if the two of them are
on the same platform, in the same city, and the same planet, by Sunday at 8.
A big issue in the campaign so far has been the candidates' size. It's
considered unfair to somebody if one is taller than the other. The
5-foot-8-people bloc would vote for Dukakis, the six-footers for Bush. There has
been pre-debate jockeying between the candidates' media teams over what,
exactly, the cameras will show.
Ideally, Bush would want the cameras trained on Dukakis' feet, standing on a
box, as he tried to measure up to Bush. What is forgotten here is that many
movie stars were not as tall as Dukakis. Alan Ladd, a matinee idol during the
Roosevelt-Truman-Eisenhower years, was 5 foot 2 and stood on a box.
Clothing is another key issue. I would expect one or perhaps both of the
candidates to wrap themselves in the American flag as they debate who is more
patriotic. This may seem far-fetched, but who would have thought the pledge of
allegiance would become a campaign issue at a time when the country and planet
face extinction.
Charges of who is a card-carrying liberal could break out during the debate,
followed by debates on who is a card-carrying Visa or MasterCard member.
So many changes have taken place in the classic debate form in the age of
television. Most recently, during the primaries, NBC replaced the traditional
one-on-one format with 12-on-one, the one being Tom Brokaw facing the 12
Republican and Democratic candidates. Tom won that debate 10-2, outlasting
such wonders as Dole, Robertson, Simon and Gephardt.
What would make the debates more interesting, especially during the Olympic
season, would be their having more of a sporting flavor to them. I would like to
5ee Bush and Dukakis fight it out in the boxing ring. That would be USA VS. USA.
We couldn't lose.
My prediction on the big fight of the year: I look for Dukakis to start fast
Sunday night, but at 75 meters, I mean 75 minutes, look for Dukakis to fade to
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8
(c) 1988 Newsday, September 23, 1988
Bush, who will make it closer.
On the other hand, Bush may decide not to show up. He can do what Olympics
boxers do - arrive five minutes after the event goes off the air, blaming the
coach, or saying they needed him in the war room.
Having NBC do the debates instead of the Olympics is still a good thing for
democracy. From sheer inertia some people will watch the debates on NBC. The
things that influence people's programing choices, as they say in TV arts and
sciences, are the lead-in and leadout programs. And it's all Olympics.
That's what I like to believe, although the cynic in me says that the NBC
decision for this Sunday night is the biggest boon for video rentals since the
conventions this summer.
GRAPHIC: AP Photos-1) The great debate: Vice President George Bush meets 2) Gov.
Michael Dukakis Sunday night.
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Copyright (c) 1988 The Washington Post
November 9, 1988, Wednesday, Final Edition
SECTION: STYLE; PAGE B1
LENGTH: 1933 words
HEADLINE: To the Polls, Grudgingly: Across the Land, Election Malaise
BYLINE: Henry Allen, Washington Post Staff Writer
BODY:
The election campaign didn't end yesterday as much as it sort of went away,
like a summer cold or an Amway salesman, leaving a lot of people feeling cranky.
The Tick Tock Diner in Clifton, N.J.: "The campaign? It stinks," said
Elizabeth Sudol, a retired great-grandmother, having coffee and cake with her
daughter. "I don't like the way they talked about each other back and forth.
It's disgusting."
Oof.
On the other hand, there was Kennebunkport, Maine: "You know, the two people
are different," said Stedman Seavey, a Republican representative to the state
legislature. "They have different ideas for America, and if somebody can't line
up in one of the two camps, they're simply apathetic. That's what I think."
The DKE house, at Dan Quayle's own DePauw University: "Its pretty much like
any other day," said Jeff Tomlin, chapter president.
City Hall in Union Point, Ga.: "The only comment I would want to make," said
Mayor Ben Stewart, "is that it's a very sad, regrettable, unfortunate
situation." Then again, Stewart was being challenged in this election by his
younger brother, Bob, so he wasn't focusing too hard on the national race.
The Mount Carmel Priory in Williamstown, Mass.: "That was something that was
brought up at morning prayer - - the distressing obfuscation of issues," said
Brother Rob Stefanotti.
The Malibu Park School in California: "The Dukakis group really blew it,"
said Sam Dowey as he waited to vote. "If he was to run the country like this
campaign we'd be in trouble." Asked why he was voting for Dukakis anyway, he
said, "I had to kill my wife's vote."
At best, it was like attending a going-away party for somebody you don't
particularly like. At worst, it was like having to chip in for the present.
It was very strange. Some places, the people lined up in the rain to be
apathetic. In north Berkeley, Calif., they waited with coffee mugs in their
hands to file into the Friends Meeting House past a stack of the East Bay
Express, whose big, bold headline read: "VOTE ANYWAY." Unwilling to put up with
those very lines, though, about a quarter of San Francisco's voters asked for
absentee ballots, raising speculation that the yuppies were trying to acquire a
president by catalogue. (It was horrible to think of: "Our handy Democrat is
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)
Still, there was a certain satisfaction in doing it the old way. When people
went to polling places in places such as Connecticut, Texas and the District of
Columbia, they came back wearing stickers that said "I Voted," the way they
might have worn gray smudges on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday.
In North Hollywood, Calif., Enrique Ramos Angeles, 25, a restaurant manager,
said: "I've no patience for people who don't vote. You shouldn't be forced to,
but if you live in this country you should. People who are dissatisfied should
just write in their preference. But you should still vote. I think it's exciting
to vote, it's great. The U.S. is one of the few places in the world where you
have confidence in the election process. I am also voting Bush because I've been
a personal victim of crime. There's a lot of gangs around here in L.A. And I
feel, why take a chance with Dukakis?"
It was good voting weather most places, with a little fresh snow on the
ground in parts of Idaho and Montana, and of course there were plenty of local
initiatives to vote on: gun control in Maryland, parimutuel betting in Virginia,
238 of them in 41 states, from a nuclear plant ban in Massachusetts to a ban on
corporate hog farming by nonresidents in South Dakota, smoking in Oregon and gay
rights in Colorado. There were also 33 senators, an entire House of
Representatives, 12 governors and countless local officials to vote for.
It was the presidential race that troubled people.
In Madison, N.J., Cynthia Moran, 41, assistant vice president of Drew
University, said, "I'm in a clinical depression. I'm thinking of moving to
Greece."
Bad move. On the island of Pelopi, Greece, where Dukakis' grandfather came
from, Efstratios Patsis, a village butcher, said, "We're a bit discouraged by
the latest polls and we'll be in despair if he doesn't win."
The Grecian yearn also afflicted Sukhreet Gabel, who had spent recent weeks
testifying against her mother in New York's Bess Myerson divorce-fixing trial,
but spent Election Day "flat on my back, catching up on Greek city-states. I'm
looking back to another era to see how they handled it."
In Syracuse, N.Y., Dennis Brogan, who leads cheers in the Carrier Dome at
Syracuse University, handled it by going into the voting booth and flipping a
quarter, he said. "It fell on the floor. The lady said, It doesn't take
change.
"It's a toss," said Charlene Lucas, a clerk at Adams Drugs in Montgomery,
Ala. "People are saying it's not much of a choice. I'm tired of all the
commercials, the signs."
On the jukebox at Aleck's Barbecue Heaven on Martin Luther King Drive in
Atlanta, rappers were rapping, "Don't Believe the Hype." Sylvia Wilson, 23, a
single mother of twin 3-year-olds on welfare, was hunting a ride to the polls.
"I was undecided until I turned on the radio and heard that Bush was against
raising the minimum wage," she said. "I don't want to be rich, I just want to
live well and get my son to grow up to find a good job." She got a ride and went
off to vote for Dukakis.
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On the other hand, Hugh Norman, 38, a medical equipment executive fresh from
a hospital sales call, slathered sauce all over a pork sandwich and said
happily: "Just voted for Bush. I cover half of Georgia and my sales have gone
from $ 460,000 to $ 700,000 in just over a year. Reaganomics has loosened up
hospital spending, and the future looks better than ever."
Americans seemed fretful but resigned, like a dog on moving day. Or maybe it
was like one of those morning dreams where it's not quite a nightmare but things
just keep repeating and repeating Willie Horton, on your side, no Jack
Kennedy, silver foot in his mouth, a thousand points of light
At the Rongovian Embassy, which is a bar in Trumansburg, N.Y., a Republican
village in the northwestern part of Democratic Tompkins County, restaurateur
Fernando Ramirez (demographics analysts, call your office) served Mexican food
and said: "Most of the general feeling I've gotten from the people in town that
I know is that everyone really doesn't like who's running. It's not apathy, but
it's like I'm forced to vote, and I'll take the lesser of two evils whether it's
Republican or Democratic or socialist or whatever."
Fifteen miles away in Watkins Glen, Carol Welch, a cashier at Scuteri's
pizzeria, said that quite a few sheet pizzas (which contain 32 slices) were
being taken out - far more than usual on a quiet Tuesday. A celebration,
perhaps? Parties to mark the conclusion of another American pageant? Welch
didn't know. "Personally," she said, "I'm not too happy with either one of them.
I'm going to vote later and I guess I'll go for Bush."
In Brooklin, Maine, Vauna Haza, owner of the Brooklin General Store, said:
"All I can say is we've had a run on video rentals today because nobody wants
to watch television tonight. They're tired of it. They don't want to listen any
more. They just want it to be over."
At PS 29 in the South Bronx, voting inspector Rachel Dorson wasn't surprised
by the low turnout. "This is choice?" she said. She went to an empty voting
booth and pointed to the ballot line for state Supreme Court justice. The
candidates were: Burton C. Hecht, Democrat; Burton C. Hecht, Republican;
Burton C. Hecht, Conservative Party; and Burton C. Hecht, Liberal Party.
Ah, the glorious crankiness of the American people. And the infinite patience
and kindliness. Trying to make a political decision nowadays is like trying to
make love with a crowd of psychiatrists watching you. Or like being in the
hospital where the nurses keep waking you up to give you a sleeping pill - it's
not that they're malevolent, it's just that you've got better things to do,
somehow.
At the Little Giant Restaurant & Carryout in Washington's Mount Pleasant,
Harutyun Arthur Simon, a part owner and Turkish immigrant, said he had not
voted, although he is a citizen. "I started work at 5:15 this morning. I work
until 7 tonight. I cannot understand these words of the politicians on
television. Any time I need the police, it takes two hours to come. Any time a
drunk comes, I cannot touch him, he will sue me. I don't know. I might go vote.'
Jane Pallman, 38, wife of one of the owners of Pallman's Poultry, a turkey
farm outside Scranton, Pa., on being asked whether customers were talking
candidates or talking turkeys: "Right now, they're talking turkeys."
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In Vicksburg, Miss., at Cedar Grove Estate -- an elegant antebellum mansion
turned bed and breakfast -- hostess Peggy Schaeffer said there wasn't much talk
around there about the election. "This is kind of a relaxed situation where
people don't want to talk about anything unpleasant."
In Nashville, TV projections of a Bush victory didn't make much difference at
the Bluebird Cafe. Katy Cope, a waitress, said: "People are making really bad
jokes about the election. What was that joke? It was horrible. It was 50 bad, it
was unmemorable."
At Peoria, Illinois' St. Augustine Manor - a retirement home, a monastic
community, and polling place for the city's 53rd precinct -- the Rev. Harry
Pierjok said: "I would say that parts of this neighborhood here are economically
depressed, and parts of it are better. We're right on the breaking point,
between those that are economically depressed, and Middle Class, USA. I believe
we've had an awful lot of distortion, and the ideal has really slipped far from
us, this time. We've really slipped away from the ideal of what a leader of the
country should be." Among the old people at the home, he said, "the residents
who are really living on Social Security, that kind of thing, seem to be ---- just
in the scuttlebutt of conversation - seem to favor Michael Dukakis. And those
people who have a little money stashed away and have been a little more
fortunate in their lives - some of those people seem to say that they would be
interested in voting for George Bush."
George Bush himself voted in Houston, and said: "I feel nervous." Dukakis
voted in Massachusetts and said: "I voted for Mike Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen and
I'm proud of it." Lloyd Bentsen was in Texas, but he had already voted by
absentee ballot. Dan Quayle was in Huntington, Ind. He went to the dentist. He
always goes to the dentist on Election Day. A routine cleaning, said the
secretary to Dr. John E. Regan. "He comes every four years."
A routine cleaning. It was all so muted, and a little unreal, like watching
fireworks in black and white. The lesser of two evils, the evil of two lessers,
let's just get it over with. Who wanted to fight over it all? On the other hand,
who could ignore it?
In Los Angeles, Matt Ashford, who plays the villainous politician Jack
Deveraux on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives," said: "I was amazed at the
number of people saying, 'You've got to vote, you've got to vote.' It's not so
much that there's debate as there is talk about getting out to vote. There's a
point where you have to back off. You're doing bed scenes with people who might
be dyed-in-the-wool Republicans and you're, like, 'What about the Democrats?
$$
Just get the job done, America. Like at Disney World, where they closed the
Hall of Presidents for Election Day. Not to go out and vote for one or the
other, but because they had to install a new one.
GRAPHIC: PHOTO, ALAN FOLLETT, MAURICE DAWKINS' CAMPAIGN MANAGER. GERALD
MARTINEAU; PHOTO, CAROL GUZY
TYPE: FEATURE
SUBJECT: VOTERS; POLLING OF VOTERS; PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS; ELECTION RESULTS
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(c) 1988 The Washington Post, November 9, 1988
NAMED-PERSONS: GEORGE BUSH
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LEVEL 1 - 13 OF 22 STORIES
The Associated Press
The materials in the AP file were compiled by The Associated Press. These
materials may not be republished without the express written consent of The
Associated Press.
August 19, 1988, Friday, AM cycle
LENGTH: 325 words
Reputation
Comention
HEADLINE: Movie Rentals Up As Republicans Make Bad Theater
BYLINE: By ROBERT DVORCHAK, AP National Writer
Democratic crabic convention
DATELINE: NEW YORK
One mention at
KEYWORD: CVN--Movie Rentals
BODY:
Jerry Dorris is one person who would like to see the Republican National
Convention last longer. Business at his video rental store is up 20 percent as
a prime alternative to all the political talk.
"I wish the conventions were each two months long and were held every year,"
said Dorris, owner of Landmark Video in the Empire State Building, where
comedies and action adventures were alternatives to acceptance speeches.
"The majority of our customers want to be entertained after a day of work.
They don't want to be bored by the convention. The general comment is they've
had enough and they'd much rather watch a movie," Dorris said Thursday.
A spot check of other stores indicated movie fans have elected to tune out
the George Bush and Dan Quayle show, which has filled prime time for the three
networks, and flicked to fantasyland instead.
"The Manchurian Candidate" was doing well in some areas, but political movies
such as "All The President's Men," "The Candidate" with Robert Redford and
"Advise and Consent" gathered dust on the shelves.
Nor was there much demand for Ronald Reagan's "Bedtime For Bonzo" or "Knute
Rockne All-American," the movie where he first asked his mentor to win one for
the Gipper.
"People are pretty bored with the convention," said Sue Granat, salesperson
at New York City's Videoroom, where rentals are up 25 percent.
"There hasn't been a good convention since the Democrats in 1968. That had
drama and violence,' she said.
I'
Rentals also increased during the Democratic gathering in Atlanta, but the
earlier convention at least had some electricity between Jesse Jackson and
Miachel Dukakis, store officials said.
At the Video Circus, rentals were up 33 percent for the week.
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The Associated Press, August 19, 1988
"Everyone is complaining, coming in here and saying they don't want to be
bored," said store owner Frank Lopez. "I guess it's important, but it's quite
monotonous after a while. I mean, really, four days of that stuff?"
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Proprietary to the United Press International 1992
May 14, 1992, Thursday, BC cycle
SECTION: Regional News
BRIAN WATKINS
DISTRIBUTION: New York Metro, New York
LENGTH: 283 words
HEADLINE: Three sentenced to prison in tourist slaying
DATELINE: NEW YORK
KEYWORD: NY-TOURIST
BODY:
Three young men convicted of murdering Utah tourist Brian Watkins in a
Midtown subway station during a robbery for money to go dancing were sentenced
Thursday to 25 years to life in prison.
Watkins, 22, of Provo, Utah, was killed protecting his mother from a gang of
youths that set upon the family in the subway at 53rd Street and Seventh
Avenue, near the dance hall where the defendants were arrested hours later.
Anthony Anderson, Ricardo Lopez, and Yull Gary Morales, all of Queens, were
sentenced by Justice Edwin Torres in State Supreme Court in Manhattan to
concurrent terms on murder and robbery convictions.
Morales, accused of actually plunging a butterfly knife into Watkins' chest,
was given an additional 8 and a third to 25 years in prison on a separate
manslaughter conviction. However, Torres ordered he serve the term concurrently.
Four other youths were convicted in a separate trial of murder and robbery
charges. All were sentenced to 25 years to live in prison.
An eighth defendant was severed from the current trial and was scheduled for
a later hearing.
The family, avid tennis fans, had spent the day of the murder, Sept. 2,
1990, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Queens before going to their
Midtown hotel and descending to the subway to go to dinner in Greenwich
Village.
On the IND subway platform at 53rd Street, a gang of youths attacked them,
leaving Brian Watkins dead. Some of the youths later said they wanted to steal
money to go dancing at nearby Roseland Ballroom, where they were arrested.
Luis Montero, 23, the eighth defendant, was released on $100,000 bond. A
hearing in his case was scheduled for July 15.
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The Associated Press
The materials in the AP file were compiled by The Associated Press. These
materials may not be republished without the express written consent of The
Associated Press.
September 4, 1990, Tuesday, AM cycle
SECTION: Domestic News
LENGTH: 659 words
HEADLINE: Tourist Slain: A Nightmare Underground
BYLINE: By RICK HAMPSON, Associated Press Writer
DATELINE: NEW YORK
KEYWORD: Subway Crime
BODY:
The New York City subway system has a new advertising slogan: "We're
coming back, 50 you come back!"
Brian Watkins, an annual visitor from Provo, Utah, came back once too often.
He was waiting in a midtown Manhattan station Sunday night when a group of
youths robbed his father and punched his mother. Watkins fought back, and one of
the youths stabbed him to death.
Eight teen-agers were arrested Monday and charged with murder and robbery,
police said.
Watkins' slaying was one more disaster for the nation's largest subway
system, which began the century as an engineering marvel and seems destined to
end it as a social disaster.
The blood stain in the Seventh Avenue station had faded Tuesday, but not the
disgust over what had happened there.
Like Watkins, Dockery Clark of Greensboro, N.C., also came to New York for
the U.S. Open tennis tournament. She said she had been mugged in the station
next to the one where Watkins died.
"Two guys jumped me, beat my back and stole my watch and bracelet," she told
the Daily News. "My boyfriend saw (Mayor) David Dinkins (at the tournament),
walked up to him, and told him his city is a cesspool."
Carolina Brani, another Open spectator, lives in Milan. But she was clear
about one thing: "I know the subway is never safe. Day or night, there is no
difference."
Crime is rising throughout New York City, and rising even faster in the
subways. Last year, subway felonies increased 18 percent, while reported
major crimes rose 4 percent in the city as a whole.
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The Associated Press, September 4, 1990
Watkins' slaying was the 18th this year in the subway system, versus 20 in
all of 1989, and robberies are up 29 percent.
The fact that less than 3 percent of all city crime occurs in the subways
is of scant comfort to most riders.
"People are not moved by statistics," said Thomas Reppetto, director of the
Citizens Crime Commission, a privately financed citizens group. "Too many things
have happened down there to too many people."
Brian Watkins was no victim-in-waiting. He had ridden the subways many
times before; he was in the company of four other people, including two men. It
was not that late - midtown at 10:20 p.m. is as busy as some cities at noon -
and the station at Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street is not one of the more
dangerous.
To many, the brazen attack on the Watkins family merely confirms a visceral
sense of subterranean danger.
Most stations are dirty, smelly, noisy and dimly lit. The Transit Authority
has closed station newsstands, reduced token booth hours and cut off-hours
service on some lines.
The agency's police department has been nagged by scandals, and in August it
ran out of money in a special city fund for paying overtime for police officers
on subway robbery patrol.
"For a lot of people, to go down into a cavern is a little frightening, no
matter what," said Reppetto. "But when they see homeless people living there and
disorderly people, they feel that things are not under control."
After steadily increasing for several years, ridership has declined. Only
about a quarter of city residents ride the subway each day, and to many such a
trip has become virtually unthinkable. A few years ago then-Police Commissioner
Benjamin Ward admitted his wife had never taken the subway.
During the past five years graffiti has been vastly reduced. Trains are more
punctual, and the Transit Authority has several billion dollars to spend on
further improvements. "The level of service used to be intolerable," said Gene
Russianoff, a mass transit advocate. "Now it's tolerably bad."
But many riders, past and present, feel that what really makes the subways
dangerous are some of the people in them, people as callous as the ones who
allegedly attacked the Watkins family and then headed off to the Roseland
ballroom for some dancing.
"There are a lot of proposals out there for improving safety in the
subways, = said Russianoff. "I'm afraid none of them would have helped Mr.
Watkins.
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The Associated Press
The materials in the AP file were compiled by The Associated Press. These
materials may not be republished without the express written consent of The
Associated Press.
September 5, 1990, Wednesday, PM cycle
SECTION: Domestic News
LENGTH: 308 words
HEADLINE: Gang Charged in Subway Killing Mugged as an Initiation Rite
BYLINE: By VIRGINIA BYRNE, Associated Press Writer
DATELINE: NEW YORK
KEYWORD: Tourist Murdered
BODY:
Eight young men arrested in the stabbing death of a tourist from Utah in a
subway station belonged to a gang that required would-be members to mug
someone as an initiation rite, it was reported today.
Former members said the gang robbed people "for the hell of it" and to get
money to go dancing, The New York Times reported.
The youth suspected of wielding the murder weapon has claimed the victim,
Brian Watkins, 22, ran into his knife and the stabbing was accidental, New
York Newsday and the New York Post quoted police as saying.
Newsday said the suspect, Yull Garry Morales, 18, told investigators: "There
was fighting. I took out my knife to protect myself and the guy turned and it
went into him."
Police said Watkins had come to his family's defense late Sunday when gang
members sliced open his father's pants and punched his mother in the mouth as
they waited for a subway train.
The gang took credit cards and about $$200 in cash to go dancing, police
said. After the stabbing, the gang headed to a nearby dance club, where five of
the suspects were arrested, police said. Three others were arrested later.
The Watkins family was in New York on an annual visit to see the U.S. Open
tennis tournament.
Police said they believe gang founder Morales stabbed Watkins and also
imposed the admission requirement. Morales was one of two gang members who did
not have a police record, police said.
"If you wanted to be in that gang you had to beat somebody up or mug
somebody," the Times quoted former gang member Raymond Serrano, 19, as saying.
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The Associated Press, September 5, 1990
The suspects, in their late teens or early 20s, were charged with murder
and robbery and were held without bail. If convicted, they face 15 years to life
in prison for murder, and additional time for the other charges.
Watkins was the 18th person slain in the subway system this year.
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LEVEL 1 - 208 OF 295 STORIES
Copyright 1990 Times Newspapers Limited
The Times
September 6, 1990, Thursday
SECTION: Overseas news
LENGTH: 653 words
HEADLINE: Tourists cut short visits to frightened New York
BYLINE: From Charles Bremner in New York
BODY:
VISITORS were cutting short their visits to New York yesterday after the
brutal mugging of a tourist family that brought a fresh bout of fear and outrage
over the extraordinary violence sweeping the city in recent months.
Dozens of tourists are robbed every day in New York and about six citizens
are murdered, but the death of Brian Watkins, aged 22, a tennis teacher from
Utah, assembled all the ingredients of every tourist's nightmare trip to the
mean streets of Manhattan.
Watkins, his mother, father and brother were waiting for a subway train in
the busy midtown theatre district, after spending the day at the US Open
tennis tournament. A gang of knife-wielding youths surrounded them and stole
the father's wallet.
When they punched Karen Watkins, Brian and his brother went to her defence.
He was stabbed in the chest, but chased his killer up three flights of steps
before dying.
The gang, according to police, ran on to the Roseland dance hall, where they
spent the evening. They had robbed the Watkins family because they needed the
entrance fees, police said. Eight black and Hispanic youths were charged
yesterday with murder, as the city succumbed to another media-driven paroxysm
of outrage and racial name-calling.
According to police, Gary Morales, the 18-year-old alleged to have wielded
the ''butterfly'' flick knife, registered his defence: 'The tourist ran into my
knife.
The New York Times, which called the attack ''the city's worst nightmare
come true'', reported that the youths belonged to a gang known as FTS. To join,
a candidate must first commit an act of violent robbery.
As black leaders complained of the ''hypocrisy'' with which white America
treats crimes against middle-class victims, Mayor David Dinkins and the city's
police chief, both black, vowed once again to stem the tide of random violence
that has begun in recent months to alarm even hardened native New Yorkers. Six
children have been killed in the crossfire of gun battles in the past eight
weeks.
While the subway gang was being arrested, the city buried a young
prosecutor who was killed by a stray bullet outside a courthouse in the Bronx.
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1990 Times Newspapers Limited, September 6, 1990
Voicing a common opinion, the Daily News said yesterday: 'There is an entire
generation out there that feeds on viciousness, that has no concept of morality.
To these punks, crime is a hobby. Violence is a way of life.
For Jimmy Breslin, the veteran chronicler of the city, the killing of Brian
Watkins marked a watershed. The city would never be the same again, he said.
'Dies the victim, dies the city.
The fear of the tourist business is that the publicity over the Watkins case
will further deter visitors at a time when New York's economy is slipping into
recession. The publicity over the rape of the woman jogger in Central Park last
year is estimated to have cost the city millions of tourist dollars. A spokesman
for the Better New York association said the Watkins murder 'will set the
tourist business back five years''.
Mr Dinkins, who was criticised yesterday for showing insufficient outrage,
pleaded with the press to avoid dramatising the case.
As tourists vowed to television cameras that they would never return to New
York, city officials advised visitors to stay in groups and avoid quiet
streets at night.
The killing could not have come at a worse time for the New York subway
system. It had just launched a campaign to lure timid passengers back on the
rails under the slogan: 'We're coming back 50 you come back.
New Yorkers poured out advice to visitors on how to avoid getting mugged. The
golden rule is to avoid looking anyone in the eye. Watkins was killed for
breaking the rule, said New York Newsday in a bitter commentary on the attack.
Eighteen murders have been committed in the subway so far this year,
close to the record total of 20 for all of 1989. Armed robberies are up by a
third so far this year.
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PAGE 20
LEVEL 1 - - 89 OF 295 STORIES
Proprietary to the United Press International 1991
October 29, 1991, Tuesday, BC cycle
SECTION: Domestic News
LENGTH: 708 words
HEADLINE: Witness: 'It's killing time' yelled before Utah tourist was slain
BYLINE: BY PEG BYRON
DATELINE: NEW YORK
KEYWORD: TOURIST
BODY:
A former Manhattan hotel worker told a jury Tuesday that he heard one of
several young men yell, ''It's killing time, let's 90,'' just moments before a
Utah tourist was slain in a subway mugging.
Antonio Gonzalez, a locksmith at the Hilton Hotel on Sept. 2, 1990,
testified Tuesday afternoon that he saw a gang of youths rush by him and down
the steps of a nearby subway station just before Brian Watkins was fatally
stabbed on a subway platform trying to defend his family from knife-wielding
attackers.
One member of the gang, a heavyset black youth, yelled, ''It's killing time,
let's go, before the pack rushed down the subway station steps, Gonzalez
said. His description of the youth fit one of the four defendants on trial.
Gonzalez said he also heard a woman scream after the youths entered the
subway station.
In morning testimony, Karen Watkins, the victim's mother, struggled to
maintain her composure as she testified in state Supreme Court in Manhattan on
the second day of the trial of four of the eight defendants charged with
murder in her son's death.
Unlike her husband, she was able to give a detailed description of events
surrounding the slaying of her 22-year-old son, but she also burst into tears at
several points in her poignant testimony.
Monday, Sherwin ''Sherm'' Watkins, a 47-year-old marketing manager from
Provo, Utah, broke down repeatedly as he testified, mumbling, ''I don't know why
they did it
He was such a good kid.
Karen Watkins, a 47-year-old hospital technician, also broke down in sobs as
she told how she and her husband went to St. Vincent's Hospital after they,
their two sons and a daughter-in-law were attacked, expecting to find Brian
alive.
''They told us he had died on the way to the hospital,' she said. ''Then I
went in and sat with my son and told him goodbye and how much I loved him.
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PAGE 21
Proprietary to the United Press International, October 29, 1991
After the judge gave her tissues to dry her eyes, she was able to continue,
still gasping with emotion.
Earlier, under low-key questioning by the prosecutor, the mother told of
standing with her family on the subway platform, nonchalantly talking of the
day's events at the U.S. Open Tennis Championship in Flushing, Queens, while
waiting to take the subway to dinner in Greenwich Village.
Suddenly, someone yelled from behind a stairway on the platform and a group
of youths surrounded the family, she said.
'As I heard the yell, I looked up and saw a group of men running toward
us,'' she said. ''One came over and had an orange (handled) knife in his hand
and ordered me to get back, she said, thrusting her hand forward to
demonstrate how the weapon was wielded.
' Another young man grabs my son with a knife to his throat. Someone grabbed
me by the hair really hard and pulled my head and pulled my head between my legs
and started kicking me in the chest and face. I wa knocked back a little. I saw
stars.
The witness identified an orange-handled box cutter and a silver- handled
butterfly knife, allegedly the weapon used to kill her son.
She also gave detailed descriptions of the casual clothing worn by some of
the attackers, their skin color, heights and whether they were black or
Hispanic, and told of driving around the murder scene with police and picking
out two people she and her husband recognized as suspects.
But she said she could not recognize any of the defendants, dressed in suits
and ties, as members of the pack that attacked her family.
Defense attorneys, in their opening statements, attacked the Watkins'
identifications as biased.
According to the prosecution, the defendants used the stolen money to buy
$15 admission tickets to a nearby dance hall for a night on the town.
No testimony was scheduled for Wednesday, and the trial was to resume
Thursday.
The case attracted nationwide attention as an example of the random violence
awaiting visitors to New York, a message challenged by city tourist officials
who claimed other American cities are just as dangerous, if not more SO.
All four defendants are 19-year-old Queens residents.
A separate trial is scheduled for the four remaining defendants, including
the only one also charged with intentional murder for allegedly wielding the
murder weapon.
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CONVENTIONSPECIAL
John Taylor on the Clinton Blur
*
Bill Buckley's Scoop
Michael Daly on Tammany's Last Stand
*
Fun City Guide
$2.50
JULY 13, 1992
NEW
the
TA
do
THE
OF
that
SEN
1992
OLD EXE BUILDING
Here
They Come
©
LIB EXEC OFC INFO OF SRVC EXEC DC OEOB OC PRESIDENT 20503 FEB0193 GGGG BLD#ZR27
18225
205 46
0
14014
,
DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION
July 16-20,1992
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
BY RICHARD DAVID STORY
HEN THE DEMOCRATS
a letter advocating women's rights,
W
take over Madison
and the big platform battle turned on
Square Garden next
greenbacks and Reconstruction. The
week, it will be the
most recent convention took place in
ABOVE AND
RIGHT: A TOKEN
fifth time that the par-
1980, during the Iran hostage crisis
AND POSTER
ty has set its sights on New York.
and that infamous period of national
PROMOTING THE
1868 TICKET,
The first convention took place in a
"malaise." The delegates gathered
HORATIO
SEYMOUR AND
brand-new Tammany Hall in 1868.
once again, this time at Madison
FRANK P. BLAIR
Boss Tweed was a delegate from
Square Garden, to begrudgingly
JR.
New York, Susan B. Anthony signed
nominate Carter for a second term.
Gastern Argus.
PLURIBUS
UNITED
HORATION YORK.
Francis FOR
OF VICE PRESIDENT.
THE 1868
MISSOURI. at
CONVENTION IN
On July 4, 1868, all 37 states were repre-
ACTION.
sented when the Democrats united for their first
convention since Reconstruction. The weather,
wrote Supreme Court Chief Justice and early contender
Salmon P. Chase, "was as hot as weather can well be. Too
hot for the warm work on hand here." Two months before,
A BALLOT FOR THE
in Chicago, the Republicans had nominated Ulysses S.
SEYMOUR-BLAIR
Grant, but the Democrats had no clear-cut candidate. Ohio
TICKET.
put the name of ex-New York governor Horatio Seymour
on the twenty-second ballot. "Gentlemen," began Sey-
mour, "I thank you, and may God bless you for your kind-
ness to me; but your candidate I cannot be." At that point,
TAMMANY HALL, ON
Seymour's friends hustled him off the podium and out the
14TH STREET, WAS
door and drove him by carriage to the Manhattan Club, the
THE SITE OF THE
city's Democratic club. The reluctant candidate had been
CONVENTION.
nominated for president.
Photographs: (ballot and token), Paul Manangan; from the collection of Tony Lee; center, Granger Collection: bottom left, Brown Brothers.
FOR: PRESIDEN
CAMERICA
HON HORATO SEYMOUR N FRANK P.BLAIR
NEW YORK
of MISSOURI
PEACE, UNION, AND
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT
Photograph by the Granger Collection.
DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION
NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC
In 1924, George L. "Tex" Rickard, a
sports promoter and the owner of Madison Square
CONVENTION
Garden, offered the Democrats free use of the Garden for "as
long as the convention lasts." What followed was the longest,
NEW YORK CITY
most acrimonious, and most expensive convention to date. At
1924
one point, William Randolph Hearst offered to pay the ex-
40
penses of 100 out-of-town delegates, and asked other fat cats to
do the same. The first to be carried in its entirety by radio, the
convention of '24 lasted seventeen days. It took 103 ballots to
nominate dark horse John Davis of West Virginia after the
front-runners-New York governor Al Smith and lawyer Wil-
liam Gibbs McAdoo-stumbled.
BADGE OF
HONOR.
in
NADIONAL
RETAIN
NEW
A PRESS TICKET,
MADISON SQUARE
GARDEN.
GUEST BOOK
CANDIDATES JOHN
5795
DAVIS AND CHARLES
BRYAN.
Photographs: (guest book & donkey). Paul Manangan from the exhibition Party Time: Presidential Campaigns Since 1832, at the New-York Historical Society; (press ticket) Paul Manangan: from the collection of Tony
PROGRAM of ENTERTAINMENT
afford by the purple of
New York department
and the visitars the
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
KEW
JUNE
-
AMONG THE EVENTS
WERE AN EVENING AT
ABIE'S IRISH ROSE AND A
LUNCH GIVEN BY
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT.
THE GARDEN WAITS FOR
THE ACTION.
Photographs: (guest book & donkey). Paul Manangan from the exhibition Party Time: Presidential Campaigns Since 1832, at the New-York Historical Society: (press ticket) Paul Manangan: from the collection of Tony
FOR
IN FDR's NOMINATING
CROWDS OUTSIDE THE
SPEECH, HE CALLED
INFORMATION
NEW YORK GOVERNOR
GARDEN LISTEN TO THE
AL SMITH "THE HAPPY
PROCEEDINGS OVER
LOUDSPEAKERS. RIGHT:
WARRIOR."
THE BUTTON.
NHON
DAVIS
SMIRTS
Brown Brothers,
Photographs: top left, Bettmann Archive; top right, Brown Brothers; center, Paul Manangan, pin from the collection of Tony Lee; bottom, UPI/Bettmann.
DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION
1978-30
Rocky won Best Picture, Annie made its
CARTER AS THE
debut on Broadway, Nixon was out,
SAVIOR.
and a former peanut farmer from Georgia convinced the
ARTER-MONDALL
country that he meant business when he said that it was time
"for people to run the government and not the other way
around." On July 14, 1976, a newly united and upbeat Dem-
ocratic Party rallied around Jimmy Carter at Madison Square
Garden-the first time the Democrats had held their conven-
tion in New York for 52 years. Four years later, Carter went
into the convention-again in New York-with the lowest
J.C.CAN SAVE
approval rating of any president in history (22 percent), in-
cluding Richard Nixon during Watergate. A defiant Ted Ken-
nedy tried until the bitter end to wrest control of the nomina-
tion, bringing down the house with a speech in which he said,
"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives,
JIMMY AND FRITZ
HEAD TICKET IN
and the dream shall never die." Carter's speech, in which he
1976, THE FIRST
referred to Hubert Humphrey as Hubert Horatio Hornblow-
ELECTION AFTER
WATERGATE.
er, merely brought down the mood.
INSIDE THE
CONVENTION, 1980.
ermont
FREE
D.C.
Kennedy
Carter
Photographs: top left, Paul Manangan; pin courtesy of Darrow's Fun Antiques; top right, Eve Arnold/Magnum; bottom. Philip Jones Griffiths/Magnum.
WELCOME CITY
THE SECOND TIME
AROUND, 1980.
CONVENTION
12-15
AN AFROED JESSE
JACKSON AND
THE
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
CHAIRMAN LARRY
O'BRIEN.
11
Photographs: top left. Burt Glinn/Magnum: top center, Paul Manangan: pin courtesy of Darrow's Fun Antiques: top right, Philippot/Goldberg/Sygma: center right, UPI/Bettmann; center left. bottom left. Paul
CARTER ADDRESSING
THE CONVENTION IN
1976.
Manangan: from the exhibition Party Time: Presidential Campaigns Since 1832, at the New-York Historical Society; bottom center, bottom right, Owen Franken/Sygma.
GUEST
CARTER'S LAST GASP.
THE CRAZIER THE
BETTER: BUCKLING UP
WITH JIMMY CARTER
IN 1976.
POLITICAL
MEMORABILIA
TEDDY ON HIS OWN IN 1980.
INCLUDED THIS
POCKET KNIFE.
/Magnum.
DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION
A Commention Banicsy By
THE MAN WHO
ILLUSTRATED BY PETER de SEVE
IZ, MY FRIEND, WANTED TO HEAR IT ALL-FROM
here back home, tending to my little acre, I have been persuaded
the beginning.
to take part in the greatest Democratic crusade in history, and
"I can't reconstruct the political thing, I
so-if you approve of it-l have told Bill Clinton that I will join
mean, note by note," I told her. "For one
his ticket as vice-president.' Everybody had another martini as
thing, it happened too fast. And people aren't
that idea got passed around, and when the Great Mario got up,
talking. The pros are still waiting for the sec-
the cheers lasted eleven minutes, before they let him talk.
ond-depth reactions. I cornered the Big Man
"And then
about it yesterday."
"And then what?" Liz said. "Goddamn it, you know I've
Strauss: "Never pay any attention to the immediate polls.
been cloistered here until you picked me up ten minutes ago."
They are an accumulation of authentic and synthetic emotions."
"Well, we sat there spellbound. I mean, we thought we were
Me: "Whaddayamean, a combination, they're one or the oth-
spellbound, because we talked ourselves into it. But one min-
er, no?"
ute
two minutes
three minutes,
Him: "When you live as long as I have, and assuming you're
"Three minutes and he hadn't opened his mouth?"
as bright as I am, which I don't assume, you will recognize that a
"Three minutes never passes when Mario doesn't open his
lot of people report the reaction to an event that they think they
mouth. No, he was talking during those three minutes. He was
ought to have; a lot of people were delighted JFK was removed
talking, all right. But he hadn't mentioned the word Clinton.
from the scene, but they wouldn't say so to a pollster. Others
Four minutes. TEN MINUTES.
report exactly what they feel, which is sometimes indignation
"That was when we knew. Mario Cuomo was making it offi-
that the story didn't turn out as predicted, so they report they
cial. Bill Clinton was-officially vaporized. That's Orwell,
don't like it-even though the guy who got in suited them a lot
means No Trace Left, Gone, Kaput, Never Existed."
better. The trick is to wait three, four weeks. Then they'll report
"I have read 1984."
their true feelings."
'1984 was Disneyland compared to 1992.
"Which will be?"
"So, did Mario nominate himself?'
"Bob Strauss smiled at me. His made-in-Texas you-poor-
3
dumb-turd smile. Not unkind, just realistic, because Bob thinks
oT QUITE. HE GAVE US SOME OF HIS HEAVY,
most people really are poor dumb turds compared to himself,
N
eloquent Tobacco Road rhetoric, sounds
and in a way, they are. I mean, we are.
like Mahler's Second, real good, lumber-
"I had the sense that something had to happen when the poll
ing, heavy-moving stuff, and we all
came out on Monday. I mean, here we all were at Madison
thought maybe that would lead to his of-
Square Garden to introduce the quote next president of the
fering himself up.
United States unquote, and damn if we didn't feel as though we
"But no, it didn't. It just became sort of-spiritual, lots of
were the Vegetarian Convention, or the Libertarians or what
angels, and heavenly choirs, and looking up, and the guy sitting
have you, using language like that. The poll
showed Bush could be beaten, but there was a
real question whether Clinton could do it. His
That's when we knew Mario Cuomo was
negatives remained stubbornly high and people
still didn't know who he was beyond the ques-
tions of adultery and draft evasion.
"All Monday, when the reports from the plat-
making it official. Bill Clinton was-
form committee were flowing in, and the cre-
dentials were being examined and approved,
and all that stuff was going on with the junior
officially vaporized. No Trace Left, Gone.
orators, waiting for Big Mario at 9 P.M., we
were everywhere, trying to find out what the
delegates were thinking, talking about. The an-
swer to that was: They were talking about everything. I liked the
next to you, I swear it, was Thomas Jefferson, and you could see,
guy from Nevada who suggested we adjourn without naming a
off in the corner, Abraham Lincoln-that kind of thing.
candidate, on the grounds that America had lost its head and
Then he stopped talking. There wasn't a whisper. He
we, as the oldest political party in the United States, were not
walked gravely, head bowed, to the corner of the stage. The
going to participate in the general shambles. The head of the
undertaker facing a very sad duty."
Nevada delegation, dry-type, never cracks a smile when he talks,
"No sound?"
said maybe we should change the platform and come out for 50
"By the time Cuomo reached the end of the room, we could
billion dollars to teach elementary civics to Republicans and In-
hear it beginning. The Arkansas delegation. First a little hiss.
dependents, the trouble being that that would probably mount
Then a boo. Then a great big sustained boo. But the creepy thing
up to 90 percent of all Americans. A few of us laughed, but then
about it was that the boos, though they were picked up here and
we'd have laughed at anything at that point.
there, didn't become one great democratic communal boo. I put
"Somehow, along about cocktail time, the feeling began to
it in my dispatch: 'Manifestly, the delegates were divided in
spread. That g-o-o-d feeling, like when the doc comes in and
their reaction to the governor's startling speech.'
says the test is negative and suddenly you think it's time for a
"So-get on with it. So then what?"
dry martini:
"So, that's when we got the word. That Bob Strauss had
called a meeting. My scoop was getting hold of a list of the peo-
3
ARIO WOULD SAVE us! HE WOULD GIVE
ple who were invited. Ron Brown-sure, he was there. But not
M
a speech comparing Bill Clinton—
one of the candidates who saw the race through. I mean, obvi-
how does it go? Comparing Bill Clin-
ously not Clinton, and not Jerry Brown, not Tsongas; not even
ton to the rising sun, the aurora bore-
Gephardt or Gore. Mitchell, Foley, yes. The meeting was held at
alís, and the Milky Way. Something
the Cloisters, beyond Grant's Tomb, with maybe 300 security
like that. And toward the end of the
guards keeping
speech he would say: 'And although as you know I have time
"People like you?"
after time resisted your generous gestures to ask me to compete
"Yes, people like me."
for higher office, and always I've said, No, I've got enough to do
"What did you do?"
DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION
"I was lucky. I had 5,000 bucks in
real, well-nothing I'd call resistance.
my pocket. It had been set up with the
What happened that morning, the
assignment editor. It was designed for
poll on Clinton, and that evening, the
a guy on Cuomo's staff, who was go-
speech by Cuomo, meant that certain
ing to freeze the elevator when just
things were excluded, and one of
Cuomo and I were in it-I'd rush out
them was the nomination of the man
in a waiter's uniform into the élevator
who had won the majority of the dele-
that ran right to the governor's suite.
gates and was so weak nationally the
Anyway, obviously that didn't go
keynote speaker couldn't even men-
through, so I passed the swag to a
tion his name."
guard, who undressed in the bushes
"How long did it take?"
and gave me his uniform, and that's
"It seemed to take a very long time,
how come I was the first in the busi-
and of course my problem was: Just
ness to get the scoop. And by the way,
when do I hotfoot it out and use my
you can call me Mr. Pulitzer Prize
cellular phone to CNN? I couldn't
Winner of 1993 if you like."
count on getting back in if I went out
"I don't like. You keep interrupting
and did it now. I thought of going into
yourself. What did you hear through
a toilet and giving out my first bulletin
the men's-room door you mentioned
in a whisper, but then I figured the
on the phone?"
press would start dropping parachut-
"Once in the uniform, I stationed
ists on the goddamned place and
myself by that door. Bob Strauss was
there'd be no way I could get the fol-
completely in command. Nobody else
low-up-
felt like fighting, not after what Mario
"So you just stayed there, dumb-
had done. There wasn't any way they
like in uniform at the door that led to
could just undo Mario. And Bob was
the men's room?"
the only guy there with an idea, and
CLINTON HAD TOO MANY NEGATIVES.
"Bob then said, 'I know Ross Perot.
he just said it, just said it plain. What
Known him a long, long tahm. An'
really clinched it was when he said that he had waiting outside
there's no use in askin' him to come along unless we're ready to
Tom Luce, right-hand man to H. Ross Perot, and that Perot was
offer him the nomination, so what I propose to do, gentlemen—
willing to talk."
and ladies!-is to ask you to raise your hand if you want me to
offer the Democratic nomination for president to H. Ross Perot
ID HE GO OVER THE
WELL, THE MECHANICS
tonight, right now, through Tom Luce waitin' outside.'
D
of the thing?"
"Oddly, there was no conversation. Maybe just a muted whis-
"Oh, sure. But they all knew that side of it
per or two. Eyes were looking around, here, there, everywhere.
sort of as a technicality, like where in the
Bob Strauss just stayed standing, didn't say anything. Finally, he
airplane do you go to jump out when you
figured where the eyes mostly rested. So he cleared his throat
land on the water. Bob reminded them, just
and said, 'We'll hear fust from Tom Foley. Tom?'
the same. His voice became like the recorded voice on trains and
"Slowly, Tom Foley raised his hand. The others then came up
buses that tells you where you are and what the next stop
one at a time. At first, you could count them, one by one. Then
is
'As you all know, under the bylaws of the Democratic
suddenly everyone's hand went up. I turned up the faucets on
two of the washbasins to distract attention and
hauled my ass out of there.
'Ab propose that we submit the name of
H. Ross Perot as the Democratic
C
NN INTERRUPTED AT 2:48 A.M.
to say that the Democratic
pols gathered together by Bob
Strauss and including the con-
gressional leaders had agreed
nominee, Bob Strauss told the meeting.
to offer the nomination to H.
Ross Perot. News that H. Ross Perot had ac-
cepted the nomination didn't break until 7 A.M.
What I don't know is when exactly Strauss-
Luce-Perot-Luce-Strauss had done their bit. But
Party, at any time before 6 P.M. on Tuesday, the second day of
both Strauss and Perot know the value of a megaton newsbreak,
the convention, which means'-Strauss looked at his watch,
and they wouldn't likely give that out at three in the morning.
dramatic little gesture-'exactly eighteen hours from now, 300
That meant keeping 25 people in the Cloisters all night, but it's
delegates can send the name of any candidate to the floor.'
a big place, and everyone was made pretty comfortable, agree-
Strauss went back to his normal tone of voice. "There are more
ing not to leave until seven. Funny what people will do if they
than 300 delegates directly under the direction of the gentle-
are told their doing it will make history.
men, an' ladies'-Strauss bowed to Pat Schroeder-'in the
"What I don't know is exactly when they got Perot's answer."
room. Ah propose, gentlemen, that we submit the name of H.
"We'll know that pretty soon."
Ross Perot as the Democratic nominee for president.'
"Yep. One of them will talk, probably today, tomorrow, may-
"Well, you can imagine the reaction. But there wasn't any
be even before Perot gives his acceptance speech tonight."
44
NEW YORK/JULY 13, 1992
Presidential Remarks
Bush-Quayle Rally
Provo, Utah
18 July 1992
Draft
tounit
Good morning everybody. It's great to be out West
...
and be
able to pay a visit do this outstanding university, and be her
where the Cougcor have devoured so many victorian.
"The West is where we all go someday
a famous writer once
wrote. "It's where we go when we hear there is 'gold in them
thar hills. I Where we go to grow with the country. Where we
chase our young dreams
or spend our old age."
And today I can add
with complete authority
that the West
also isn't all that bad a place to be
when your personality
is being pummelled
your character questioned
...
and your
administration verbally assassinated
...
4,000 miles away.
2,000
I spent the past couple days away from a television set
up in
Wyoming trout fishing with Secretary of State Jim Baker
and
our two sons, Jomie and Jeb
But I am aware that something else was going on in America this
week. Something real important.
1
This is the week when all across America
...
crowds of panting,
sweating people overran their neighborhood video stores. From
Tallahassee to Tempe
Americans turned on their TV and decided
they'd rather rent "Action Jackson" than listen to: Well, never
mind.
Now
please don't get the idea this is some kind of partisan
attack. Stop by Rich's Video down on Freedom Boulevard
and
I'm sure Rich'll tell it to you straight. Sales aren't all that
bad during the Republican Convention either.
I know you have a lot on your minds beside politics. And I hate
to poison the air with partisan talk. But let me just respond
just a little to what went on in Manhattan.
If you're one of those who prefer video renting to politicians
venting
I'll put it simple. You can sum up all you need to
know about the Manhattan meeting with the title of a 1965 Cliff
Robertson comedy: "Masquerade."
From what I heard about the convention
I wonder if the
Democrats are donning a disguise.
They're saying the right things. Pride in America's strength.
Support for entrepreneurs. Belief in God. Respect for law and
order.
2
In fact
if it weren't for the $9,000 stuffed ponies at the
toy store on the corner
and the bullet proof vests being sold
on street corners
you could close your eyes and think they
were at this "home above the range" in Provo
not the "home of
the hockey Rangers" in New York City.
But you know
I couldn't help but wonder
do they really
mean what they say? or is this new costume something the
Democrats plan on discarding
maybe sometime right after
Halloween?
Think about it. If they celebrate the end of the Cold War
how come they never supported the strength that won it?
If they claim to be buddies with business people
how come
they want to load em down with new taxes?
If they are really the party of new ideas and open ears
why
not allow just one speaker to talk about the rights of the
unborn?
And if they start their convention with a prayer
how come you
can read all 10,000 words in their party platform
and never
run across three simple letters: G-O-D.
3
Now
don't take my word that the Democrats may not be what
they appear to be. I'm a little biased.
Listen instead
to a party elder. A guy named McGovern.
First name George. He called this year's Democratic Party
a
Trojan Horse."
He said
...
and I quote
"they're much more liberal underneath
and will prove it when they're elected."
I The know I've never said this publicly. But that McGovern.
X
He's an incredibly insightful man!
Now
let me be straight with you. This election isn't going
to be decided on what we say about the other side
or what
they say about us
for that matter.
What matters
is what we have to offer the American people.
My view of America is a little different than what you may have
heard this week. I'd like to explain it.
I know at Byu you like to sayni that the world of your campulv.
We 've seen incredible changes around the world the past four
years Because of our leadership
because of your sacrifice
and commitment
millions of people breath free today.
Let me say
that camp us has bea throug L incredible
4
change in fow
years,
That poses challenges
...
and opportunities.
The question is this
can we compete
now that so many
other nations are playing our game?
swih this
on
We need to understand something. If we can competé
and we
will
as victors we. will enjoy bigger and better spoils than
ever before in human history. go
Taday...
to the
moe
are
There are more far/people/eager for the fruit of our labors.
That means more jobs
more prosperity for our kids
...
and
their kids.
Now
that's the opportunity I see today. But how do we take
advantage of it?
Our first priority
is to create and protect our jobs.
Listening to Madison Square Garden this week
...
you probably got
the impression that our economy was second rate
...
second class.
But keep in mind a few facts.
We are still the world's largest and most vibrant economy.
Second to no one.
5
We've tamed inflation
interest rates are at a 20-year-low.
Our factories produce a higher percentage of the world's
manufactured goods than we did 20 years ago.
What a Japanese worker can produce in five days
and American
can make in four.
We have emerged as the world's export champion.
Last year
the Japanese government asked who leads the world
in 143 critical technology industries. Japanese firms led in 33.
America in 43.
And I wouldn't be suprised to learn
if that the report was
put together on Wordperfect software
made right here in
Provo.
Our economy is growing today. But it has to grow faster.
Too many people have worked for a company for twenty years
only to fear that the next mail run will bring a pink slip. And
many of you young people are saving your way through Brigham
Young
you deserve to be able to find a job on graduation day.
6
I used to run a business
meet a payroll. I learned the only
way that government can create jobs
is to support the people
who create jobs.
This is the creed Governor Norm Bangerter follows. He
understands that the only surefire way to give people unlimited
dreams
is by limiting the size of government.
We're going to bring some of Norm's attitude to Washington.
Like your Governor
we need a line item veto
and I'm going
to get it.
Like your Governor
we need a balanced budget amendment to the
Constitution
and I'm going to get it.
And despite 31 vetoes in three years
cutting as billion in
proposed Congressional spending
we need even more discipline
on the Potomac.
suator Jake Garnard Garn Hatcheccaulwith
With the help of a new Congressman named Richard Harrington
we're going to treat wasteful government spending the way Karl
Malone will treat a European jump shot in Barcelona. We're going
to swat it back into the front row!
Here's my second priority. A moral revolution in America.
7
Americans need to understand something you all know very well.
"No success can compensate for failure in the home."
David O. McKay said those words many years ago
and they
harken back to a different age in America.
Today we can fly from Paris to New York and arrive earlier than
we left
but do we too often leave behind the difference
between right and wrong?
We can explore a world beyond the stars
but do we too often
ignore a neighbor down the street?
We can turn natural ingredients into miracle medicines
...
but
why do we feel the need to turn every argument into a lawsuit?
America won't get better until we start suing each other less
and helping each other more.
serving
We learn these values in the living room and around the dv kitchen
table But while families help keep our lives together
...
government can help keep our families together.
8
By giving parents the freedom to choose their schools. By
reforming welfare
so that we reward work and families can
stick together
not fall apart.
Only then
can our nation find it's way back to our
foundation.
My third priority. Quite simple. Restore respect for the law.
Elderly women in this country
watch the Berlin Wall fall on
television
but are afraid to walk to their neighborhood
grocery store.
There are kids in our cities
who hear of the Russians
reducing nuclear weapons
but then have to walk through a
metal detector at school every morning.
What do you say to these Americans? You say enough is enough.
Let's put an end to the lawlessness. Let's put an end to the
illegal behavior.
These are my principles
the things in which I believe. I
hope you agree with them. Deark they are thekey to
our future
9
As you know
there is a hospital in this city
where more
babies are born than anyplace else in America. This is a young,
dynamic place in many respects a crucible of America's
future. These of you in the BYU Summar rehool program
are her to be prepared to 'go Furth to sere". But you rights
The question on your minds
...
is one that's been asked in
America for generations. Can I do better than my mom and dad?
Will the dream still be alive for me and my kids!
#
behalf
when
Well
I've been around for a couple years. If you'll excuse
some advice from an elder
I really do believe America's best
days are ahead.
yours
forth.
Yes
we face challenges today
but I've seen this nation
climb much taller mountains.
If we can topple the Berlin Wall
we can build a strong
economy. If we can lift the iron curtain
we can bring the
curtain down on immorality and indifference. If we can help
people walk free in Eastern Europe
...
we can take back the
streets of America.
This is our mission. Together we'll accomplish it.
God bless you and God bless America.
10
Possible Lines for POTUS for July/August :30s
These lines envision GB in interview format, living room setting,
leaning forward toward interviewer, speaking with passion.
America is still the greatest nation on earth, but we face
some big problems. I know we can solve those problems by
returning to the values that made us great. Promoting the
family as the basic unit of society. Teaching respect for
law and order and enforcing the law with speed and certainty.
Promoting thrift among our citizens. and making the government
live within its means. That's what I believe.
I believe in three basic principles and I will use them to
lead this nation. Number one, we won't have a healthy,
growing economy until we balance the federal budget. Number
two, government. policies should encourage family values and
provide incentives for families to come together and stay
together. And number three, we are a nation of laws
Every citizen must respect the law and the President must
enforce it. That's what I'll do, if the American people
support these principles.
Government can't solve all our problems. You can trace this
country's problems to the fact that some people have lost
sight of their basic morality. There are absolute standards
of right and wrong that we know and recognize in this country.
Our children must be taught the difference in right and wrong
and our adults must be held accountable if they don't respect
the difference in right and wrong. I'm going to speak out
for the basic moral code that unites us, whether certain
cultural elites like it or not.
When I say I believe in family values I don't just mean
that candidates should travel with their children. I
mean that children should have the right to pray in their
public school. That parents should have the right to
choose what school their children attend. That government
policy should discourage single mothers from having more
children, not encourage it. And, yes, that parents have
a right to know if their teenaged daughter decides to have
an abortion.
Let's face the facts. You and I both know, and the American
people know, that this recession and all our economic problems
are caused by the federal government spending too much money
and running a deficit. We will have a healthy, growing
economy over a long period again only when the federal
government balances its budget. I'd like to have Congress'
-2-
help in balancing the budget. But, I will cut federal spending.
I will reduce this deficit. With or without their help.
I have said from the very beginning that we will only have a
growing economy when the federal government stops spending
more than it takes in. Congress disagrees. I've compromised
with them--at great political cost to myself--I've cajoled
them and I've confronted them. But, the spending keeps right
on growing. No more. I'm using my veto to cut federal
spending and to do it right now. That's what I believe in
and that's what I'm going to do.
You know, you canstrace a lot of our social problems directly
to the viscious cycle of welfare. dependency we have created
in this country. I have strong views about changing that
system and we're doing it right now. My welfare plan is
based on family values. We will give families the incentive
to stay together. Fathers will be financially responsible
for their children. I will cut welfare benefits for single
mothers who have more children. Everyone on welfare will
receive mandatory job training, then we'll get them a mandatory
job. From now on, welfare is a temporary helping hand. Not
a permanent way of life.
You watched the riots in Los Angeles with the same horror that
I did. Who was responsible? The individual criminals who did
the killing and burning. A generation in our cities has grown
up without being taught respect for law and order, the difference
in right and wrong. Well, now we're going to teach them.
The Civilian Training Corps will teach them the difference,
teach them to respect the law, and give them the discipline
and work ethic needed to succeed in life. That's my program,
based on my basic belief in traditional American values.
4562983;#
May 8 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
Administration of George Bush, 1992 / May 8
811
810
fraud. Every one of those things happen with
drug dealers and career criminals and then
must think differently. We've tried the old
the fairest and the most just and the most
the system that we have in place right now.
seed those neighborhoods with expanded
ways of thinking. And INCRW, as Lincoln says,
decent country on the face of the entire
educational employment and social services.
"It is time to think anew."
Earth. And we now-I know that we have
And then we wonder, why can't folks on wel-
fare take control of their lives? Where's their
With safe and secure neighborhoods we can
And our approach is really a radical break
the drive and the gumption to prevail over
sense of responsibility?
spark an economic revival in urban America.
from the policies of the past. It's new. Yes,
these problems we face.
Well, if we had set out to devise a system
And so, the second part of the agenda is
it's new because it's never been tried before.
Tom Bradley, your Mayor, was among a
to ask Congress to take action on enterprise
And for the sake of the people of South
that would perpetuate dependency, a system
group of mayors who came to see me last
that would strip away dignity and personal
zones. With a zero capital gains rate-create
Central, and the people in America's inner
January. He and I may differ on how we ap-
responsibility, I guess we could hardly have
these zones with a zero capital gains rate for
cities everywhere, I will work with the Con-
proach one Federal program or another. But
2024566218-
done better than the system that exists today.
entrepreneurs and investors who locate busi-
gress to act now on this commonsense agen-
I've repeated often what he and others said
Every American knows that time for a
nesses and create jobs right here in America's
da.
to me that day. They said that the most im-
fresh approach, a radical change in the way
imer cities.
You've been through an awful lot. You've
portant problem facing our cities is the dis-
been through an awful lot. And when I saw
WAS look at welfare and the inner city econ-
And yes, 1 recognize that at the same time,
solution, the decline of the American family.
any.
we must help States bring innovation to the
the verdict in the King case my reaction was
And they're absolutely right. He was right;
welfare systems. And at the Federal level,
the same as yours; I told the Nation that.
Every hour of meetings yesterday-and
a mayor from a tiny town in North Carolina,
they were, for me, very emotional, very mov-
we've got to reform our CAVD AFDC rules;
But I remain confident in our system of jus-
he was right. The decline of the family is
stop penalizing people who want to work and
tice. And when I saw the violence and rage
ing-confirmed why I believe in the plan that
something we must be concerned about And
we have proposed for urban America. I kept
save. These are the people who are mus-
erupt in your streets my reaction was the
history tells US that society cannot succeed
hearing words like ownership, independence,
tering the individual Initiative to get off wel-
same as yours. We all knew we had to restore
without some fundamental building blocks in
dignity, enterprise, a lot of time from people
fare. And we've got to pledge ourselves to,
order. And when I saw and read about the
place.
at the Federal level, change the rules that
heroic acts of firefighters and police or the
who have never had a shot at dignity or enter-
The state of our Nation is the state of our
keep them from doing just that
selfless acts of so many citizens, my reaction
prise or ownership. And it reinforced my be-
communities. And good communities are
Three: safe, drug-free schools are places
was one of relief, one of hope for the future.
lief that we must start with a set of principles
safe and decent. And the young people are
and policies that foster personal responsibil-
where our children can learn, but that's not
This morning I stopped by the hospital,
cared for and they're instilled with character
enough. We've got to revolutionize our
Cedar, to see a young fireman who had been
ity, that refocus entitlement programs to
and values and good habits for life. Good
schools through community action, through
wantonly shot in the head as he was driving
serve those who are most needy, and increase
communities have good schools. And they
competition, through innovation, through
a fire truck to go out and put out fires that
the effectiveness of Government service
were ravaging somebody's neighborhood,
provide opportunity and hope, rooted in the
through competition and choice.
choice: principles at the heart of the strategy
I believe in keeping power closer to the
that we call America 2000. We must give
maybe yours. The man's fighting for his life.
dignity of work and reward for achievement.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 7-14-92 6:37PM
And I think when we all go home we ought
And that's why guaranteeing a hopeful fu-
people, using States as laboratories for inno-
children, these kids, these kids right here,
ture for the children of our cities is about
vation. We cannot figure it all out back in
the same opportunity as kids out in the sub-
to pray for him.
urbs.
In the very short time that I've been out
a Boll: more than rebuilding burned-out build-
Washington, DC, in some subcommittee or
And the fourth point: we must promote
here I could sense that the real angnish in
ings. It's about the love right here under this
in the White House. And I believe in policies
south central LA. is a parent's concern about
roof. It's about building a new American
that encourage entrepreneurship, increase
new hope through homeownership. People
investment, create jobs.
want a real stake, at real stake in their commu-
the kids, neighbors' concerns about the kids.
community. It's about rebuilding bonds he-
And people are worried sick about the chil-
tween individuals and among ethnic groups
And these form the heart of the agenda
nity, something of value that they can pass
along to their kids. And that's what this
dren. All must agree that whatever we do
and among races. And we must not let our
for economic opportunity that I want to men-
HOPE initiative does. It turns public housing
must be about the children. These kids are
diversity destroy us. It is central, you see,
tino here. Families can't thrive, children can't
our future. And our actions in the wake of
it is central to our strength as a nation.
leam, jobs ean't flourish in a climate of fear,
tenants into homeowners.
the tragedy are for them, not just here in
Our ability to live and work together has
however. And SQ first is our responsibility to
Now, these are just the highlight of an ac-
Los Angeles. This is showcased now because
really made America the inspiration to the
preserve the domestic order. And a civilized
tion agenda to bring hope and opportunity
back to our inner cities. We have other ideas
of what you've been through, but it's all
entire world. Across this country tens of
society cannot tackle any of the really tough
across the country.
thousands of groups, hundreds of thousands
problems in the midst of chaos. And you
to try as well. Many in this room have innova-
And so for these remarks I've mentioned
of individuals who have never been involved
know and I know it's just that simple. Vio-
tive ideas they're trying right now.
what Government can do And now let me
before, who will never be paid one single
lence and brutality destroy order, destroy the
My first order of business upon my return
talk just a little about what society must do.
nickel for their efforts, must become partners
rule of law. And violence must never be
to Washington will be to build a bipartison
And yes, we have tried hard, spent a lot of
in solving our most serious social problems.
rationalized. Violence must always be con-
effort in support of immediate action on this
demned.
agenda. And I know some will say, well,
money and haven't solved the problems. And
The people right here in this room know
We can reclaim our crime-ravaged neigh-
you've proposed all this before, and that's
some critics say that we are a morally, spir-
exactly what I'm talking about. An officer in
true, they're right. And I'm proposing it
itually, and intellectually bankrupt nation. I
the LAPD who's a board chairman right
borhoods through a new initiative that we call
again. Because really WHB must try something
don't believe that for one single minute. And,
here, I believe, in this organization, giving
"Weed and Seed." And today I'm announc-
yes, we have problems. We have tough prob-
of lints time, he knows what I'm talking about.
ing a $19-million "Weed and Seed" operation
new. We've got to by something new. It does
lems to solve. But we remain the freest and
Government alone cannot creale the scale
for the-city of Los Angeles to weed out the
not take a social scientist to know that we
2
4562983:#
437
436
Administration of George Bush, 1992 / Mar. 9
Mar. 9 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
ence Program. These are all demonstration
WORTH who also cares deeply, to lead the
administration waged a fight in Congress
creased the Funding for WIC, the supple-
over this very issue, and we won. We kept
projects that we support. And my administra-
Commission and fulfill its mandate: To iden-
mentary food program for women, infants,
tion is committed to reform, and we are act-
tify those government programs, at all levels,
cholice of child care out of the bands of Gov-
and children, by 47 percent to $2.8 billion
ing now 00 waivers, to loosen up on waivers,
that weaken OF strengthen urban families; to
emment and put it where it belongs, in the
next year. Wishing increased other nutritional
to waive unnecessary redtape that impedes
analyze ways to improve private efforts to
hands of parents.
programs by similar percentages. And this
reform.
strengthen whan families; and to nec-
And now we're engaged in a similar fight
year Federal support for childhood immuni-
There's no hidden agenda here. This ad-
oummend new policies to help families in our
over whether parents should have the right
ration grants will top $340 million, an in-
ministration, the mayors, the State leaders
cities.
to choose their children's schools. We know
crease of 18 present over last year's level
who press for drastic reform of welfare aren't
I mDt convinced that we can correct DUT
the benefits of competition; it is the linchpin
So all told, funding for children's programs,
of American prosperity. And competition
modern-day Scrooges chiseling one more
mistakes, that we can learn from our failures
from nutrition: and education to foster care
dime out of some poor family. Democrat or
and build on our successes. I do not exagger-
2024566218-
among schools will be the Inchpin of edu-
sund child immunization, has increased 66
Republican, California, New Jersey, Federal
ate when I say that the future of America
cation excellence, too. From Minnesota to
percent since TWE took office.
or State: In our heart of hearts, we really
depends on our efforts. The family is the irre-
Milwaukee to east Harlem, school choice
But look, will never measure, and I
works.
believe reforming the welfare system is the
ducible unit of comfort and love. And from
think you all be the first to agree with
But you see, it's important for other rea-
this, we never measure our compas-
best way to serve people. Break this sorry
families radiate neighborhoods, from neigh-
sons: It restores authority and responsibility
cycle of despair. Give people real hope. And
borhoods come towns and cities, and their
sticent simply in dollars spent. We will measure
to parents. And just as it makes our schools
we're going to keep on trying to do just that
health determines the health of our country,
it by results. The test will be the health and
because every single American deserves to
for better or for worse. And like you, I am
accountable, it also maloes parents account-
happiness of CITY children and, most impor-
believe in the American dream.
committed to making our health whole and
able for the decisions they make. Not only
bank of all, the sense of well-being and self-
in child care and school choice but in other
Today with family as the center I've high-
to ensuring that our cities, as Theodore
reliance instilled by our families Our admin-
istration has traingeted funding to programs
lighted the role of government, both positive
Parker said, "remain the Preplaces of Amer-
ancors as well, a key to healing the American
family will be restoring parental authority
and negative, because we're men and women
licen, radiating warmth and light against the
that efficiently fulfill Government's role in
of government. But let's never forget the
darkness."
and accountability.
supporting families and keeping them to-
Another example, the initiative that we call
work of private Americans dedicating them-
Thank you all very much for giving me this
gether, programms that work for the family.
selves to the voluntary service of others, who
opportunity to visit with you today. And may
HOPE, H-O-P-E. It took more than a year
Yet, at the same time, we must face an-
reate an environment where families can
Cod bless our great country. Thank you so
to get that program through Congress and
other fact. Gemernment can sometimes be a
flourish. Each is a Point of Light, offering
much.
another year to get even partial funding for
burden as well as a boon. Over the past 40
it. But HOPE will be crucial to our success
service with no thought of reward. though
years, the child tax exemption has lagged far
by offering low-income families a greater op-
the reward will be resped by every single
Note: The President spoke at 11:36 a.m. at
behind the searing costs of childrearing. And
the Washington Hilton Hotel. In his remarks,
portunity to own their OWN homes. HOPE
American
III have asked Congress to increase the exemp-
And let me be very clear. When I talk
he referred to Glenda E. Hood, president,
is based on a simple principle: To survive,
tion by $500 Per child. For a family with four
about Points of Light, they are not a sub-
and Donald 1. Borut, executive director of
people need the intangible values of dignity
children that's ELD increase of $2000. And it's
stitule for the good that government can do,
the National League of Cities; and Wallace
and self-respect. Government can't provide
a crucial first step toward redressing the im-
but it's more this: We will simply not solve
E. Stickney, Director of the Federal Emer-
those, but bomeownership can, an education
balance, and it's what we can afford to do
our most pressing problems without the
gency Management Agency.
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 7-14-92
can, BL job can, and being part of a family
right now.
dedication of those Points of Light, of those
can.
And now I exeme to perhaps the most cru-
The Federal Covernment has a positive
volunteers. And I urge all of you, when you
cial matter of all One that concerns you all.
role in preserving the family, and we well-
THE must reform our Nation's welfare system.
return to your cities, to do all in your power
Americans are the most generous people on
to encourage these caring men and women,
Letter to Congressional Leaders on
come that role. It's guided the decisions that
to make yours a community of light.
Nuclear Cooperation With
we make every single day. Since 1989, for
Earth, but they want to see, and they are
example, we have more than doubled the
In my State of the Union Address, I an-
EURATOM
entitled to see some relationship between
funding for the program that Ibet everybody
welfare and work Welfare must never be
nounced that we would SCOOD institute a Com-
March 9, 1992
in this room supports, Head Start, a program
what Franklin Delano Roosevelt warned it
mission on America's Urban Families. Your
that brings children and parents into the
executive board or directors or whatever
Dear Mr. Spenker: (Dear Mr. President:)
might become, "a subtle destroyer of the
classroom, strengthens family ties and rein-
group it was-I've never been sure with
The United States has been engaged in ru-
spirit." It is Thirt meant to be a way of life
or a family legncy passed from one genera-
whom I was dealing, but they were all big
clear ecoperation with the European Com-
forces parental responsibility. For the first
hots, believe to-
munity for many years. This cooperation was
time in the program's history, we can support
tion to the neart. Welfare can eat away at the
now Head Start for all eligible 4-year-old
gether. And their work will be one result of
initiated under agreements that were con-
ties that bind Eb family together.
children whose parents choose to have them
my meetings in January with some of your
chaded over 3 decades ago between the Unit-
And State and local governments are un-
leaders.
ed States and the European Atomic Energy
participate.
dertaking the brave work of reform:
And I have asked Governor Ashcroft of
Community (EURATOM) and that extend
There are many other examples. We've in-
Learnfare in Wisconsin; REACH, Realizing
creased the earned income tax credit for low-
Missouri, a very caring man, Annette Strauss,
until December 31, 1995. Since the incep-
Economic Aclhievement in New Jersey;
the former mayor of Dallas, a very able
tion of this cooperation, the Community has
income families. And since '89, we've in-
Washington State's FIP, Family Independ-
4562983;#
813
Administration of George Bush, 1992 / May 8
812
May 8 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
Proclamation 6430-Mother's Day,
in May each year as "Mother's Day" and re-
and energy needed to transform the lives of
laws that frighten people away from helping
quested the President to call for its appro-
the people in need.
others. We crught to care for each other more
1992
priate observance.
And 1 look around this auditorium and I
and sue each other less.
May 8, 1992
Now, Therefore, I, George Bush, Presi-
am preaching to the choir because you're the
But there's something else. There's some-
deat of the United States of America, do
ones that have your sleeves rolled up in your
thing else that society must cultivate that
By the President of the United States
hereby proclaim that Sunday, May 10, 1992,
churches and in your communities, trying to
Government cannot possibly provide. Some-
of America
be observed as Mother's Day. I urge all
help the other guy. In my conversations with
thing we can't legislate, something we can't
A Proclamation
Americans to express their love and respect
the leaders of LA's many communities, I
establish by Government order. And I'm talk-
When we Americans observed a National
for their mothers on this day; to reflect on
heard over and over again that LA. has many
ing about the moral sense that must guide
Day of Prayer earlier this week, we not only
the importance of motherhood to our fami-
2024566218-
of the answers within itself.
us all The simplest, I guess the simplest way
gave thanks for our many blessings but also
lies and Nation; and to ask for God's blessing
I see our-friend Bill Milliken here. He lives
to put it is, I'm talking about knowing right
prayed for the renewal of our Nation's moral
upon each. I also direct Federal officials to
halfway across the country. There are four
from wrong and then trying to do what's
heritage, beginning with that most precious
display the flag of the United States on all
of his Cities in School programs, helping chil-
right.
and important of institutions: The family. It
Federal buildings, and I encourage all citi-
dren learn here And many members of a
Let me come back again to the little boy
seems fitting, therefore, that we observe
zens to display the flag at their homes and
I spoke about earlier, Rudy Campbell. Re-
Mother's Day while those prayers still echo
other suitable places on that day.
group called 100 Black Men, an inspirational
group. they mentor, for those not familiar
member, "baulder, badder, badder?" There's
in 0417 thoughts. A mother is the heart of the
In Witness Whereof, I have hereanto set
with it, they mentor to the kids, the boys in
family and the light of the home, and the
my hand this eighth day of May, in the year
a lesson he learned that survived the horror
south central.
and the hate. And in the midst of all the
love and values that she imparts to her chil-
of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-
dren profoundly influence the character of
two, and of the Independence of the United
Now, if instead of 4, there were 25 Cities
chaos, in the midst of so much that's gone
States of America the two hundred and six-
in School programs, and instead of 100,
10,000 black men working with boys, and so
wrong, he demows what's right. When be was
our communities and country.
asked about the violence, here's what he said:
"All that I am," said John Quincy Adams,
teenth.
on with the hundreds of people in groups
"They should know what's right and wrong.
"my mother made me. Who of us could not
George Bush
that work with the kids, there is no question
Because when I was four, that's what I
say likewise? A mother is her child's first and
that what happened last week wouldn't have
most influential teacher, and the lessons that
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register.
been as bad. And so it only makes sease that
learned."
one learns through her love and example last
2:35 p.m., May 8, 1992]
a large part of our challenge is to dramatically
Now, that has got to give us hope. May
a lifetime. Ranging from simple lessons about
Note: This prodamation will be published in
expand in community after community the
God bless the person who cared enough to
courtesy and kindness to poignant lessons
the Federal Register on May 12.
scale of what we already know works.
teach that little guy right from wrong. But
about duty, honor, patience, and forgiveness,
The phrase that I've repeated a lot and
it's up to Last the guarantee that all the millions
they guide US even as we rear children of
perhaps more than any other is worth repeat-
of kids like him grow up in a better America.
OUR own. Indeed, the older we become, the
ing: From now on in America, any definition
And I believe we are right about family.
more deeply we appreciate our mother's wis-
Proclamation 6431-Public Service
of a successful life must include serving oth-
We're right about freedom and free enter-
dom-as well as the many worries and SBC-
Recognition Week, 1992
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 7-14-92
ers. And when we look to restoring a decent
prise. And we're right with respect to the
rifices that she has endured for our sake.
and hopeful future for our children, I mean
elergyment here and the church men and
Today, as ave honor all women who, by
May 8, 1992
this about every community.
church wormen here. We are right about
virtue of giving birth or through marriage or
By the President of the United States
First, every group and institution in Amer-
faith. And most of all, we are right about
adoption, are mothers, we remember espe-
of America
ica, schools, businesses, churches, certainly,
America's finture.
cially those who-despite even the most dif-
A Proclemation
must do its part. We must praise what works
You see, III fervently believe that we have
Beult social and economic circumstances-
and share what works.
help their children to grow in love of God
Good government is a. reflection of the
the strength and the spirit in our Govern-
And secondly, all leaders, all leaders-
and neighbor and in understanding of the
men and women who make it that way, and
ment. You can see it here today in our com-
must mobilize and inspire their people to
munities and in ourselves to transform Amer-
difference between right and wrong.
we Americans owe a great debt of gratitude
ica into the nation that we have dreamed of
Through their faith and contrage, and through
to our Nation's 20 million public employees.
take action.
And third, community centers must link
the unconditional love and acceptance that
Through their dedicated efforts at the Fed-
those that care with those that are crying out
for generations.
are the mark of motherhood, these women
eral, State, and local levels, these men and
May God bless each and every one of you
for help.
give their children hope, self-esteem, and di-
women help to ensure our freedom, safety,
And fourth, with respect, the media needs
in your work. And thank you very, very much.
rection. In so doing, they give them keys to
security, and progress. Theirs is a noble yet
to show from time to time what's working,
Note: The President spoke at 9:18 0.m. at
a brighter future.
challenging mission, and it is fitting that we
needs to cover what is working. And that way
In grateful recognition of the contributions
set aside a week in their honor.
would help us share, that would really help
the Challenger Boys and Girls Club. In his
that mothers everywhere make to their fami-
All public employees are dedicated to up-
us share and repeat these successes many
remarks, The referred to William Milliken,
lies and to the Nation, the Congress, by a
holding the principles enshrined in our Con-
former Governor of Michigan. A tape was
joint resolution approved May 8, 1914 (38
stitution. They help to establish justice and
times over.
And finally, this one perhaps a little tech-
not available for verification of the content
Stat. 771), has designated the second Sunday
ensure domestic tranquility by defending law
nical,
liability
of these newmarks.
Administration of George Bush, 1992 / May 8
809
4562983:#
BOB
May 8 / Administration of George Dush, 1992
ticipated in any way in helping this great city
normal. But I want to thank everybody in-
by his 22-year-old sister who has five kids
look around. For anyone who cares about cour
of Los Angeles.
volved in facilitating this visit that came, I'm
of her own. And he lives in South Central.
young people, it is painful that in 1960 the
And the last point is this: I went around
sure, at a mery complicated time for the city.
Think about what be has already been
percentage of births to unwed mothers was
to a lot of the communities. And I have a
The Governor, the Mayor, the police, the
through Now he says the fears that things
5 percent, and now it is 27 percent. It's hard
genuine feeling in my heart that Los Angeles
LA community, everyone has been just fan-
will only get "badder and badder and
to read about a young black man dying when
tastic.
badder." And it breaks your heart, and our
the odds are almost one out of two that he
is going to bounce right on back and be this
And let me say I am truly heartened by
children deserve better than that.
was murdered. Kids used to carry their
great city thatit's always been.
So may God bless everybody here from
the speed. with which the millions of dollars
I talked a week ago about the law and the
lunches to school, and the parents that I've
Los Angeles, and my profound thanks to the
of Federal relief have reached the city, from
pursuit of justice. And today I want to talk
talked to know that today some kids carry
rest of you. God bless you all. Thank you
FEMA grants to the small business loans to
about what went wrong in LA and the un-
gums. I'm afraid some of you kids, you llow
$0 very, very much.
urgent food aid. And I salute David Kearns
derlying causes of the noot problems. It can
that, too Everyone knows that drug and alco-
and others who came here to coordinate not
all be debated, and it should be, but not to
hol abuse are serious problems almost every-
where.
2024566218-
Note: The President spoke at 8:22 am. at
to dictate, not to try to dominate but to 00-
assign blane. Casting blame gets us abso-
the Los Angeles Coliseum. In his remarks,
ordinate with the city and local officials. And
hately nowhere. Honest talk and principled
In the wake of the LA. dots, in the wake
he referred to Scott Miller, a Los Angeles fire-
I'm very pleased to see that there is smooth
action can move us forward. And that's what
of a lost generation of inner city lives, can
fighter who LOGS injured during the disturb-
coordination, everyone pulling together on
we've got to do for Rudy; that's what we've
any one of us argue that we have solved the
ances. 4 tape SEAS not available for per-
the Federal, State, and local level.
got to do for our children, these kids right
problems of poverty and racism and crime?
liscation of the content of these remarks.
It was important I feel that, as President,
here.
And the answer clearly is no. Some programs.
This tragedy seemed to come suddenly,
CIDES like Head Start or Aid to the Elderly,
I come here to Los Angeles. The community
has been the site of a terrible tragedy. Not
but I think we would all agree it's been many
have shown some time-tested, positive re-
just for your who were impacted the most,
years in the making. I know it will take time
sults. All programs were well-intentioned; I
Remarks to Community Leaders in
but for CHILE entire country. And everyone
to put things right. I could have said "put
understand that very, very well. Many simply
Los Angeles
around then world feels this trauma, everyone
things right again," but that would miss a
have not worked.
who looks to us as a model of freedom and
point I want to make: Things weren't right
Our welfare system does not get people
May 8, 1992
justice.
before a week ago Wednesday. Things area't
off of welfare, it keeps people trapped there
1 would get off to a bad start if Indidn't
And that's why I want to say just a few
right in too many cities across our country.
The statistics are sobering. The reality is so-
things about my visit, to speak to you about
And we must not return. to the status quo.
hering. The SUID and substance is this: The
say what I think everybody else is feeling,
and I want to just congratulate Larisse for
what I've seen in this city and, must impor-
Not here, not in any city where the system
cities are in serious trouble, and too miney
that marvelous rendition of the Star-Span-
tantly, as III said at that marvelous ecumenical
perpetuates failure and hatred and poverty
of our citizens are in trouble. And it doesn't
glied Banner.
church service yesterday at Mt. Zion, we are
and despair.
really have to be this way.
And may I first thank all of you for being
one people, we are one family, we are one
Most Americans now recognize some un-
Government has an absolute responsibility
Nation under God. And so I want to speak
pleasant realities. Let note just spend a minute
to solve this problem, these problems. I'm
here today. 1 think they were introduced at
the very beginning, but I want to single out
about our course as a nation.
on those. For many years we've tried many
talking about all levels of government. And
two members of my Cabinet, Secretary Lou
E can handly imagine. I try, but I can hardly
different programs. All of them, let's under-
I've taken a hard look at what the Govem-
Sullivan of HHS and Secretary Jack Kemp
stand this, had noble intentions to meet the
ment can do and how it can help commu-
imagine the fear and the anger that people
from Housing and Urban Development who
must feell to terrorize one another and burn
meed of adequate housing or education or
nities with concerns that really matter how
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 7-14-92
are here with ITMS. We've really had a good
each other's property. But I saw memarkable
health care. Much of it went to construct
people can own property, their DWII
tour. I want to salute Senator Seymour, Gov-
signs of Thope right next to the tragic signs
what has been known as "the safety net," a
home, start a business, create jobs, and en-
ernor Wilson, who's been at my side, both
of hatred. This marvelous institution, this
compassionate safety net to provide security
sure that people, not Government, make the
of them, as we've made this tour through the
boys and girls club stands unscarred, facing
and stability for people in need. Many other
big decisions that affect the health and the
city. Pat Saiki of SBA, the Administrator of
a burnedl-out block. And its leader is this
programs and policies aimed at stemming the
education and the care of one's own family
the Small Business Administration, came out
wonderful man next to me, Lon Dantzler.
tide of urban violence and drugs and crime
Think of the way that the world looks right
early and she is on the ground and doing
And be started it on the back of an old pickup
and social decay.
now to the single mother on welfore. Govern-
a first-class job. And of course, I would like
truck with a group of kids that wanted to
And we have spent hage sums of money.
ment provides you just enough cash for the
to also salute Mayor Tom Bradley who has
get off the street. And its existence proves
Some estimates are as high as $3 trillion over
bare necessities. Government tells you where
been so extraordinarily helpful on this visit.
the power of our better selves. And let's
25 years. And even in the last decade Federal
you can live, where your kids go to school
And I'm not going to forget the inspirational
never forget it, and let's count our blessings.
spending went up for these kinds of efforts,
And when you're sick, Government tells you
leader of the Challenger, Lou Dantzler.
Now me personalize it a little bit and
everything from child care to welfare to
what kind of care you get and when. And
I would also say to the city officials that
tell you why clubs like this matter. A story
health care has been the subject of some
if you find a job, the Government cults the
1 can just imagine, given what you all have
about a little kid, Rudy Campbell. I saw him
Commission or report or study.
welfare benefits. And if you save, if you man-
been through, the headache that this visit has
on television. He looked about 8 years old
But where this path has taken us I think
age to put a little money away, maybe to-
caused. And 1 promise you we plan to leave
His father was murdered a few years back,
we would all agree is not really where we
wards a home or to help your kid get through
right on schedule SO things can get back to
and I didn't see his mother. Rudy is raised
wanted to go. Put away the studies and just
college, the Government says. hey, welfare
PAGE 2
(c) 1987 Los Angeles Times, January 11, 1987
homily by David O. McKay, the former president of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints:
"No other success can compensate for failure in the home. #
Bretzing, who has seven children ranging in age from 25 to 7, says he has
adopted the statement as his personal creed.
He did not
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2ND STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Copyright (c) 1987 The Times Mirror Company;
Los Angeles Times
January 11, 1987, Sunday, Home Edition
SECTION: Part 1; Page 1; Column 1; Metro Desk
LENGTH: 4671 words
HEADLINE: RICHARD T. BRETZING;
FBI'S L.A. BOSS PASSES HARDEST TEST
BYLINE: By WILLIAM OVEREND, Times Staff Writer
BODY:
Richard T. Bretzing had just completed the most important and glamorous
assignment of a 24-year career with the FBI.
As head of the FBI's Los Angeles office, he had supervised the largest FBI
counterterrorist operation ever mounted to assure that the 1984 Olympic Games
would unfold peacefully.
It was a time of hard work, glory and special memories - including a private
moment during opening ceremonies when Bretzing gave FBI Olympic pins to
President and Mrs. Reagan.
Two weeks after the Olympics ended, Bretzing was celebrating both his
professional triumph and his 25th wedding anniversary on vacation in Hawaii when
he received an urgent phone call from a top aide.
A Change of Plans
"He was very cryptic," Bretzing recalled in a recent interview. "Something
very serious had happened. He couldn't talk about it on the phone. I should
change my plans and come back immediately."
The call shattered his blissful mood and led to a crisis that threatened his
career.
Bretzing returned to discover that one of his own agents, Richard W. Miller,
was suspected of being a Soviet spy. A month later, Bretzing himself arrested
the first FBI agent ever charged as a spy, a moment he views as the "low point"
of his career.
For Bretzing, however, the worst was still to come.
Miller, an agent on the Soviet counterintelligence squad in constant trouble
with his superiors, had been an active Mormon before being excommunicated for
adultery, and Bretzing, a Mormon bishop, was accused of having protected him.
'Mormon Mafia' Issue
The media pounced on allegations by some Los Angeles agents of a "Mormon
Mafia" headed by Bretzing, and there were private predictions from agents in Los
Angeles and Washington that Bretzing's job was "on the line" as a result of
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(c) 1987 Los Angeles Times, January 11, 1987
the Miller case.
Bretzing, who had arrived in Los Angeles in 1982, was outraged at the
references to his religion and the media speculation of his pending demise.
But even he had doubts that he could survive the highly publicized crisis.
"It was a disaster of major proportions," he recalled. "The prediction that
my head would roll could be foreseen, considering the circumstances. I didn't
know if you guys in the media would get the job done or not."
Last July, the Miller case finally ended and the convicted spy was sentenced
to two life prison terms for espionage. But Bretzing has survived his predicted
demise and remains the head of the FBI's Los Angeles office - with assurances
from Washington that his future is bright.
Bretzing is still a controversial figure among his own agents. He is praised
by some for conducting himself during the Miller case with "courage and
dignity." But others view him as distant and aloof and denounce him bitterly.
Unpopularity Is Common
"He is not a popular boss," one supporter conceded. "But that's not uncommon
in the FBI. A lot of the agents in charge of the Los Angeles office have been
unpopular with the troops."
Bretzing, who began his career as an FBI clerk in Phoenix, has now lasted
longer than any of half a dozen other Los Angeles FBI chiefs since 1972, when an
even more unpopular local FBI head, Wesley G. Grapp, retired after eight years
in the job.
Not only has Bretzing survived in the job, but he said that he has been
considered for two high-ranking posts in New York and Washington - both jobs
viewed as promotions by FBI officials.
Bretzing, however, has asked FBI Director William H. Webster to let him
remain in Los Angeles. At 48, he is eligible for early retirement in two more
years and would like to finish his career and settle permanently in Southern
California.
"The point I've made is I was here handling the Olympics, then Miller for two
years," Bretzing said. "I would like to have the opportunity of managing the
office under more normal circumstances."
Excellent Chance
According to top FBI officials, Bretzing has an excellent chance of getting
his wish.
"I know of no transfer plans for Bretzing at this time," said Assistant FBI
Director Bill Baker, Webster's chief spokesman in Washington, who noted that it
is FBI practice to transfer personnel frequently. "He continues to do a good job
in a very productive office.
But Baker added that Bretzing will have headed the Los Angeles office for
five years in June, a time when the FBI often "takes a hard look" at top
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(c) 1987 Los Angeles Times, January 11, 1987
managers.
"He continues to have the faith of the leadership back here," he said. "But
the FBI is very goal-oriented. That faith has to be deserved every day."
Bretzing took a gamble in the early stages of the Miller investigation that
added to the controversy surrounding his role in the case.
After Miller had failed polygraph tests on whether he had passed secret
documents to the Soviet Union, Bretzing summoned the ex-Mormon agent to his
office and delivered a lecture with clear religious implications.
Bretzing, reducing Miller to tears, urged the suspected spy to consider the
"spiritual ramifications" of his actions and urged him to "repent" if he had
violated the law.
Miller had not yet confessed to passing secret information to Soviet spies
Nikolai and Svetlana Ogorodnikova, but he began to break down after the tough
talk by Bretzing.
Defense lawyers later urged that all of Miller's subsequent confessions be
excluded on grounds that they were extorted under religious pressure, and the
judge in the Miller case rebuked Bretzing publicly for risking the government's
case.
'A Dangerous Thing'
"It was a dangerous thing to do, at the very least," said U.S. District Judge
David V. Kenyon. "It should not have been done."
But Kenyon permitted the prosecution to use the confessions on the ground
that Miller had confessed for reasons other than the speech by Bretzing, and the
potential problem for the prosecution was averted.
The silver-haired Bretzing, an imposing figure at 6 feet, 4 inches and 220
pounds, was grim with anger at times as he defended himself and the speech on
the witness stand during the Miller trials. But in a recent series of
interviews, his mood was more relaxed.
However, he still visibly tensed at questions about past charges made against
him. He carefully guarded his personal and family life, and declined to discuss
some aspects of his professional life -- including his popularity in the Los
Angeles office.
But he controlled his anger at criticisms made by some of his own agents, and
he even laughed at times as he spoke about the past, answering the charges of
Mormon influence inside the FBI with an occasional joke about the bureau's many
Roman Catholics.
Admits Taking Gamble
Finally able to speak casually of his controversial speech to Miller,
Bretzing admitted that he had taken an unwitting gamble that he would not
repeat.
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(c) 1987 Los Angeles Times, January 11, 1987
"Obviously, having seen the big play the defense made out of it, I would not
provide them with that technique again," he said. "I'll just make sure the next
time the person I'm talking to is a Catholic."
At the same time, Bretzing defended his motives in delivering the speech to
Miller.
"It's been described in the media as a spiritual lecture. I take exception to
that," Bretzing said. "It was an appeal to his moral and religious leanings. I
was trying to remind him of his sense of right and wrong.
"He had made some admissions --- walked up to a certain point and then
stopped," Bretzing added. "There were a number of operations going on that I
believed he had gone out of his way to know about. That was my reason for the
talk."
'Terrible Impact'
Bretzing said the Miller case initially had a "terrible impact" on the Los
Angeles office, traditionally the most productive field office in the FBI.
"Everybody talked about it for days. Then the work began to grind on again,"
he said. "In my case, the impact lasted longer. As the trials proceeded, we
witnessed a shift of focus to me and my religion.
But the "Mormon Mafia" issue fizzled during the trials, as prosecutors
pointed out that Bretzing had taken more punitive measures against Miller and
had come closer to firing him than had any previous FBI official.
"The Mormon Mafia stuff was totally overblown. There's never been one in my
office," Bretzing said. "There's never been any association by religion in the
FBI except perhaps the Notre Dame alumni (composed of Roman Catholic agents).
"I was dismayed that the media would do this," he added. "To live with that
for months, those were some tough days."
Some Early Complaints
While the charges of Mormon favoritism in the FBI's Los Angeles office did
not surface publicly until the Miller case, one agent hostile to Bretzing said
there were some complaints within the office beginning shortly after his arrival
in July, 1982.
When Bretzing took over the Los Angeles office, the FBI assigned a Roman
Catholic Latino agent, Bernardo (Matt) Perez, to be the administrative special
agent in charge directly under him.
There was a personality clash between Bretzing and Perez that built steadily
until July, 1983, when Bretzing rated him "minimally acceptable" in two
categories in his annual performance rating. Three months later, Perez filed the
first of a series of personnel complaints accusing Bretzing of discrimination.
Perez, whose performance had slipped to "unsatisfactory" in Bretzing's view
by December, 1983, complained both to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission and to the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility, charging
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(c) 1987 Los Angeles Times, January 11, 1987
that Bretzing was biased against Latinos.
When the Mormon issue surfaced in the Miller case, Perez -- who would not
agree to be interviewed for this article -- amended his complaints to include
charges of anti-Catholic bias.
Fight Continues
The bitter fight between the two top leaders of the Los Angeles office ---
with agents lining up on both sides -- continued through the early months of
1984, when Perez was transferred to E1 Paso. An EEOC official later ruled that
the charges were unfounded, but Perez's lawyers say he is still pursuing the
case and plans a federal discrimination suit against Bretzing.
The Bretzing-Perez feud was just beginning when FBI Inspector Patrick
Mullany, who is now retired, audited the Los Angeles office on orders from FBI
headquarters in January, 1983. Mullany later spent two years as administrative
assistant agent in charge of the Los Angeles office in the job once held by
Perez.
"That entire fight was an inevitable situation," Mullany said. "You had a
task-oriented special agent in charge, where Perez was more of a people person.
There couldn't have been more opposite people.
"Unfortunately, Matt Perez was over his head in running that office," Mullany
added. "He came up too quickly through the ranks. When he didn't produce the way
Bretzing wanted, the battle started.
Mullany said that early in 1983, when he inspected the Los Angeles office,
Bretzing had not yet reached the decision that Perez had to be transferred.
Cites Inexperience
"From the very start, he made it clear that Perez wasn't his choice for the
job," Mullany said. "His attitude when I came out on inspection was to (help
Perez develop), at the same time feeling it was unfair of Washington to have
stuck him with an inexperienced ASAC (assistant special agent in charge).
"As time went on, he was convinced he couldn't rely on Perez for anything
connected to the Olympics," Mullany added. "Meanwhile, the feud got worse and
other agents got involved. Unfortunately, Perez had some strong friends in the
office who believed the whole thing was because Matt was a Mexican."
Mullany said it was during the relatively early stages of the Bretzing-Perez
dispute in 1983 that another move was made contributing to office talk of Mormon
favoritism - the promotion of a Mormon agent to the office's No. 3 job.
The agent was P. Bryce Christensen, who had been Miller's immediate superior
on the Soviet counterintelligence squad. He was named to the post of assistant
special agent in charge of all white-collar crime and counterespionage
operations.
"One of the earliest things of the Mormon issue was the elevation of Bryce,"
Mullany said. "That was the sense of the inspection of 1983, that there was some
resentment about it."
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(c) 1987 Los Angeles Times, January 11, 1987
Mormon Influence
Mullany, whose duties included all personnel matters, said the FBI's Los
Angeles office has "always been a heavy recruiter of Mormons" and estimated that
there are about 50 Mormons among the 450 agents in the Los Angeles office, but
stressed that no religion count was ever taken during the Miller case.
"Mormonism was always something behind the scenes in L.A.," he said. "Back in
the days of J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI had a feeling that Catholic colleges taught
more discipline to people, so you had heavy recruitment from the Northeast and a
predominance of Irish Catholics.
"The Mormons came mainly in the 1960s, more of them on the West Coast than in
the East because of Salt Lake City," he added. "They also fell into that
category. Good family, loyalty to country. Plus, because of their missionary
work, a lot of them spoke foreign languages. They were good people."
Mullany, a Catholic, said his guess is that 10% of the agents in the Los
Angeles office are "firm believers" that Mormon favoritism exists and another
50% probably are "mild believers in the possibility that it exists." Mullany,
however, said he never sensed religious prejudice in Bretzing.
"You're going to get two views of Richard Bretzing," Mullany said. "There are
the street agents, and then there are the ASACs who get to know him. The soldier
in the ranks is not going to know him. He's always been regarded by them as
aloof, but you can't get close to him without recognizing his genuineness.
'Good Human Being'
"I got to know him extremely well because of some personal problems in our
families,' Mullany said. "It wasn't that I agree with him at all times. My style
was far more open, more friendly. But I came away thinking he's one of the
finest people I've had to work with. He's an extremely good human being, and
he'll go out of his way to help someone."
Mullany said he saw "enormous growth" in Bretzing as the Miller case
unfolded.
"Personally it was a tremendous crisis for him and his family," Mullany said.
"Bretzing and the FBI were as much on trial -- maybe even more 50 -- than
Miller. The publication of the stories about him terribly wounded him. The leaks
coming out of his own office terribly hurt him, because he felt a few agents had
really placed the FBI second in trying to hurt him.
"There was no doubt there were times he was white with heat, but I admire the
way he handled himself," Mullany said. "He's probably been through the worst
he's ever going to go through, and he's survived with dignity. You just can't go
to school to learn how to do that."
A year-old boy and his 56-year-old baby-sitter had been kidnaped at
knifepoint near the child's home in Palos Verdes Estates.
Three nights later -- at an FBI command post set up near Los Angeles
International Airport -- Bretzing had to make a potential life-or-death
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decision.
The kidnaper had threatened to kill both his hostages if he did not receive
$100, 000 ransom, and he was about to pick up the money at a drop site in the
congested airport area.
Two shopping bags containing the ransom had been left near a trash dumpster
at Century and Aviation boulevards, and dozens of agents were in the area to
close in on the kidnaper once he had picked up the money.
Question of Timing
The question for Bretzing was whether to arrest the kidnaper at the money
drop or to follow him from the scene, hoping that the kidnap victims were still
alive and that the kidnaper would lead the FBI to them.
Bretzing's second-in-command, James Nelson, was with Bretzing that night and
remembers the decision he made.
"You have to realize that in the FBI the agent-in-charge is responsible for
even a lot of on-the-scene responsibility in a major case," Nelson said.
"There was heavy traffic around the airport and Bretzing was afraid we might
lose the kidnaper," Nelson added. "He made the decision to take him at the drop
site."
For the next six hours, the best FBI interrogators in Los Angeles, working in
teams of two, took turns trying to find out if the kidnap victims were still
alive and where they were.
Says He Killed Them
The Iranian immigrant arrested when he picked up the ransom, Farhad Rahimi
Kashani, told agents at one point that he had killed the victims, and the FBI
relayed that grim news to the parents of the boy.
But the confession was false. After an Iranian interpreter was found, the
kidnap suspect, who later pleaded guilty in court, finally gave the location of
a Toyota van a few blocks away where both the child and his baby-sitter were
found unharmed.
By 4 the next morning, the child, Clayton Anthony, had been returned to his
parents, Philip and Kimberly Anthony.
"Bretzing came personally to our house with our son," Philip Anthony
recalled. "He was tremendously helpful throughout the situation. I didn't expect
it from a man in his position."
Bretzing's memory of that long night last August was that it ended in "a very
rewarding morning."
Recalls the Night
Nelson, who is being transferred to an executive post in Washington, spoke in
stronger terms as he recalled the night and the four years he spent in Los
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Angeles under Bretzing.
"We had been up together for three nights and two days," he said. "I never
had a happier moment than when we found that boy and the baby-sitter alive.
"That's what I'll remember when I leave here," Nelson added. "It's not the
stuff about the Mormon Mafia or whether office morale is up or down.
"When I look back on Richard Bretzing it will be as a friend," Nelson said.
"I think he has tremendous personal courage and strength. He's the man in charge
of this office, and he was in charge that night."
Nelson said he is still angry at the charges of Mormon favoritism leveled
against Bretzing during the Miller case.
"I'm not a religious man at all," he said. "But I believe people were very
insensitive because Mormons don't have lobbyists. The media wouldn't have talked
about a religious issue at all if Bretzing had been Jewish or Catholic or a
Baptist."
Dominating a wall in Bretzing's office on the top floor of the Federal
Building in Westwood is the emblem of the FBI. Less prominent is a small plaque
on his desk -- a Mormon homily by David O. McKay, the former president of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
"No other success can compensate for failure in the home. =
Bretzing, who has seven children ranging in age from 25 to 7, says he has
adopted the statement as his personal creed.
He did not start out to be a special agent in the FBI, Bretzing said. For
that matter, there were times in his life when it seemed highly unlikely that he
would also wind up as a Mormon bishop.
Appointed Bishop
Bretzing, was appointed bishop of the 550-member Newbury Park Third Ward of
the Mormon Church in Ventura County shortly after his arrival in Los Angeles in
1982.
In his church role, Bretzing presides over Sunday church services called
sacrament meetings and conducts "priesthood" meetings of all male members of the
church. He also counsels church members on personal problems, presides over
funerals and occasionally performs marriages for new church members not eligible
to be married in the Mormon Temple.
"I've only married four or five couples," he said. "The Mormon ideal is to be
married in the temple. I marry newcomers and those not yet prepared to go to
temple."
Bretzing wears a business suit, not church robes, at the weekly sacrament
meetings. His function is to introduce prayers, songs and speakers and to
announce church business. Occasionally, he delivers the Sunday sermon.
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He never considered resigning his church position during the public
controversy over his twin roles as a Mormon religious leader and FBI official,
Bretzing said.
'Don't Step Down'
"Active Mormons don't step down from anything," he explained.
Bretzing said he spends about 20 to 30 hours a week on church business, and
denied charges that he has sometimes done church work during FBI business hours.
"Sometimes I'll have to take leave from work, but I don't do church work on
business time," he said. "Work takes precedent over my duties to the church."
Bretzing cited the Aug. 31 Cerritos air crash as an example of how he places
his FBI duties above his obligations to the church.
"It was a Sunday and the priesthood meeting was just starting when my beeper
went off," he said. "I left the meeting immediately to supervise the FBI
investigation of the crash."
Parents Were Mormons
Bretzing was born in Salt Lake City to Mormon parents, but his family moved
to Phoenix when he was 10 and he drifted away from the Mormon church during his
teen-age years.
"I was what we call inactive in the Mormon faith, what others call a 'jack
Mormon,' " Bretzing said. "I drank. I smoked a pack of Pall Malls a day. I swore
now and then. And I went into the Army instead of going on a Mormon mission."
"I had just fallen into some activities of teen-age-hood that were not
conducive to the Mormon faith," Bretzing recalled. "That period ended relatively
quickly. I regret I did not go on a mission. But a consolation for me is that
one of my children is now on a mission in Spain and another is going on a
mission to Spokane, Wash."
Bretzing enlisted as an Army paratrooper at 17 and was stationed in Germany
with the 11th Airborne Division. He made 30 parachute jumps and has a bad knee
as a reminder of his military service.
His father, a German immigrant who worked as office manager for a Phoenix
cattle company, died while Bretzing was in the Army. He returned to help his
mother raise her six children and credits her with guiding him back to the
Mormon church.
Takes Police Job
Enrolling first in business and then political science at Arizona State
University, Bretzing initially hoped to be a college professor. To pay his way
through school, however, he took a job as an officer with the Phoenix Police
Department.
After a few months as a policeman, Bretzing, already married to his wife,
Diane, heard about an opening in the Phoenix FBI office and was hired as a
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clerk in 1960. He spent most of his college days working nights for the FBI,
then was accepted as an agent in May, 1964.
During the next 18 years, working his way up the FBI's promotional ladder,
Bretzing moved his growing family to a dozen cities.
Early in his career, he spent a year at the FBI language school in Monterey,
learning to speak Italian and Sicilian. Developing into a specialist on the
Mafia, he later handled investigations of major organized crime in Tucson,
Phoenix, Detroit, Buffalo and New York City.
In 1973, while assigned to FBI headquarters in Washington, Bretzing led the
bribery investigation that resulted in the resignation of Vice President Spiro
Agnew. Two years later, in Detroit, he was assigned to head the FBI's probe into
the disappearance of former Teamsters Union President Jimmy Hoffa.
'Never Found Him'
"He disappeared the day after I arrived in Detroit," Bretzing recalled.
"We've never found him. He was kidnaped and murdered by the Cosa Nostra because
he was presenting a threat of control to the Teamsters Union."
For Bretzing, one of the toughest times of his FBI career came two years
before his move to Los Angeles, when he was transferred from Buffalo to New York
City in 1980 as assistant agent in charge of the criminal division in the FBI's
largest field office -- a force of more than 1,000 agents.
Bretzing was unable to sell his house in Buffalo, 50 his wife and children
stayed there while he lived in Manhattan in an apartment near the United Nations
that served as an FBI lookout. The apartment was infested by mice and
cockroaches.
"The work was exciting, but living was difficult," Bretzing said. "We were
right on the brink of financial disaster. It was very lonely. I didn't get home
very often. My memory of New York is being alone there on Thursday nights
watching 'Hill Street Blues' by myself."
'The Polyester Prince'
Besides Bretzing's economic problems, he reportedly had other troubles in New
York. One FBI boss who did not like him nicknamed him "The Polyester Prince,"
because of the polyester suits he frequently wore.
During the EEOC hearings on the Perez discrimination complaint in Los
Angeles, Bretzing was accused of using an FBI car without authorization for
trips to Buffalo during his stay in New York, but Bretzing said that charge,
along with all others, has been rejected by the FBI as unfounded.
Bretzing now earns $68,700 a year as head of one of the FBI's most important
field offices. According to one FBI source, he earned a substantial bonus for
his handling of the Olympics and recently told agents of another $2,000 bonus
for having organized a strong local FBI recruitment program.
Bretzing would not discuss the size of the reported bonuses, saying only:
"From time to time the FBI awards moderate bonuses to agents, and I am glad
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that I have received my share."
Since taking over the Los Angeles office, Bretzing has reorganized the
division, streamlined the satellite system of FBI offices that surround Los
Angeles from Ventura to Palm Springs and successfully lobbied Washington for an
additional assistant agent-in-charge to prepare for an increased crackdown on
white-collar crime.
Office Ranks Third
Throughout the Miller case, the Los Angeles office remained the most
productive FBI office in the nation - topping New York and Philadelphia in both
1984 and 1985 in the number of felony convictions obtained by agents, with more
than 600 a year. In fiscal 1986, Los Angeles was third in total convictions,
behind Philadelphia and New York.
"There was some talk during the Miller case that the Los Angeles office is
held in low esteem, but that's never been the case," Bretzing said. "We have
always been one of the most productive offices in the nation, and we are the
West Coast flagship for the FBI."
His own proudest moments in Los Angeles are linked to the Olympics, and the
massive show of force that helped prevent a major incident of terrorism.
"We had more serious firepower than any FBI office has had up to that time,"
Bretzing said. "We have learned subsequently that WE did deter terrorist
activity because of the well publicized references to the available force. There
were plans for terrorist action, and we were aware of them at the time."
But despite his successes in Los Angeles, he remains known to the public
primarily because of his role in the Miller case. He has not yet outlived the
allegations of Mormon favoritism, and the reviews of his performance are mixed.
Morale Is 'the Pits'
"The Mormons like him, but probably 70% of the other agents would like to see
him go," said one of Bretzing's critics. "Morale problems are the pits here.
When they do have a going-away party for Bretzing, it will be held in a phone
booth."
Countering that view, Christensen ----- who received a transfer to Washington
last week, reportedly unrelated to his own controversial role in the Miller case
--- said he hopes that Bretzing's performance has won the respect of at least a
few former critics.
"I think he's been able to gain the respect of the bulk of this office, if
not everyone in it, by the way he has weathered this storm," Christensen said.
"He's been able to maintain a tremendous degree of integrity in everything he's
done. He has never slipped into venom or poison.
"He was also able to maintain his sense of humor," Christensen added. "He now
introduces me as the other half of the Mormon Mafia."
Bretzing's own assessment of himself is that he is not an easy boss.
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"Prior to coming here, I was probably regarded as tough," he said. "I
consider myself as a fair boss, but one who is firm and expects the job to be
done right the first time."
GRAPHIC: Photo, Richard T. Bretzing There was some talk during the Miller case
that the Los Angeles office is held in low esteem, but that's never been the
case. We have always been one of the most productive offices in the nation and
we are the West Coast flagship for the FBI. ; Photo, Agent Richard T. Bretzing
heads the FBI's Los Angeles office. KEN LUBAS / Los Angeles Times
TYPE:
Non Dup; Profile
SUBJECT:
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION; BRETZING, RICHARD T; UNITED STATES --
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
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Presidential Remarks
Bush-Quayle Rally
Provo, Utah
18 July 1992
Draft
Good morning everybody. It's great to be out West
and to
visit this outstanding university
and to be here where the
Cougars have devoured so many victims.
"The West is where we all go someday"
a famous writer once
wrote. "It's where we go when we hear there is 'gold in them
thar hills. ' Where we go to grow with the country. Where we
chase our young dreams
or spend our old age. "
And today I can add
with complete authority
that the West
also isn't all that bad a place to be
when your personality
is being pummelled
your character questioned
and your
administration verbally assassinated
2,000 miles away.
I spent the past couple days away from a television set
up in
Wyoming trout fishing with Secretary of Sta Jim Baker
and
our sons, Jamie and Jeb.
But I am aware that something else was going on in America this
week. Something real important.
1
This is the week when all across America
crowds of panting,
sweating people overran their neighborhood video stores. From
Tallahassee to Tempe
Americans turned on their TV and decided
they'd rather rent "Action Jackson" than listen to: Well, never
mind.
Now
please don't get the idea that this is some kind of
partisan attack. Stop by Rich's Video down on Freedom Boulevard
and I'm sure Rich'll tell it to you straight. Sales aren't
all that bad during the Republican Convention either.
I know you have a lot on your minds beside politics. And I hate
to poison the air with partisan talk. But let me respond just a
little to what went on in Manhattan.
If you're one of those who prefer video renting to politicians
venting
I'll put it simple. You can sum up all you need to
know about the Manhattan meeting with the title of a 1965 Cliff
Robertson comedy: "Masquerade."
From what I heard about the convention
I wonder if the
Democrats are donning a disguise.
They're saying the right things. Pride in America's strength.
Support for entrepreneurs. Respect for law and order.
2
In fact
if it weren't for the $9,000 stuffed ponies at the
toy store on the corner
and the bullet proof vests being sold
on street corners
you could close your eyes and think they
were at this "home on the range" in Provo
not the "home of
the hockey Rangers" in New York city.
But you know
I couldn't help but wonder
do they really
mean what they say? or is this new costume something the
Democrats plan on discarding
maybe sometime right after
Halloween?
Think about it. If they celebrate the end of the Cold War
how come they never supported the strength that won it?
If they claim to be buddies with business people
how come
they want to load 'em down with new taxes?
If they are really the party of new ideas and open ears
why
not allow just one speaker to talk about the rights of the
unborn?
And if they start their convention with a pl yer
how come you
can read all 10,000 words in their party platform
and never
run across three simple letters: G-O-D.
3
Now
don't take my word that the Democrats may not be what
they appear to be. I'm a little biased.
Listen instead
to a party elder. A guy named McGovern.
First name George. He called this year's Democratic Party
"a
Trojan Horse."
He said
and I quote
"they're much more liberal underneath
and will prove it when they're elected."
I know I've never said this publicly. But that McGovern. He's
an incredibly insightful man!
Now
let me be straight with you. This election isn't going
to be decided on what we say about the other side
or what
they say about us
for that matter.
What matters
is what we have to offer the American people.
My view of America is a little different the what you may have
heard this week. I'd like to explain it.
4
I know at BYU you like to say
that the world is your campus.
Let me say
that campus has been through incredible change in
four years. Because of our leadership
because of your
sacrifice and commitment
millions of people breathe free
today.
That poses challenges
and opportunities.
The question is this
can we compete
now that so many
other nations are playing our game?
We need to understand something. If we can win this competition
and we will
to the victors will go bigger spoils than
ever before in human history.
Today
far more people are eager for the fruit of our labors.
That means more jobs
more prosperity for our kids
and
their kids.
Now
that's the opportunity I see today. But how do we take
advantage of it?
Our first priority
is to create and protect jobs.
Listening to Madison Square Garden this week
you probably got
the impression that our economy was second rate
second class.
5
But keep in mind a few facts.
We are still the world's largest and most vibrant economy.
Second to no one.
We've tamed inflation
the last time interest rates stayed
this low
the Brady Bunch hadn't started re-runs.
Our factories produce a higher percentage of the world's
manufactured goods than we did 20 years ago.
What a Japanese worker can produce in five days
an American
can make in four.
Today
we have emerged as the world's export champion.
Last year
the Japanese government asked who leads the world
in 143 critical technology industries. Japanese firms led in 33.
The United States in 43.
And I wouldn't be suprised to learn
if hat report was put
together on WordPerfect software
made r1 ht here in Provo.
Our economy is growing today. But not fast enough.
6
Too many people have worked for a company for twenty years
only to fear that the next mail run will bring a pink slip. And
many of you young people are working your way through Brigham
Young
you deserve to be able to find a job on graduation day.
I used to run a business
meet a payroll. I learned the only
way that government can create jobs
is to support the people
who create jobs.
This is the creed Governor Norm Bangerter follows. He
understands that the only surefire way to give people unlimited
dreams
is by limiting the size of government.
We're going to bring some of Norm's attitude to Washington.
Like your Governor
we need a line-item veto
and I'm going
to get it.
Like your Governor
we need a balanced budget amendment to the
Constitution
and I'm going to get it.
And despite 31 vetoes in three years
we eed even more
discipline on the Potomac.
With the help of Senator Jake Garn and Senator Orrin Hatch
a
new Congressman named Richard Harrington
we're going to treat
7
wasteful government spending the way Karl Malone will treat a
jump shot in Barcelona. We're going to swat it back into the
front row!
Here's my second priority. A moral revolution in America.
Americans need to understand something you all know very well.
"No success can compensate for failure in the home."
David O. McKay said those words many years ago
and they
harken back to a different age in America.
Today we can fly from Paris to New York and arrive earlier than
we left
but do we too often leave behind the difference
between right and wrong?
We can explore a world beyond the stars
but do we too often
ignore a neighbor down the street?
We can turn natural ingredients into miracle medicines
but
why do we feel the need to turn every argume = into a lawsuit?
America won't get better until we start suing each other less
and serving each other more.
8
We learn these values in our living rooms and around our kitchen
tables. But while families help keep our lives together
government can help keep our families together.
By giving parents the freedom to choose their kid's schools. By
reforming welfare
so that we reward work and families can
stick together
not fall apart.
Only then
can our nation find its way back to our foundation.
My third priority. Quite simple. Restore respect for the law.
Elderly women in this country
watch the Berlin Wall fall on
television
but are afraid to walk to their neighborhood
grocery store.
There are kids in our cities
who hear of the Russians
reducing nuclear weapons
but then have to walk through a
metal detector at school every morning.
What do you say to these Americans? You sa enough is enough.
Let's put an end to the lawlessness. Let's ut an end to the
illegal behavior.
These are my principles
the things in which I believe. I
hope you agree
because they are the key to our future.
9
Those of you in the BYU summer school program
are here to be
prepared to "go forth to serve." But you might be wondering
where America is going forth.
The question on your minds
...
is one that's been asked for
generations. Can I do better than my mom and dad? Will the
dream still be alive for me and my kids.
Well
I've been around for a couple years. If you'll excuse
some advice from an elder
I really do believe America's best
days are ahead.
Yes
we face challenges today
but I've seen this nation
climb much taller mountains.
If we can topple the Berlin Wall
...
we can build a strong
economy. If we can lift the iron curtain
we can bring the
curtain down on immorality and indifference. If we can help
people walk free in Eastern Europe
...
we ca take back the
streets of America.
This is our mission. Together we'll accomplish it.
God bless you and God bless America.
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