A Quiet Moment with Averell Harriman
Carey, George
A Quiet Moment with Averell Harriman This interview was conducted by Mike Wallace of the Columbia Broadcasting Network in March 1973. The interviewee, Averell Harriman, is noted for his long and...
...I know he would...
...I knew I was next to greatness...
...The goldfish are defenseless as you know - some undergraduates used to swallow them alive...
...Reprinted without the permission of the Columbia Broadcasting Network...
...But these damned cats...
...Aside from Yalta what do you consider to be your major accomplishments as a statesman...
...I'm sure they will work it out to their mutual satisfaction...
...My father, next to FDR, was one of the greatest men who ever lived...
...H: By all means...
...The English as you well know tried to attack Spain and the French, in turn, launched an Armada against England, thinking that the Spanish would come to their defense...
...that's what I called him, Franklin - one day he put his arm around me and said "I will call you Abe and you call me Franklin...
...H: A keen knowledge of history...
...Oh, how I hate them...
...You see over there my pear tree...
...W: Sir, I asked what you think to be your notable accomplishments in the field of foreign affairs...
...You see we don't have so many birds or trees in New York...
...I am as you said a statesman...
...Uncle Joe, as much as we loved him, each in our own way, was no match for Franklin...
...In New York the situation is the same...
...If only he had lived, I think we could have come to some accommodation with the Soviet Union...
...W: I assure you that our files are confidential...
...see how those doves eat the pears...
...But this was way back when, before I was born...
...W: Thank you so much for your candid comments...
...I loved him very dearly...
...What was your question...
...During the 1920s I believe...
...Harriman, you have for some time been considered one of our true elder statesmen...
...every once in a while r have these visions of the Great Man strolling through my yard...
...Harriman: Thank you so much...
...My fondest wish is that the government will put me on one of their postage stamps - or a coin of some sort - for my devoted service to the Republic...
...H: One would think so, but actually the doves eat the pears...
...Can you believe it...
...I have never really considered myself as an elder statesman...
...Are we being taped...
...Look...
...W: You mean to say the Spanish launched an Armada, don't you...
...well, the doves stay...
...You see, diplomacy is an art that can only be fully developed after several years of intensive practice...
...W: Oh yes...
...That's why I favor a law against the possession and use of all hand guns...
...I am a devoted servant...
...Somebody could kill himself but, even worse, destroy our ecological balance...
...Under the pear tree, playing with the doves...
...I firmly believe we ought to stop dumping excess oil into the oceans...
...Innocent citizens can be prosecuted for what they say...
...1 am taking you into the depths of history...
...Something about partridges and a pear tree...
...We will not give them out to the public under any circumstances...
...This practice must be stopped...
...That has been my motto: Learn all you can about different cultures...
...He was a former governor of the great state of New York and has served as a special diplomatic adviser to many of our past presidents...
...But please answer my question: What other accomplishments in the area of foreign affairs, aside from the Yalta conference, do you consider significant...
...Giant among men...
...You know that you are as young as your thoughts...
...We used to have lots of partridges...
...We all loved him very much...
...Funny about that...
...I was sitting down here one day and a vulture sat right next to me...
...I have taken a firm stand on all these issues...
...but you will never know...
...W: Mr...
...I have good rapport with the leaders of the Soviet Union...
...I don't buy any product produced by nonunion labor...
...Your question...
...And here in Georgetown it really comes down to the messy dogs...
...I suspect that they want to leave our environment because of pollution...
...Leonard would never have permitted this...
...but I digress...
...W: If you can collect yourself, sir, I would like to ask a Tew more questions...
...I think history will prove me right...
...I briefed the President before his departure to Yalta...
...The French did it...
...After all, he was the father of a President of the United States...
...H: I can think of many...
...look, my ducks are coming over to attack the doves...
...The cats are jumping over the wall...
...Let me think now...
...But you can perceive how our history is distorted...
...W: I'm sure of that...
...Look at the birds fly - even my doves...
...H: Yes, yes...
...Harriman, please don't cry...
...I hope the hawks don't come down...
...Wallace: Mr...
...H: God...
...but there are no partridges around...
...H: My supreme accomplishment was...
...He had a great talent and wits...
...Isn't it a real shame that so many Americans shoot the Bald Eagle...
...If only we had tried harder to make the World safe for democracy...
...Well, let that matter go...
...As you know I am really keen on this environmental issue...
...We were absolutely superb in our efforts to contain the Soviet Union...
...Leonard had nothing to do with it...
...I'm keen about this...
...Cats can help out here...
...What a touching moment that was...
...W: I can see that you are a true humanitarian...
...W: How wonderful...
...Statesman is the proper word - but as for elder, I demur...
...W: But aside from Yalta, what...
...W: Aside from the Yalta conference what do you consider to be your major accomplishment as a statesman...
...H: You know me well enough to answer that question...
...You flatter me...
...My extensive experience tells me that the doves deserve their due and what a small sacrifice it is for me to have such a wonderful pear tree...
...Well, enough...
...I plan to take a trip to China...
...II: No, definitely not...
...President Wilson, next to Franklin and my father, was one of my idols...
...It has been a pleasure and honor to talk with you...
...How silly it would have been for Spain to have launched the Armada...
...I'm solidly with Rader's Raiders...
...I love to travel and mingle with peoples of a different culture...
...his true greatness...
...My real concern is for the Bald Eagle...
...H: This is a difficult question to answer...
...I can see him so clearly...
...I see it...
...I don't think we can make any progress until we recognize this...
...Harry S. Truman you have learned over these many years in diplomatic service...
...W: I can see your point...
...The President, Franklin Roosevelt, that is, really knew how to handle the Russian Bear...
...Mr...
...The fact is that it was Queen Isabel of France who ordered the Armada...
...We have unlimited abuse of the First Amendment...
...We all know what a great man FDR was and, if he lived he could have won a fifth, sixth, or seventh term...
...My butler has brought me my towels...
...H: How true...
...I would like to ask what your lasting impressions are as one of our senior diplomats over the last century or so...
...The interviewee, Averell Harriman, is noted for his long and distinguished service to the American Republic...
...You have been through it all - the good and the bad...
...But what is it that Great American Series My father was not a failure...
...H: Now, see...
...Not so much with cats as with dogs...
...I prefer to think that I have many, many, productive years ahead of me in the field of diplomacy...
...I will serve my country in any capacity...
...You can trust in me...
...And then there is the problem of rat control...
...I think Eleanor Roosevelt understood this...
...It's not a good idea to be taped...
...Pretty soon the cats will be in the goldfish pond...
...I see your point...
...H: Yes, yes...
...Please, sir, I just wanted to ask about foreign relations...
...You know that I was one of the chief advisers to President Roosevelt and I will never forget our negotiations at Yalta...
...Please note they were all made by union labor...
...And that goes for mercury, too...
...W: I share your concern for the Bald Eagle...
...But not me...
...We have very little to eat in the way of pears...
...Why did you have to bring up this point...
...I have so many notable accomplishments...
...He would arrange somehow to bring my partridges back...
...H: To love people...
...What do you feel have been your major accomplishments during your career...
...I am sure that the State Department will find some niche for me in the not too distant future...
...You must eat a lot of pear pudding...
...Woe is me...
...Surely the doves would upset most people...
...I can see him now - do you see...
...W: Aside from the Yalta conference what do you consider to be your major accomplishment as statesman...
...How great he was...
...How beautiful...
...Sometimes they think they are shooting a sparrow or a duck...
...It was a shame he was cut down so early in his career...
...How does that song go...
...You can clearly see the label here - you see this little tab...
...What...
...The fact is, you know, that we learn so much from peoples with a different culture...
...H: Oh, yes, you are from CBS...
...If only Franklin were here - this whole mess would be cleared up in short order...
...They're really going at it...
...You know that I don't like being taped...
...W: Well, let us leave aside the intricate historical points which you raise...
...Genuinely love people...
...But what is it that lead you to this philosophy...
...To some degree, they learn from us...
Vol. 6 • February 1973 • No. 5
