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