Celebrating the Brazil’s Emergence Four Freedoms

An Interview with Ambassador William J. vanden Heuvel, An Interview with The Honorable Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Former President of Brazil Chairman, Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park

EDITORS’ NOTE Fernando Henrique I did not fathom the depth of the We have also to make a fi nal decision re- EDITORS’ NOTE Bill vanden Heuvel Freedoms Park. He dedicated the five We began construction in March of 2010. Cardoso was President of the transformation derived not only from garding the role of ethanol in our energy matrix served as Deputy U.S. Permanent southernmost acres of Roosevelt Island We will fi nish in September 2012. It will then be Federative Republic of Brazil from economic stabilization but also from in order to defi ne a consistent policy to promote Representative to the United Nations to that cause. New York Mayor Lindsay maintained as a state park. January 1995 to January 2003. political democratization, and from its use. In addition, we need greater clarity about from 1979 until 1981 and as U.S. and Governor Rockefeller invited the pri- Roosevelt Island residents have insisted Elected Senator in 1982, he the social policies initiated in my gov- Petrobras’ fi nancial viability regarding pre-salt oil Permanent Representative to the vate sector to participate as an equal part- upon a commemoration of President Roosevelt in was a founding member of the ernment and deepened in subsequent drilling. We must also achieve greater transpar- European Offi ce of the UN from 1977 ner in raising the funds to build it. a wheelchair. FDR, stricken by polio at the age of Brazilian Social Democratic Party administrations. ency regarding the public/private relationship, to 1979. He is Senior Advisor to Allen & Louis Kahn was chosen as its ar- 39 and denied the ability to walk or stand alone (PSDB). Cardoso served as Minister You have stated that Brazil has without the recurring inconsistencies in the treat- Company. Ambassador vanden Heuvel chitect. In 1973, Governor Rockefeller, ever again, was nevertheless elected President of of Foreign Relations from 1992 to major issues that it needs to ad- ment of capital, with government either deciding is a graduate of the Cornell University Mayor Lindsay, and 500 distinguished the United States. He is the icon of the disability 1993 and Minister of Finance from dress, among them energy, educa- to be the only investor or opting for lukewarm Law School where he was Editor-in- guests dedicated this land to the Four community. We quickly agreed to their proposal. 1993 to 1994. He is now Chairman tion, infrastructure development, forms of partnership with the private sector. The Chief of the Cornell Law Review, and Freedoms Park. Along the way, the National Endowment of the Club of Madrid and Co- and the environment. Would you same goes for the modalities of exploring hy- later served as Executive Assistant Then Rockefeller became Vice for the Humanities suggested that this world- Chairman of the Inter-American Fernando Henrique Cardoso provide an overview of your vi- droelectric energy that remains unclear to this to General William J. “Wild Bill” H.E. William J. vanden Heuvel President and went to Washington, Louis class monument could be a pioneering experi- Dialogue. He is also a member of the sion for what needs to be done in day. In the environmental fi eld, these clarifi ca- Donovan, Special Counsel to Governor Kahn fi nished the drawings and died unex- ment in the teaching of American history. We Board of Trustees of The Rockefeller Foundation these areas to ensure Brazil’s continued tions will also serve the purpose of creating the Averell Harriman, and Assistant to Attorney General pectedly in 1974, and New York City was approaching are developing an audiovisual presentation of and of the Institute for Advanced Study at leadership? conditions for a low intensity carbon economy. Robert F. Kennedy. He is a member of the Council on bankruptcy. the Roosevelt era in 125 different chapters that Princeton. Cardoso serves as a professor-at- What were the main issues that you Foreign Relations and Chair Emeritus and Founder The project lay fallow. In 2005, I became will be available to the visitors to the park and large at Brown University and is the holder of wanted to highlight with your most recent of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. He Chair Emeritus of the Roosevelt Institute and de- the universal audience of the Internet through the “Cultures of the South” chair at the Library book, A soma e o resto, which was pub- has received honorary doctoral degrees from Hofstra cided to see if this park could be built. A video the use of modern technology. of Congress. lished in 2011, and have you been happy University, Roosevelt University, and Hunter College. called My Architect by Nathaniel Kahn was pro- Those who visit the construction site mention with the way the book has been received? In May 2002, the Special Exhibits Gallery of the duced and received signifi cant national attention, the spiritual dimension of Kahn’s work. Everybody Should Brazil be considered an emerging In the fi eld of The last book that I published – “The sum Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and leading several people to ask what they could who has been involved in it fi nds it a work of nation or has it already emerged? total and what is left” – is an open and candid Museum in Hyde Park, New York, was renamed in do to help build it. I went before the Roosevelt inspired fulfi llment. It is more than a gift to New The Brazilian economy has indeed conversation with someone who has reached honor of Ambassador vanden Heuvel who also re- Island Operating Corporation, which then desig- York City; it is an enduring gift to the nation. The emerged; Brazilian society, not yet. Brazil needs infrastructure, we need to 80 years of age and, released from any con- ceived the Four Freedoms medal on that occasion. nated the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms park is 200 yards from the United Nations, which to substantially improve its cultural develop- cerns related to the functions he has exercised In October 2003, he received the Theodore Roosevelt Park, LLC as the developer of the Memorial. Roosevelt founded, and it looks out across the seas ment to ensure quality education for all, social overcome, once and for or to his academic status, delves into controver- Distinguished Service Medal. Citizens began to come forward offering to the nations of the world that he helped save. development to ensure basic health care to all, sial themes such as narcotic drugs, the fear of important gifts of funds. By this time, the esti- Cornell University was recently selected and juridical development to improve pub- death, and the value of friendship. In this book, PROPERTY BRIEF Designed by architect mated cost of the project and the construction to build a major graduate science institute just lic safety as well as full and speedy access to all, the ideological bias I also share my understanding of the great chal- Louis I. Kahn, the Four Freedoms Park of the Kahn design was at $50 million. There seven acres from the Four Freedoms Park. Justice services by all. lenges facing today’s world in the aftermath of (www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org), is presently were real doubts that the necessary funds could We will work closely with Cornell, hopefully How has Brazil’s role in the global the informational revolution and the balances or under construction on the southern tip of be raised. We overcame those doubts. We have to build a dock, which will give ferry boats or economy evolved in recent years? against privatization. imbalances coming from the shift of economic Roosevelt Island, New York City and will be com- raised more than 90 percent of the budget, two- water taxis a place to stop. This will integrate Among the so-called emerging countries, power towards Asia: Will the West be capable pleted in the fall of 2012. thirds from the private sector. Roosevelt Island much more closely into the city only China can be compared to Brazil in terms of responding to this trend? Which position will The state and city have played signifi- than it has been. And our park will remind a lot of development performance. We are the fi rst or be occupied by Brazilians, inhabitants of the How did the Four Freedoms Park project cant roles. Former New York Governor David of people what the Four Freedoms mean as we second major global exporter of 7 out of the 10 farthest shores of the West, in this changing originate and where does it stand today? Patterson, himself disabled by blindness, identi- look to solve the problems of the world. main mineral and food commodities. We have In the fi eld of education, we need to go world? All this and more is dealt with in a col- President Franklin Roosevelt gave the State fi ed with Franklin Roosevelt and became a ma- Do you hope to step back and be less expanded our industrial basis and are well ad- through an authentic revolution regarding the loquial and straightforward language. The book of the Union Speech on January 6, 1941, which jor advocate. Through his leadership, the state engaged at some point? vanced in the service sector, especially regard- reshaping of the school curricula, teacher train- has been on the top 10 best-seller lists in Brazil the world knows as the Four Freedoms Speech. of New York appropriated $6 million. Mayor I will stay as involved as necessary. I have had ing the use of new information technologies. ing programs, effective learning of basic skills, since its recent publication. We were not yet in the war, but Roosevelt knew Bloomberg made this part of his Waterfront the great privilege to serve our country in public re- You have been a major figure in the and the extension of the number of hours that The world is facing many challenges our involvement was a likelihood. He addressed chain of parks, and the city council and the sponsibilities, thanking America for the wonderful growth and success that Brazil has achieved. students stay at school, especially at the elemen- and leadership is needed to address them. himself to Americans and the world to say that the Mayor worked to give $11 million to this project. opportunities that were given to me and my family. Are you surprised at how quickly this has tary level. The same applies to higher educa- How do you defi ne what makes a success- only way to justify the terrible cost of lives and A New York Times article on a Louis Kahn ex- Many children will come to the park and happened and what challenges does such tion, which should give greater priority to the ful leader? resources of World War II is to create a different hibit at Cooper Union in 2005 received public at- be able to reach back into the Roosevelt era and massive growth bring? acquisition of scientifi c knowledge relevant to The key attributes of a leader are having a world centered around the four freedoms, which tention and brought a phone call from a Chicago understand that every generation has a special Yes, I was surprised at the rapid pace of the challenges of daily life and work in a com- vision for the future, the courage to take risks, are the core concepts of American democracy: free- foundation, Alphawood. After detailed discussions challenge, and that this country is the last best change that Brazil has achieved. During my plex society. the ability to stay the course and persevere, and dom of speech and expression; freedom of wor- regarding our plans, Alphawood gave us funds to hope of mankind, as our Founding Fathers be- mandates as President, I stressed time and again In the fi eld of infrastructure, we need to the capacity to nurture trust and persuade oth- ship; freedom from want; and freedom from fear. hire an executive director and to open an offi ce. lieved. If they can understand that and be in- that Brazil was no longer an underdeveloped overcome, once and for all, the ideological bias ers to follow. After the President’s death, those who were In January 2010, the founder of the Alphawood spired by the challenge of democracy, the Four country, even though it remained a socially un- against privatization, which curtails the amount What do you miss the most about being close to him organized the Four Freedoms Foundation Foundation, Fred Eychaner, extremely pleased with Freedoms and America will endure.• just nation. I also underlined that we should of resources available for investment and down- President? to carry that message forward. New York Governor the progress we were making, pledged $10 million, no longer be seen as ‘a country of the future’, plays the management capacities of the private The inability to continue being an active Nelson Rockefeller proposed that a special memorial giving us fi nancial credibility and the confi dence The Four Freedoms Park site at the southern end of Roosevelt insofar as the future was already upon us. But sector. and direct agent of change in Brazil.• be built to the President and that it be named Four that the Four Freedoms Park would be built. Island overlooking the east side of Manhattan VOLUME 35, NUMBER 2 POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2012 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. LEADERS 67