UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title Page 8 Date 08/06/2006 Time 11:11:48 AM S-0864-0002-01-00001 Expanded Number S-0864-0002-01 -00001 items-in-Public relations files - luncheons, dinners and receptions - Volumes III, IV, V Date Created 21/05/1963 Record Type Archival Item Container S-0864-0002: Public Relations Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit UNITED NATIONS INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM &&>. G» ¥» iftgsiaSfi&aa 1. m U ) a a Si & CONTRIBUTIONS. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY UNTAB 1961 1962 1963 1964 Rank $2,120,000 $2,620,000 $2,650,000 $2,650,000 Third (After USA,UK) UN SPECIAL FUND 3,449,750 4,880,000 5,350,000 5,350,000 Fourth (After USA, UK, Sweden) UNICEF 1,375,000 1,375,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 Second (After USA) BOND ISSUE 10,000,000 2,000,000 UMTCIP (March) 500,000 CONGO CIVILIAN OPERATIONS 3,000,000 50,000 Note: They have informally pledged to pay for salaries and all costs for 8 German nationals working in the telecommunications field. Other aid will be bilateral. UNHCR 220,000 300,000 300,000 No commitment / 1961: First yetfA-^t ' 19621 QAO: • Qii/*/-M"SeconVd UNRWA 250,000 625,000 625,000 400,000 Seventh' (After USA, UK, Canada, France, UAR, Australia) Mr. Narasimhan Er* Tavares de Sa Mr« d'Arcy UNITED NATIONS WV NATIONS UNIES -^ ^- INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: The Secretary-General x"- . Date: 4 June 1963 FILE NO.: . THROUGH: FROM: Jean d'Arcy, Officer in Charge Office of Public Information SUBJECT: General David Sarnoff's lunetieon There could be two main topics of interest during this luncheon with General David Sarnoff, Chairman of the Board of the Radio Corporation of America, his son, Robert Sarnoff, Chairman of the Board of the National Broadcasting Company, and four executives of RCA: (a) A world-id.de system of radio and television broadcasting for the U.N., (b) NBC's programming on United Nations affairs. (a) General David Sarnoff has always shown a deep interest in the United Rations since its beginning. He was the first in this country, on 1 April 1946, to ask for the recognition of the principle of "Freedom to listen, freedom to look, for all peoples of the world", and to propose the establishment of an independent international broadcasting system to be known as the Voice of the U.N. On 10 December 1949* he was awarded by the United Nations a citation for "... his notable co-operation in the development of public understanding on the work of the United Nations and for his contributions in the field of human rights..." On 5 April 1961, in an address entitled "Television - a Channel for Freedom", he said: "To the leaders of the United Nations I respectfully suggest that they begin now the consideration of plans for programming a satellite television channel and publicly express their interest in doing so..." ..."Over the years I have suggested on several occasions to the United Nations that its Membership provide itself with facilities to broadcast its public proceedings and procouncements with the plan of reaching people everywhere regardless of race, creed, colour or political philosophy. America will soon be in a position to offer dramatic new support for that principle by enlisting global television in the service of a world community. Specifically, we can do so by agreeing that when - 2 - America's satellite communications system is functioning, a television channel will be made available for use by the United Nations." It could be of 'great interest to know General Sarnof f's present views on the question, and the way he sees for the United Nations to proceed in that direction. (b) The relations between NBC and the U.N. Eadio and Television are excellent and very close, but could perhaps be improved. NBC re-transmits regularly our U.N. Television programme International Zone on WNBC New York and four other NBC-owned stations in this country. Pauline Frederick, NBC U.H. Correspondent, regularly reports from the U.N. on United Nations affairs. # But it must be said that we do not find on NBC Television the same type of programmes about the United Nations that CBS often produces. Should the Public Affairs Department of NBC wish to produce such programmes with, for instance, Irving Gitlin, we are of course at their entire disposal to provide them with the facilities and information of interest to them. Because of some Union problems, NBC does not enjoy at the United Nations the same facilities as those of CBS, and must bring their own crew to Headquarters each time they want to produce a programme. General David Sarnoff THE FOLLOWING CREDIT LINE MUST BE USED: KARSH, OTTAWA 23 May SG. 1. These will be present at the lunch of Gen. Sarnoff on 5 June. From UN will be Mr. CVN, Dr. Tavares, Mr. d'Arcy. Simlar data has been sent to Sarnoff by d'Arcy for UN guests. L. Biographical Sketch For Newspaper Files Proms RCA Department of Information 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York 20, New York October, 1962 DAVID SARNOFF Chairman of the Board Radio Corporation of America Brig. General David Sarnoff, Chairman of the Board of the Radio Corporation of America, is recognized throughout the world as a pioneer in the development of radio, television and electronics. As Chief Executive Officer of RCA, he heads a Corporation whose 1961 sales passed the $1.5 billion mark. Its twenty-eight plant locations in the United States and sixteen plant locations abroad turn out products ranging from tiny ferrite cores for computers to huge radars used in tracking missiles and satellites. In addition to its manufacturing interests, RCA is engaged in broadcasting through its subsidiary, the National Broadcasting Company, Inc.; in servicing electronic equipment through the RCA Service Company; in International communications through RCA Communications, Inc., and in education through RCA Institutes, Inc. Its David Sarnoff Research Center at Princeton, New Jersey, is one of the world's foremost radio, television and electronics laboratories. The RCA Astro-Electronics Division, also in Princeton, turns out major units for space systems as well as entire satellites, including the famous "Tiros" weather observation series. - 2 - General Sarnoff was elected President of RCA In 1930 at the age of thirty-nine. In 19^7 he was elected Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, in which capacity he continues to serve RCA. On September 30, 1961, General Sarnoff celebrated his fifty-fifth anniversary of service in the field of communications. A memorandum he wrote to his superior officers in the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America in 1916 has become famous in the annals of American industrial history. In it, he proposed a plan for broadcasting programs into the home by using a "radio music box." This proposal later led directly to the development of the radio and,radio broadcasting as it is known today. General Sarnoff likewise was the moving force behind the development of both black-and-white and all-electronic compatible color television. The Television Broadcasters Association conferred upon him the title'"Father of American Television." In addition to his 'scientific and Industrial activities, General Sarnoff has achieved wide recognition for his efforts in' military communications, especially during World War II. He served as Special Consultant on Communications at General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower's SHAEF Headquarters in Europe, and was elevated to the rank of Brigadier General on December 6, 19^. He was decorated for his military service by both the United States and French governments. - 3 - General Sarnoff has served on three special Presidential commissions, being Chairman of two. He is active in numerous civic and cultural organizations, and has received twenty-two honorary degrees from American colleges and universities. He has also received scores of honors and awards from scientific, industrial, military, civic and cultural groups. David Sarnoff was born on February 27, 1891, in the small village of Uzlian near the city of Minsk, Russia. He was brought to the United States in 1900, and with the death of his father soon afterward he became the main support of his family. He sold newspapers, worked as a delivery boy, and at the age of fifteen was hired by the Commercial Cable Company as a messenger. He saved enough money to purchase a telegraph instrument, and soon learned- the Morse code. Fascinated by reports of the new means of communication known as "wireless," Sarnoff was quick to follow the suggestion of a telegraph operator who pointed out that there might be a new field of opportunity with the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America. Sarnoff went to the Marconi office at 27 William Street in New York City and applied for a Job as operator. There he met George DeSousa, the Traffic Manager, who informed him that there was no operator's Job open, but there was need of an office boy. Sarnoff saw an opportunity to "get his foot in the door," and took the Job at $5.50 a week. That was on September 30, 1906. - 4 At 17, Sarnoff seized a chance to become an operator at a lonely wireless station maintained by the Marconi Company at Siasconset, on Nantucket Island, Mass. The station's excellent technical library was an added attraction to the $60-a-month pay. Then, too, at that station he had an opportunity to ' communicate with some of the top-notch operators on the transatlantic liners. In 1910 and 1911, he broadened his experience by serving as wireless operator aboard the S.S.