To Host UN*

The search for the United Nations Headquarter’s site was intense and ‘cost conscious, guided by Truman’s language about sites “which may be available without cost or at reasonable cost.”‘

The boosters were very good at advertising their locations and tried to get the UN to be placed in their area. 

 Which city will become the Capital of the World?

Some of the places the United Nations delegates considered are as followed. 

The UN delegates had specific reasons to refuse some places, and usually these reasons were connected with the history.

We will explore a brief information about the places UN delegates considered, why the delegates chose New York City as the site for the UN headquarters, and why they rejected the other places. 

 

Philadelphia: Everything was convenient. The UN site would be near the train station, so there would be no commuting problem. The boosters also offered housing. 

Delegates’ response: They dismissed Philadelphia because the place was too close to Washington, D.C. Philadelphia was an industrial city with municipal corruption in the past. They also raised the question: “Would Philadelphia be able to reinvent itself as the Capital of the World?” They did not think so. 

 

 

Westchester: UN delegates got lost on their way to Nelson Rockefeller’s family estate. Nelson Rockefeller was willing to give his family estate if UN chose his location. 

Delegates’ response: Delegates did not like the place and did not want it because there was a commuting problem and resistance from United Westchester Citizens Committee to Save Our Homes; the members did not welcome UN. 

 

 

 

San Francisco:Delegates liked the city Presidio, closed to downtown, easy transition, and spectacular views of Golden Gate scenery. However, the site is the federal property. 

Delegates’ Response: There were problems related to the history and current situation. Chinese delegate asked about Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. British delegate worried the conflicts between their children and Chinese American youngsters because of Britain’s control of Hong Kong at that time.   

 

 

Boston: Boston’s promoters offered three locations: Princemere estate on the North Shore; the Blue Hills region to the south; and an area of state-owned land West of the city near Framingham and Sudbury. UN site-inspection judged that the Blue Hills area would be an alternative to the New York suburbs; it was convenient in commuting as well. 

Delegates’ response: The Soviet delegate Bassov recalled the incident at which a Boston judge denounced the Soviet Union. He surveyed Bostonian’s opinion and found out that there was a potential conflict with the Soviets if the United Nations chose for a Boston site. 

 

 

 

 New York City: Nelson Rockefeller (Grandson of John D. Rockefeller) and Robert Moses were in booster committee and involved deeply to get UN in New York City. In the Fall of 1946, UN General Assembly were be in Flushing Meadows. They expected to get UN headquarters located there.

Delegates response: They didn’t like the Flushing Meadows because of commuting problems, lack of scenic beauty, and expensive costs for foundation. There was also enough resistance between delegates;   therefore, the search went on.

 

Delegates also considered other cities such as Chicago, Illinois, St. Louis, Missouri, Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Black Hills, South Dakota and so on.

The Search for the Capital of the World ended on Tuesday, December 10, 1946

“Rockefeller’s Twist”

New York City got the United Nation Headquarters. Without the developer William Zeckendorf’s idea to put UN over the X-city and John D. Rockefeller’s generous gift of $8.5 million to buy East River site, the UN Headquarters would not be in New York City.