April 11: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The United Nations has selected the former city administration building at Flushing Meadow Park as interim headquarters for its General Assembly, it was announced today by Mayor [William] O’Dwyer after a surprise conference with U.N. Secretary General Trygve Lie. The announcement was made following a suddenly convened executive session of the Board of Estimate, attended by Mr. Lie and Grover A. Whalen, at which it was decided that the city will appropriate $1,250,000 to repair and rehabilitate the former municipal building at the site of the New York World’s Fair. The Sperry gyroscope plant at Lake Success was selected as general headquarters for the U.N. secretariat and as a meeting place for Council committees. Mr. Lie immediately accepted the city’s offer of the ground and said: ‘It is the greatest contribution the U.N. has yet received.’”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1947, an Eagle editorial said, “The Brooklyn Dodgers’ brief announcement that the team had purchased the contract of Jackie Robinson from the Montreal Royals has far-reaching significance. It means that for the first time in the national pastime, a big league team will carry on its roster a member of the Negro race. It means that the barriers have finally been lifted for other Negroes to follow suit, not alone with the Dodgers, but with the rest of the National and American League teams. And it also denotes that when Branch Rickey, president of the team, signed Robinson he had every intention and desire to give him a chance to make good as a big leaguer. There is little doubt that Robinson is equipped, physically and mentally, as a major leaguer. A fine hitter, a speedy runner and a capable defensive player, Robinson has the ability to achieve stardom in the big time. The Brooklyn Baseball Club is to be commended for its decision to sign Robinson.”