While the War was slowly turning in favor of the Allies, The groundwork for setting up The United Nations had been established. On June 7 of 1943, President Roosevelt addressed the very first United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture and discussed what role the allies would play in the Post-War world and the crucial importance of Food production.

Here is that address, complete as given on June 7, 1943.

November 9, 1943 saw the formation of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), anticipating what was going to be needed to put some semblance of order back into the world once the war was over. Even though it was a ways away, the need was already abundantly clear that the amount of relief it would take was going to be enormous. And so an agency was formed as part of the greater United Nations to deal with that eventuality.

The signing of the declaration on the parts of the 44 nations represented took place at the White House East Room on November 9, with President Roosevelt keynoting the event.

FDR: “Here in the White House, seated about the table in the historic East Room, are representatives of forty-four nations. United Nations and those associated with them. The people of these forty-four nations include approximately 80% of the human race, now united by a common devotion to the cause of civilization, and by a common determination to build for the future a world of decency and security and above all, peace. Representatives of these forty-four nations, you gentlemen who represent them, have just signed an agreement creating the United Nations Relief And Rehabilitation Administration, commonly known by a simpler word; UNRRA.”

UNRRA was in use from 1943 until the end of 1946, with the last effort ending in 1949.

Another name from the faint, distant past. Alf Landon was the Republican candidate for President in 1936 and lost in a landslide to FDR. He supported the New Deal at first, but later condemned FDR for what he considered abandoning original New Deal principles. Landon was something of an anomaly as far as Republicans were concerned. He considered himself Progressive, fighting against the isolationists such as America First in 1939. After the war he was a vigorous backer of the Marshall Plan. Later, when China was taken over by Communists, Landon urged recognition of Red China. He also urged the U.S. to join the Common Market in 1962. All in all, not your typical Republican then, or certainly today.

When the 1944 Presidential election started heating up, Landon was called on to bring some unity to what had been a fractured party. He delivered numerous radio addresses in support of Republican candidates and this one, delivered on July 31, 1943, was in answer to an address made by vice-President Henry Wallace the previous night.

Alf Landon: “The shadow of a notable bitter election that will mean either the eclipse of the Fascist New Dealers or the American Republic is already appearing over the land. The Republican party and real Democrats are the only representatives of the great liberal principles of Jefferson, as they are being given force and vitality under the Republican leadership. And the high ideals of freedom for all peoples will be nothing put promises written on water if the Fascist New Dealers win this battle against the One Mulers.”

I hadn't heard the phrase "One Muler" before and my guess is it was one coined by Landon who referred to the middle class and the small business owner as a "One Muler" - possibly from an offshoot of slave reparations (forty acres and a mule) and certainly not a phrased used since then. I suppose you can draw all sorts of conclusions there.

Politics, it would seem, was so much different then.

April 25th 1979. Israeli troops in Lebanon and terrorist attacks by the PLO bring strong condemnation from Egypt of Israeli handling of the situation. Egypt on the outs with just about every Arab nation because of the Peace signing. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are the latest in a long line of nations breaking diplomatic ties with Anwar Sadat's Egypt. Meanwhile, Jimmy Carter commemorates the day (April 25th) the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising took place in 1943. Rhodesia has its first Black Prime Minister with the election of Abel Muzorewa to the post and Iran's President Mehdi Bazargan is the object of an assassination attempt which Iranian News refuses to acknowledge. Gotta love 'em.

And so went another day with completely interchangeable historic parts.

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News of the surrender of the Italian government of Marshal Badoglio flashed across newsrooms throughout the world on this September 8th in 1943. Mussolini had been overthrown and Italy wanted out of the war.

Unfortunately, Italy was under German occupation and they had no intention of giving up. So even though the Italian army had officially laid down their arms in war against the allies, they were now fighting the German army who refused to yield an inch. In a few days Allied forces would land on Italian soil and begin the long and hard fought campaign to shake the Nazi presence over the next year.

Here are a series of Shortwave broadcasts from Allied Headquarters in North Africa featuring reports both to newspapers but also radio outlets covering the war. In broadcasting terms, this was what was known as a "closed circuit" - material not intended for live broadcast but for use at a later time. No such thing as satellite feeds at the time, no uploads or downloads - just the distant fade-in and out of breaking news and bulletins to a breathless audience on this September 8, 1943.

(North Africa 1943 - Slow progress - Sicily was next)

Taking a small breather from the news in Arizona, today (July 28th) in 1943 saw the allies making advances in North Africa and Sicily. World War 2 was slowly turning around as the fascist regime of Mussolini was on the verge of collapse. President Roosevelt made an address to the American people, giving a progress report. Even as the tide of war was turning in our favor, there was still partisan bickering going on at home.

Pres. Roosevelt: “I am sorry if I step on the toes of those Americans who, playing party politics at home, call that kind of policy crazy altruism and starry-eyed dreaming.”

The Party of No just never changes, even sixty-seven years ago.

(A sampling of 1943 Americana tonight)

A departure from the usual format of 78's, I ran across this copy of a broadcast from NBC as part of their Music Of The New World Series. This one is from July 1943 and it features the NBC Studio Orchestra led by Joseph Stulpak with Arthur Balsam,piano in a program of works by late 19th and early 20th century American composers.

Some I'm sure you're familiar while others probably not so, at least anymore. But since we're smack in the middle of the 4th of July, how about a little Americana tonight?

So here's the lineup:

1. Leo Sowerby - Comes Autumntime Concert Overture
2. Charles Tomlinson Griffes - The White Peacock
3. John Alden Carpenter - excerpts from the ballet Krazy Kat
4. Paul Creston - Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra (with Arthur Balsam, piano)

Happy 4th!