Reminiscences of Arthur Goldschmidt, 1995

Biographical Note

Civil servant

Scope and Contents

Childhood: reminiscences of Fredericksburg, southern politics; education: Brackenridge High School (1927), AB Columbia University (1928-1932); thoughts about depression-era political issues in New York: Social Problems Club at Columbia, Roosevelt and La Guardia campaigns; creation of work relief programs during the Great Depression: National Recovery Administration, Civil Works Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, Historic American Buildings Survey, Writer Project; other work: railroad investigation, United Federal Workers Union (1930s); impressions of Lyndon B. Johnson; career at Public Works Administration, Power Division (1938-1947): distribution of power, dam construction, river management, Southern Report, Federal Power Act, Tennessee Valley Authority Act, Flood Control and Harbors Act; ideas about atomic power, aluminum production during World War II; development National Rural Electrification Co-ops Association; work in the United Nations (1950-1970s): African river basin development, East Asian work, Australian Snow River Project, Mu River work, Mekong River Project, development of Middle East Technical Institute, Latin American economic training; United States Ambassador to ECOSOC (1967-1969); post-United Nations consulting; thoughts about Desert Storm

Subjects

• Civil service--Interviews.
• Columbia University--Alumni and alumnae--Interviews.
• Dams--Design and construction.
• Germans--Texas.
• Goldschmidt, Arthur, 1910---Interviews.
• Ickes, Harold L. (Harold LeClair), 1874-1952.
• Immigrants--Texas.
• Interviews.
• Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973.
• Lilienthal, David Eli, 1899-1981.
• New Deal, 1933-1939.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Piel, Gerard, interviewer.
• Power resources--United States.
• Public service employment--United States.
• Public works.
• Reclamation of land--United States.
• Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.
• Tennessee Valley Authority.
• United Nations. Economic and Social Council--Interviews.
• United States--Economic policy--1933-1945.
• United States--Officials and employees--Interviews.
• United States. Federal Civil Works Administration.
• United States. Public Works Administration.
• Water resources development--United States.

Access Conditions

Copyright by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 1997