Columbia Center for Oral History Portal > Oral history interview with John W. Kluge, 2005.Biographical NoteEntrepreneur/Philanthropist.
Scope and ContentsChildhood: born on September 21, 1914 in Chemnitz, Germany; father killed in World War One, upbringing by mother, grandmother and stepfather; immigration to the United States, 1922; reminiscences on New York City, Detroit and odd jobs; adolescence and secondary school in Detroit; left home and lived with inspirational teacher, 1928-1932; education: attended Wayne State University, Detroit Michigan, acceptance with scholarship to Columbia University, 1932, B.A. Economics, Columbia University, 1937; reflections on studies, friendships, multiple entrepreneurship plans, gambling, friendships, liberal political persuasions, goals for the future; early career and military service: secretary to the son of the President of China, 1935; vice-president and sales manager, Otten Brothers, 1937-41; Captain, U.S. Army Intelligence, 1941-1945; entrepreneurial career: bought radio station WGAY, Silver Spring, Maryland, 1946, president and director ,1946-59: further description of other AM/FM radio ventures; president of New England Fritos, 1947-55; founder, with David Finkelstein, wholesale food operation, Kluge, Finkelstein and Company, Baltimore, 1956; president, Washington Food Brokers Association, 1958; president, Metropolitan Broadcasting Co. (MPC; became Metromedia, Inc., 1961; then Metromedia Company, 1980s), 1959, counter-programming, syndication and competition of local independent stations with network television; bought World Wide Broadcasting (WWB), 1960, sold WWB, 1962; purchased all outstanding shares of Metromedia Company, becoming sole owner, 1984; sold off most Metromedia assets to Rupert Murdoch, 1984-92; merged Metromedia Long Distance and International Telephone and Telegraph, formed Metromedia-ITT, subsequent mergers resulted in formation of LDDS Metromedia Communications, 1989-1993, involvement with international cellular radio/signals technology internationally, named Forbes Magazine's Wealthiest Individual in America, 1987; later career highlights and positions: chair of the board, treasurer, director of Kluge, Finkelstein & Company since 1963; chair of the board and treasurer Tri-Suburban Broadcasting Corporation and Washington, Kluge and Company; director, Marriott-Hot Shoppes, Inc., Chock Full O' Nuts Corporation, National Bank of Maryland, Waldorf Astoria Corporation, Just One Break, Inc., Belding Heminway Co., Inc.; board of directors, Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., the Schubert Foundation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, LDDS Metromedia, and national advisory board of the Chemical Banking Corporation; trustee, Strang Cancer Prevention Center; chair, James Madison National Council of the Library of Congress; advisory council Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company; significant philanthropy: endowed Kluge Scholars Program at Columbia University, 1987, endowed the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, the Kluge Scholars Council, and the John W. Kluge Prize in the Human Sciences, 2000; philanthropic motivations: admiration of notable humanitarians, including Albert Schweitzer and Armand Hammer, desire to help people change their own lives, personal experience as an immigrant, belief that education is the keystone to society and success, hopes for responsibility of recipients to challenge and succeed as a result of philanthropy; reflections on public and corporate life: on relationships with influential American political and business leaders, notable international figures, and popular entertainers from the 1950s to present; personal politics (liberal and conservative,) business and life ethics, importance of risk, ambition, humility and modesty in business leadership, desire for more global entrepreneurship, individuality in American public life, deregulation of industry and public services, need for a strong moral imperative in business and life, American position in the world and need to become more communicative and global in outlook; personal reflections: lifestyle choices, identity as an Americanized European, travels and experience in regions such as the Middle East and Asia, deep sense of a nomadic spirit, the division of faith and reason, religion and personal values, social diversity and dynamic affirmative action, family, especially of wife Maria Tussi Kluge and son John W. Kluge Jr., and friends, 90th birthday celebration at Columbia University, love and appreciation for Columbia University and its opportunities.
SubjectsAccess ConditionsCopyright by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2008. Permission required to cite, quote, and reproduce. Contact repository for information.
| |
