Series II. New York City Fiscal Crisis, 1975-2013
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
The series includes a few documents concerning New York's fiscal crisis of the mid-late 1970s. These include 21 rolls of 35mm photographic negatives relating to the Municipal Assistance Corporation (MAC) taken in August 1978 by Carl Roodman. The most recognizable subject matter is the 8 August 1978 visit to City Hall by President Jimmy Carter where he signed legislation giving a $1.65 billion Federal loan guarantee to the city. There are photographs of the crowds, speakers at the podium, Carter's arrival and bill signing, and other such shots of the event. The specific subject matter of the other photographs is somewhat uncertain as to what is being depicted. But these appear to be photographs of the MAC staff at work in their offices in 2 World Trade Center; meetings and working sessions among various principals; discussions between MAC Executive Director Eugene Keilin, Rohatyn, and others; and possibly of the MAC Special Board Meeting of 11 August 1978, which took place at the midtown law office of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind.
In addition to the photographs, there are photocopies of press clippings, the issue of Newsweek featuring Rohatyn on its cover, a transcript of a US Senate hearing at which Rohatyn spoke, and articles, mostly from the 2000s, that included reflections on the events of the mid-1970s.
Arrangement Note
The series is arranged roughly by format and in chronological order.
Press Clips (Binder Content) (2 folders), 1975-1979
Transcript. US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Hearings on New York City Financial Aid Legislation, 1978 June 7
Municipal Assistance Corporation (MAC). 35mm Photographs (negatives), 1978 August
Scope and Contents Note
Roll 17 and 18 include photographs of President Jimmy Carter at City Hall. Rolls 2, 5, and 19 might depict scenes from the MAC Special Board meeting of 11 August.
Newsweek's "The Cities' Mr. Fixit" Issue, 1981 May 4
Later Reflections, 1984, 2003, 2012-2013
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a chapter from Jewel and Bernard Bellush's book Union Power and New York (1984), Rohatyn's speech at Columbia University "New York Fiscal Crises: 1975-2003" (2003), the article "New York City in 1975" in CRC Notes (2012), a letter to the editor of The Economist (2013), and an opinion piece by Rohatyn and Peter Goldmark in Newsday (2013).