Topics include: Impressions of African leaders, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Young's family's feelings about his work (and the death of his Uncle Walt), Young's work style in the United Nations, European and non-European world views in the U.N., interacting with the press and the misinterpretation of his statements on racism in Britain and Ayatollah Khomeini (and other topics), entertainers who supported the Southern Movement, including Harry Belafonte, and how America's economic weakness altered his approach in the U.N.
00:00 - Tom Dent interviews Andrew Young. Young discusses his time as United Nations Ambassador. He continues giving his impressions of African leaders. Félix Houphouët-Boigny of the Ivory Coast. He is credited with helping Charles de Gaulle make the turn around on Algeria. He was 'a fox.'02:28 - Ahmed Sékou Touré, President of Guinea.04:23 - Young talks about the murder of his Uncle Walt. Young's parents' reaction to his growing involvement with SCLC [Southern Christian Leadership Conference]. His father worried about the organization's instability.08:00 - Young was able to work out a relationship with Wes Hotchkiss and the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries. This made his family and others more comfortable because it meant he was not entirely on SCLC's payroll. They did not think about how physically dangerous his work was. He was okay with risking death for something worthwhile.09:45 - His mother prayed for him. Uncle Walt was supportive.10:34 - Young's 'style' in the United Nations. He believed in open diplomacy. Vietnam policy and the ignorance of the American people. The American people have a right to know what is going in, a policy which Jimmy Carter advocated. The U.S. took its diplomacy cues from the Germans, the French, the Japanese, and the British. Young disliked that most American diplomats were intimidated by the French and the British.16:00 - American lack of confidence about the world. Dent argues that the Europeans have more experience in Europe. He says Young's perspective is a black perspective. They discuss educated white Americans' default to the European perspective. Others, like Young, who defied this world view 'inside and quietly.'20:20 - Young never felt his mandate came from Carter, but from the liberal constituents of the Democratic Party (i.e. the Labor Movement, black, liberal intellectuals). The liberals have to choose someone closer to the center in order to win.23:00 - Young saw his post as diplomatic but also political. He tried to lobby and influence. New York's press corps was large and what he said became news. Things were taken out of context. Young recounts a conversation with a BBC reporter about the British and racism that was taken out of context.27:30 - Comments Young made when returning from South Africa were also taken out of context and sensationalized. They story usually had a ten day lifespan. [Recording ends 31:39, continues on Side 2.]