Description:
From 1944 to 1946, as the world pivoted from the Second World War to an unsteady peace, Americans in more than two hundred cities and towns mobilized to chase an implausible dream. The newly-created United Nations needed a meeting place, a central place for global diplomacy–a Capital of the World. But what would it look like, and where would it be? Without invitation, civic boosters in every region of the United States leapt at the prospect of transforming their hometowns into the Capital of the World. The idea stirred in big cities–Chicago, San Francisco, St. Louis, New Orleans, Denver, and more. It fired imaginations in the Black Hills of South Dakota and in small towns from coast to coast.
Meanwhile, within the United Nations the search for a headquarters site became a debacle that threatened to undermine the organization in its earliest days. At times it seemed the world’s diplomats could agree on only one thing: under no circumstances did they want the United Nations to be based in New York. And for its part, New York worked mightily just to stay in the race it would eventually win.
With a sweeping view of the United States’ place in the world at the end of World War II, Capital of the World tells the dramatic, surprising, and at times comic story of hometown promoters in pursuit of an extraordinary prize and the diplomats who struggled with the balance of power at a pivotal moment in history.
My Thoughts:
I knew the ending of Capital of the World. We all do. The United Nations is headquartered in New York. What I didn’t know was how it ended up there. I definitely didn’t know how many cities were begging for the UN to set up camp in their backyard.
Some of these towns went to great lengths to lure the United Nations to their neck of the woods. Ridiculous lengths really. Perhaps I only think they were ridiculous because I know where the UN ended up? Still, some of their shenanigans made me giggle.
There were serious matters to consider. The United Nations was to be a venture that promoted peace and equality. It wouldn’t do to put the headquarters in places where equality was regularly tested. (In 1945? A LOT of places had troubles with that particular issue.) The UN had to be fairly accessible to people from around the world. Even though San Francisco successfully hosted the charter conference of the UN, the powers that be decided that any city on the West Coast was out.
This book is well researched and full of interesting historical tidbits. Entertaining and spirited, Capital of the World hits the right notes.
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| The author: Charlene Mires is Associate Professor of History at Rutgers University-Camden. She is the author of Independence Hall in American Memory and a co-recipient of a Pulitzer Prize in journalism. |
Thanks to TLC Book Tours for inviting me to participate in this tour. To visit other stops on the tour click here.
The Relentless Reader 
This book sounds really interesting! I had never really considered how or why the UN wound up being headquartered in New York. I did know that the US definitely strong-armed its way into having quite a bit of power within the UN. I'll have to check this out; thank you for sharing!
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I was there!! Back in my NY days of course!
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This sounds really interesting! Will be adding it to my list 🙂
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This sounds like a fun read. The UN had such potential, it's a shame it didn't live up to expectations.
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I had heard that this was really interesting. Amazing how things like this get decided. Though I was not familiar with the decision process before hearing about this book, it reminds me just a little of Washington D.C was chosen as the spot for America's capital.
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I don't read a lot of non-fiction, but this one sounds really interesting. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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I had no idea that the decision about the site was so contentious! This sounds like a really fascinating read, even though we know how it will end.
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Sounds like an interesting read. I'm not a fan of non-fiction, but this one sounds like I would actually want to read it…?
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This sounds amazing. I never knew cities vied to host the UN like that.
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That's the US for you 😉 I had no idea about how the UN ended up in NY either. Very interesting tale.
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Lucky duck 😉
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Cool, hope you enjoy it! 😀
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It really was a wonderful idea wasn't it?
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Brian, you always make me want to learn more 😉 Now I'm interested in THAT story!
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I looove me some nonfiction 😉 It's not always easy to find the gems but they are definitely out there!
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I had no idea either! I bet there are a lot of stories about this kind of thing out there. And here we are just walking around not knowing them, lol. I want to know every single thing!
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You just might Melinda. 🙂 If you're ever looking for a fab nonfic read I could give you a dozen recommendations. Of course, I really love reading nonfiction so…lol
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Same here 🙂 It was really interesting to learn about this!
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I'd never thought of it before, but it would be quite the thing to have the headquarters, wherever it was. And especially for the less obvious places, so it makes sense that they all wanted it. Interesting subject for a book!
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Oh yea, they all wanted that prestige 🙂 Not to mention the tourism dollars
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I'm glad you liked this one! I had no idea about the story of the UN either. I thought it was really interesting (and funny the different places that pitched a headquarters).
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I love learning backstories like this – I find all the details completely fascinating!Thanks for being on the tour. I'm featuring your review on TLC's Facebook page today.
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It's been my pleasure. Thanks Heather!
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I love learning quirky little facts like that 🙂
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Jennifer, thank you for reading my book. You're exactly right — so many of the self-appointed contenders seem so funny, but the more I looked into them, the more I could see why they thought they could become the \”Capital of the World.\” If anyone wants to see if their hometowns jumped into the competition, I have posted an expanded list on my blog, which is http://capital-of-the-world.com. Everyone, feel free to let me know if I missed any!
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Thanks for the link and thank for visiting here 🙂 I saw a few places in my home state of Wisconsin on your list before but I'm going to go check it out again!
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Please do recommend them on goodreads? 🙂
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I'm not sure what you're asking here Melinda? I might be missing something, lol. It wouldn't be the first time!
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That sounds really unique! Is it a book you think I might enjoy?
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Maybe? How big of a fan of non-fic are you? 😉
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For some reason why you've replied on my comments, I cant reply on your reply. Maybe it's your setup, so thats maybe why we loosing the conversation 🙂 You're not missing anything.You said: \”If you're ever looking for a fab nonfic read I could give you a dozen recommendations\” so I just asked if you would recommend them to me on goodreads :)PS: I have a way of losing my notes, when someone mentions a book and I don't check it out on goodreads immediately I forgot that I had to. Silly, I know
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Ohhhh, now I get it! LOL! I'll see if I can send you some recs for my latest favorites!
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