U-Matic

12-15-83
Mayor Young - Lee Iaccoca
Holy Cross Baptist Church
$100,000 Contribution

U-Matic S tape containing footage of a press conference held at the newly reopened soup kitchen of Holy Cross Baptist Church on December 15, 1983, during which Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca presented Mayor Coleman A. Young a $100,000 check to benefit the Mayor's Emergency Relief Fund, and establishments like the kitchen. The tape concludes with footage of patrons of the soup kitchen.

The recording begins with Young and Iacocca, along with Frank Stella of the Chamber of Commerce taking their seats. Although not visible in the initial shots, Rev. James Porter of Holy Cross is also with them, just off camera. As they are preparing to begin the press conference, Iacocca can be heard asking Mayor Young about how many such events he attends in a day.

Mayor Young begins the press conference by first recognizing Rev. Porter, and decrying recent comments from Presidential Counselor Edwin Meese accusing non-needy people of taking advantage of programs like soup kitchens.

Iacocca then speaks. He apologizes for being late to the event, and mentions that Young has promptly helped General Motors in the past. Iacocca recognizes that the city's economic recovery has been "uneven," and presents Mayor Young with the check.

Young then speaks to Rev. Porter about helping to support his soup kitchen's operations. Porter expresses his thanks to Mayor and Iacocca, and speaks about the relief efforts of churches in the city of Detroit and the challenges they face.

Stella then addresses the room. He thanks the mayor for his Relief Fund efforts, Rev. Porter for his efforts, and Iacocca for his donation. He then calls upon other members of the private sector to follow Iacocca's model. Porter continues with this notion, and places a call for donations for other corporations to make donations. Young jokes about this effort to "pass the collection plate," before offering some closing remarks. He then opens the floor to questions, first about the event at hand, and then on wider issues.

He is asked about his relationship with Lansing, the funds of the Relief Fund, his reaction to Meese's remarks, and his reaction to President Ronald Reagan's comments concerning welfare fraud. Iacocca is then asked about the funds behind his donation. Young uses the opportunity to talk about an effort to build a public-private partnership with the auto companies to benefit downtown. A reporter follows this with a question to Young about funding the Detroit Public Library system to prevent the closure of neighborhood branches. Next, Young responses to a series of questions about the Vista trial. Iacocca is then asked about the Chrysler Corporation board, and about negotiations between General Motors and Toyota. While Iacocca responds to these final questions, the mayor's press secretary Bob Berg emerges from back stage with two other men. The camera continues to roll briefly as the group begins to leave the stage.

The remainder of the tape features a series of shots of people on the opposite side of the room dining.

The recordings are on a 20-minute U-Matic S tape with a City of Detroit Department of Public Information Video Production label on its top. The tape is housed within a black plastic clasping U-Matic case with a matching cover label.