Happy Birthday Lady Liberty! | That Was The News Then: Episode 47

She's watched over our harbor for more than a century, and on this episode of That Was the News Then, we're celebrating Lady Liberty's 140th birthday. We open the archive vault to look back at the iconic monument's rich history through the lens of our classic local news coverage. Join us as we revisit the unforgettable celebrations, the massive renovations, and the everyday moments that have defined the Statue of Liberty over the decades. After 114 years, Our Lady Liberty still stands tall as a symbol of hope. Beneath her torch, she has greeted the nation's tired, poor, and huddled masses. Having welcomed millions of European immigrants to the United States, the statue continues to embrace hundreds of visitors every day, all wanting a chance to see Miss Liberty, to see the gift France gave to the U.S. to commemorate their friendship. But most of the visitors may not know the story behind the story. The statue is supposed to have been based on Bartoldi's wife, mother, excuse me. But they're now doing research to see whether or not he's actually based on an African figure as a tribute to the freedom of slaves here in the United States. National Park Service researchers are looking into if the statue was not about immigration, instead entirely related to slavery. Lady Liberty argues some was a symbol for the freedom of slaves. The statue was proposed by French historian Edouard Laboulaye in 1865, a leader of the French abolitionist movement. The issue has been percolating in some circles for a number of years, that perhaps the Statue of Liberty did have its origins in some attempt on the part of the French to relate to the slavery experience. In fact, the statue may have been based on prior likenesses of a black woman named Liberty, like this painting from the 1850s. If proven, it could rewrite, or at least add on, to history. It would maybe settle some scores or make things a little more even for those people that feel like they were betrayed. The freedom of everybody, isn't it? Black, white, Jews, English, freedom of everybody. We kick things off with a dazzling look at the spectacular fireworks displays that illuminated the harbor and the statue in 1976. Many came by car, by bus, and by jet from faraway places. Others arrived from all of the neighborhoods of New York City to see the spectacle and the fireworks. Last night, the Statue of Liberty and the sky around her were set aglow with great splashes of reds and whites and orange. And people stood on the streets and docks, on the sidewalks, and on building tops watching the explosion of color. And Americans from Gainesville, Florida, St. Louis, the Bronx, spontaneously and shyly at first, sang our national anthem while the brilliant sky show went on. Millions of people celebrating, and that means moving about and eating and drinking, having a good time, a glorious fourth, as we say. Let's travel back to 1981 to see how New Yorkers gathered to honor the beloved Copper Landmark's 95th anniversary. A group of people went to see the Statue of Liberty today. they wanted to say happy birthday. The proud lady is 95. And they also wanted to say thank you to eight brave men, the servicemen who were killed trying to rescue our hostages in Iran. There is a special fund set up to help their families. We'll give you the address after Steve Power's report. Officially, it's located in Jersey City, but it belongs to all Americans. It's metal and stone and the object of dreams of freedom and a new life in a new land. The Statue of Liberty, given to the United States by France on July 4th, 1894, and dedicated by President Grover Cleveland 95 years ago today. This morning, the ceremony commemorated the death of eight servicemen killed in the aborted rescue attempt to free the American hostages held in Iran. The torch lit for the first time during the day since the hostages returned. One of the hostages who came home, Barry Rosen, was the guest of honor, with his wife, Barbara, and Jersey City Mayor, Gerald McCann. Barry Rosen told me it was the death of his would-be rescuers that has given his life new meaning. I'm attempting to go ahead and live that debt today for those eight men and also for my own life. I feel that I have a new lease on life, and I try to take life in a more relaxed fashion and accept some of the things in life that I have taken for granted. We've sort of lost sight of the sacrifice that was made in order to get them home. So I just, it makes me feel very sad that they can't be here to enjoy their children and their families. Steve Powers, Channel 5 News. We also revisit the spectacular July 4th weekend of 1986, when millions flocked to New York Harbor for an unforgettable star-studded centennial celebration. On July 4th weekend, this town is usually empty. That will not be the case in 1986. Because on that weekend, we here and people across the nation will mark the first 100 years that the Statue of Liberty has been a beacon of hope for millions as they begin new lives in America. And what a celebration it will be. There'll be 40,000 vessels in the harbor, millions of people lining the shores of New York and New Jersey, 10 hours of primetime television coverage, and up to 6 hours of daytime coverage. Chrysler's Lee Iacocca is putting it all together, and the producer is David Wolper, the man behind last year's Summer Olympic Games ceremonies. During the weekend, Chief Justice Warren Burger will swear in 25,000 new citizens, some via satellite. President Reagan will press a button lighting Lady Liberty's torch as 100 musicians and 500 singers perform God Bless America. At a news conference today, Wolper described the opening ceremonies. Liberty Weekend begins on Thursday evening, July 3rd, with the opening ceremonies aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. It's anchored off the Statue of Liberty. 3,000 donors to the Statue of Liberty will attend the charity affair. It can be viewed by the people of New York, New Jersey on the shores or off ships in the harbor. The extravaganza will mark the completion of a $62 million renovation of the statue and a $128 million renovation of Ellis Island. But the cost of it all to taxpayers is expected to be zero. The money is coming from private contributions and television revenues. Good evening. The Liberty celebrations continue with a mammoth concert in Central Park and views up close of the Lady of the Harbor. This was also a day to play sailor for a day, to climb aboard the tall ships or watch a race of airborne blimps. And for the first time since restoration began on the Statue of Liberty, the people to whom she was dedicated, the people who seek freedom everywhere, are now able to visit her. Liberty Island was open to the public today, and many waited all night to take the ferry from Battery Park to be the first to see the statue. As Frank Grimes reports, they were not disappointed. Well, the two-and-a-half-year wait to see Miss Liberty was almost over at 7:30 this morning. One more line to go. For some, a line that started a week ago. Arnold Landon of Baltimore says all week he was in the line at Castle Clinton for the boat ride to Liberty Island. He wanted to be the first on the first boat. Well, I make first all over the United States. you make what first all the first you do yes tell me about that well first at Disney World Circus World, Kings Dominion, and that's second at Knoxville World's Fair, first at New Orleans World's Fair, first to enter the uh Six Flags Paraplane in Baltimore, first on our subway, in Baltimore which is the most important to you today but he left the line for a while when he came back, he was second to Paul Weissman of Derbyshire, England. He wanted to see the statue today. He's going home tomorrow. I very much wanted to be able to visit the statue before I return, so I thought that either I had to be here very early this morning or stay overnight. So I opted to stay overnight, and at quarter past seven last night, I couldn't resist the temptation anymore of being first. This is Kermit Simon. He's from Michigan and other places. He says his story is a long and unusual one. Keeping it simple, get to the top of the statue. The statue is essentially what I'm here for, and that's an understatement. Kermit had been online since yesterday, so I didn't tell him that the press were getting the first boat ride. We wanted to get pictures of the First Lady officially opening the island so the public could get to see the Big Lady. Backed up by Walter Cronkite, the emcee for the event, some fancy military aircraft, the Paris Boys Choir, the Harlem Boys Choir. And an orchestra playing America the Beautiful, Nancy Reagan cut the red, white, and blue ribbon. At the same time, hundreds of doves, birds of peace, were set free. Then the first non-official public were set free, including my pal Kermit. All afternoon, boats dropped off thousands of tourists rushing to see the statue. We got on one of the boats going back to Manhattan to test public reaction. Well, it was very historical, emotional, and exciting. This is Paul Weissman from Derbyshire, England. We saw you this morning. You'd waited all night. Was it worth the wait? Yes, it's been terrific. You get over to Liberty Island, and it's so much bigger than it looks in the distance. It's a fantastic monument, and I've thoroughly enjoyed going up there, yes. Do you think we should keep it? Hell yeah. Uh-huh. Keeping Lady Liberty looking her best is no small feat, as we see in this archival report on her extensive maintenance and historical repairs. Well, the George Washington Bridge is in fine shape compared to a world-famous figure in New York Harbor. An engineering study released today says the Statue of Liberty is suffering from major structural damage. Steve Powers went to Liberty Island today for a first-hand look. No matter how many times you see the Statue of Liberty, no matter what the weather, no matter what your point of view, it's thrilling to see the lady in New York's harbor. Not as a gift shipped to this country in 214 cases back in 1884 from France, and not just as a beautiful structure, but as a symbol, a symbol of the beacon, the torch of freedom seen by the millions of immigrants to our shores en route to Ellis Island and a new life. The thought of that torch of freedom bent and broken is almost unthinkable, but that is a real possibility unless the statue is repaired. According to a two-year engineering study released today, a team of French and American engineers say it will take $30 million to repair the statue, to repair a hole in her arm, replace more than 20,000 rivets that hold the 300 hammered sheets of copper onto its rusting iron framework, framework that the engineers say should be replaced with new ribs of copper or stainless steel. Now, the report also found a definite risk of structural failure of the torch, and the engineers recommend the total replacement of it. The engineers say they may have to remove the whole arm to replace the torch. The engineers also suggest new stairways to replace the narrow ones and new elevators inside. And with the $30 million paid for by donations from France and America by people who care. It does represent freedom for all of the many people who did immigrate into our country and who felt that it was a safe, secure place to live. And it gives you a very good feeling of peace when you're up there. It's very nice. A symbol of freedom and opportunity. That's all it means to me. Americans welcome immigrants from the other countries that are being suppressed or don't enjoy the freedom that they're supposed to be enjoying. We also look back at when visitors first learned they would have to start paying a fee to access the famous monument, only for it to go back to being free. They say that liberty has its price, and today hundreds of people found out the hard way just what that price is. As of this morning, it costs a buck to visit Lady Liberty, even after you pay to ride the ferry to Liberty Island. Federal officials say the new charge will generate over a half million dollars a year for maintenance and continuing restoration of the statue. It's the first time in the lady's 100-year history that visitors have been charged to go inside no one seemed to mind. If you go on certain highways or on certain bridges, you have to pay a toll, too, and if they want to renovate I suppose that's the price you have to pay. I think it's well worth it. I think it's a time that we spend some of money to see such beauty and such worthwhile cause. I don't mind it at all. It's certainly a tribute to our country, and whatever we can do to help pay the cost of the restoration is fine with me. Well, nationwide, more than 70 national parks have begun charging visitors or have boosted already existing fees. It's part of a federal plan to have those who use the park system help pay for keeping it up. Well, if you've never gone to see the Statue of Liberty, now's a good time, especially since President Reagan signed legislation that ends admission fees to see the venerable lady, though there's still a charge for the ferry that takes you to Liberty Island. A $1 admission fee to go inside the statue had been imposed last December to the delight of almost nobody. Lawmakers protested, saying the lady should be free. Today, Senator Bill Bradley, one of the co-sponsors of the bill, savored the victory. He said, Lady Liberty says, give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses. It doesn't say, give me a dollar. Next, we revisit the joyous and triumphant reopening of the Statue of Liberty in 2004. Visitors from all over the globe started lining up as early as 8 a.m. this morning. It's so famous. We always see it on the TV in London. And to be here to see it live is just fantastic, really. Lady Liberty is considered the symbol of freedom and democracy and for many Americans, one of the country's most important sites. Well, the liberty that you feel, that you know is yours in this country is transcendental, it's just magnificent. What does it mean to you to bring your kids to the reopening of the statue since 9-11? I just hope they realize the significance of it, that it's a truly important day in our country and it's a good day, it's a great day. The first tour left at 9 a.m. sharp and security is tight. Before boarding the ferry, visitors must go through airport-like screening. Once on the island, more screening and more restrictions. Tours are limited to the pedestal and observation deck. There is also an elevator that takes tourists 10 stories up where they can check out the inner workings of the statue through a glass partition. But the body of the statue itself is still off limits. The reopening of the statue is also good news for Circle Line Tours. Since 9-11, business is down, and they're hoping with the reopening, it'll attract more visitors. In Battery Park, Ernabelle Demillo, Fox 5 News. Finally, we go back to the momentous 2009 reopening of the crown through the eyes of the little girl who became the very first visitor to step inside. Well, this weekend was a dream come true for one Long Island little girl. Eight-year-old Elena Bartnick is her name, as she and her father Chris were among the first people to step inside the crown of the Statue of Liberty when it reopened on July the 4th, both of them are here right now to tell us more about an experience they will never forget. Good morning, so that must have been pretty exciting for you, huh? Yes, Elena, what was it like? You were one of the first to go up into the crown of the Statue of Liberty, and that's been closed ever since you were born. Well, it was really exciting to be one of the first people. Um, when I heard that it was closed, I was really sad. I really wanted to go in and another uh one day, and I didn't know I would be one of the first people. Yeah, yes. So Chris, what was it like for you to bring your daughter up there? Well, it was uh it was exciting, it was a good, it was a thrill and I was able to, you know, have that memory of going up with her, you know, when it closed when you know she was just a baby it was disappointing and I had hoped someday they they would open it up, but I didn't know that one day I'd be one of the first people up there when they did open it up with her, and it was just a great thing, like I did when I was a kid. Yeah, like so many people did when they were children. When you looked down from the crown, what did you see? Well, I saw people, and they looked so tiny like ants. Really? Yeah. And how did you get up there? I mean, you walked all the way up there. That must have been pretty exhausting for you. Well, once I got almost to the top, it was kind of exhausting. Did you have to stop and a break or push anyone along well i wanted to but i kept but i kept skipping the breaks because they're actually like little floors like at one step so you can walk off and take a break you know you've come become kind of a celebrity for this what does that feel like um well it feels um you get to be on tv lots of people know your name and your face i know it's well it's so exciting. Yeah, really excited. And that was the news then.