"Hoovers's Folly" In Tokyo Demolished: The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, which was named "Hoover's Folly" when critics charged that the exorbitant sum of $2-million was squandered on it by the late president Herbert Hoover during the "Great Depression" in 1931, is being demolished to make way for a glass paneled new American Embassy. The old embassy was designed by Antonin Raymond, a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright, and was referred to as an edifice of mixed architectural blood. The new embassy has been designed by Cesar Pelli of Gruen Associates in Los Angeles. U.S.A. It was in the old embassy that General Douglas MacArthur summoned Emperor Hirohito to present himself on Sept 27, 1945. The Emperor expected to hear his death sentence from the general, but instead was greeted respectfully, and after a chat MacArthur escorted the amazed Hirohito back to his car. Photo shows A Japanese workman cutting up the metalwork of the old U.S. Embassy in Tokyo with a blow-torch, behind is the ambassador's residence. The architect's drawing of the new glass paneled embassy which will be built on the site of the demolished building.
Photo measures 8.5 x 5.75 inches.
Photo is dated 6-19-1974.
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