Category: History

“Tens of thousands of people who have been waiting for Mandela all day can now listen to him.”

“Friends, comrades,
and fellow South Africans,
I greet you all
in the name of peace.
Peace for everyone.
I stand here
before you
not as a prophet
but as a humble servant
to you, the people.
Your sacrifices and efforts
have made it possible for me
to be here today.
I………”

“I can no longer hear anything; the sound has cut out. Oh, what a pity… Something has gone wrong—it’s a real shame. We had hoped to be able to follow the whole thing live, but for some reason, it seems to have been stopped…”

A special news bulletin on RTL Veronique (as the new Dutch commercial channel was then called) was providing live coverage of Nelson Mandela’s release and his subsequent speech. Unfortunately, things went wrong: the satellite connection was lost. (Fortunately, it was quickly restored!)
Above is the English text of the voice-over (which translated the speech for the Dutch listeners.)

“Thank you very very much.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Thank you, thank you.”
“Thank you so very much.”
“Thank you very very much.”
“I.. thank you all.”
“Thank you ladies and gentlemen.”
“Thank you very very much.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you all very much.”
“Thank you so very much.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you ladies and gentlemen.”
“Thank you very very much.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you all very very much.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you ladies and gentlemen.”
“Thank you very very much.”
“I have many friends to thank tonight.”
“I thank the voters who supported me.”
“I thank the gallant men who entered the contest for this presidency this year and who have honored me with their support.
And, for their kind and stirring words, I thank Gov. Tom Kean of New Jersey, Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, President Gerald Ford and my friend, President Ronald Reagan.”
“I Accept your Nomination for President!”

George H.W. Bush, accepting the Presidential Nomination at the Republican National Convention in New Orleans

“U luistert momenteel nergens naar. Dat komt omdat we op dit moment geen programma’s uitzenden”

‘You are currently not listening to anything. This is because we are not broadcasting any programs at the moment.’ This dry-as-dust announcement was broadcast on Dutch radio, starting at six in the morning, due to a general strike by broadcasting staff.