Chronicler of Lowell, Mass. Comments on Iran (1952)
| Arash Norouzi |
Charles G. Sampas (1911-1976) was the creator of “Sampascoopies” a daily variety column which centered around the personalities of Lowell, Massachusetts (or as he liked to call it, “Lowelltown”).
The news, history and gossip column spanned 38 years at the Lowell Sun newspaper, where Sampas was also executive news editor, and his wife, writer Mary Boutselis Sampas, was a columnist. Famed poet and novelist Jack Kerouac, a fellow native son of Lowell, was best friends with his brother Sammy, and married their sister, Stella Sampas Kerouac, in 1966.
Back in 1952, some media erroneously reported that Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh of Iran, who had visited America the previous fall, would soon be returning. Sampas’ wide-ranging column included the following commentary.
August 4, 1952
SAMPASCOOPIES
By CHARLES G. SAMPAS
The news dispatches say Mossadegh has booked passage (along with five members of his staff) for U.S. next month, where it is expected he will ask Uncle Sam for more money for hard-hit Iran. (Hard-hit, that is, because they took over the British-Iranian Oil company [AIOC] and kicked out the oil experts). No doubt, his pleas will be listened to most attentively. And, seeing it from a strictly historical viewpoint, I marvel at the way every nation in the world looks upon the U.S. to provide the casheroo for all their ventures. Truly, we have become a fabulous land . . . a dreamland, where the streets are paved with gold. So the rest of the world seems to think. But I’ve a suspicion that the money can’t last at the rate we have been throwing it away!
Related links:
‘Headline Hopping’ with Humorist Ollie Crawford (Iran Excerpts 1951-1953)
Some Favor Keeping Our Money at Home | The Elmira Star-Gazette, Sept. 1, 1953
No Lack of Nerve in Mossadegh Bid For U.S. Loan | Buffalo Courier-Express, Aug. 3, 1952
MOSSADEGH t-shirts — “If I sit silently, I have sinned”
