Sarnoff and Marconi: Inventing a Legend

Abstract

This chapter recounts the plight of the Jews in Minsk — detailing the shtetl of Uzlian. It argues that they had been confined to small shtetls, villages of at most a few hundred inhabitants since the reign of Catherine the Great. The chapter then chronicles David Sarnoff's early life while living with his uncle. It tracks his rough passage to America and how he became the ultimate hot and cold warrior, designing the communications operations for D-Day. The chapter also reveals an essential truth of Sarnoff's indomitable will to survive in the New World. His character and his discipline augured well for his success. The chapter then looks at Sarnoff's purchase of newsstand in Hell's Kitchen, and follows his second stroke of good luck: getting work at American Marconi. In addition to his enterprise, quick intelligence, skills, and contacts with Marconi, Sarnoff had demonstrated a flair for garnering at least some public recognition for his role in reporting the Titanic. The chapter discusses a powerful new regeneration receiver created by Michael Pupin's protégé and assistant, Edwin Howard Armstrong. It then reviews the encounter between Armstrong and Sarnoff.