A single dramatic speech won Smith’s backing for parks and a bonded referendum

Evidence

At its end, Smith arose. “Bob, you win,” he said. He directed Moses to draft a special message to the Legislature asking for passage of legislation establishing a State Council of Parks and authorizing submission of the $15,000,000 proposal to the people in referendum. On April 18, 1923, two weeks after Moses finished the message, Smith delivered it. — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 738