[L3 206 / John Jacob Raskob] appointed his friend [L3 208 / Alfred E Smith] to the post of president of Empire State, Inc. Having served four terms as governor of New York, Smith was a well-recognized and much-beloved favorite son. His enthusiasm and flair for publicity would serve the mammoth undertaking of the Empire State Building well - from the moment the project was announced in August 1929, until his death in 1944.
