Considered as a pioneer in American broadcasting, Pauline Frederick has covered the Nüremberg trials of Nazi war criminals, China's admission to the United Nations and the Korean War. Ms. Frederick began covering the United Nations for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) at its birth in the mid 1940s and then for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in 1953.
Ms. Frederick retired from NBC radio and television in 1974, but continued commenting on foreign affairs for National Public Radio. These interviews focus on Ms. Frederick's role as a correspondent in the United Nations and her interviews with Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld. The first interview, conducted April and May of 1984, centres on the first years of the United Nations, coverage of the Conference in San Francisco in 1945 and the first General Assembly. Ms. Frederick also touches upon how the McCarthy Era affected the United Nations and how the Organization then compares to the one of today. The second and third interviews, conducted on 20 June 1986 and 11 July 1986, respectively, revolve around Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld — the role he played and his influence.