Jefferson Patterson was born May 14, 1891 in Dayton, Ohio, son of the co-founder of National Cash Register. In 1921, after passing the exams for the diplomatic service, he became Secretary of Legation at the State Department in Washington, D.C. Thus began a 36-year career spanning five continents, including posts in China, Columbia, Turkey, Poland, Norway, Germany, Peru, Egypt, the Balkans, Uruguay and the US. He left for Breslau in 1934. While in charge of the Prisoner of War Section at the American Embassy in Berlin from 1939 to 1940, he met Mary Marvin Breckinridge, who was on assignment for CBS. They were married at the embassy on June 16, 1940. Together Jeff and Marvin served their country with strength, determination and goodwill. One of Mr. Patterson's most notable achievements as a diplomat was his instrumental role in arranging a ceasefire between Israel and Egypt in January 1949 during the Palestine War.
Germany. River boats. Jefferson Patterson and his mother Mrs. Carnell on front steps of a house, garden, American flag. Massive ocean liner moves slowly through a harbor in Bremen. Men and women wave at the ship. Various shots of the city, riverboats in the water. Nazi flag in a square. Dresden Cathedral. Terrassenufer Street, Dresden courthouse. The Carolabrücke Bridge and the Albertbrücke Bridge. Saxon State Chancellery. Konigstein Fortress. Elbe River. Cars in lot. People walking. Views from the Konigstein Fortress, people gathered at lookout, including German and Nazi soldiers. Boats on the Elbe. Landscape. Woman sits on a bench in gardens, fountain. Tour from a moving vehicle, small town with clock tower, and signs: “Zur Autoreparatur Werkstatt,” “Ausschank zur Stadtbrauerei Robert...” and “...Reinhold Staroste.” Passing scenes from a car, rolling hills, roads lined with blooming trees. Hungary. Church and belltower. Train. Panoramic view of a city. Two men and a dog outside their car on the side of the road. Sports game. House says, “SZOBAK” and “HOTEL.” View of the river from the car as they drive past. Herd of cows walks down the road in a rural town, some villagers. CU, woman with a young girl and a baby. Danube River through Budapest. Buda Castle. Hungarian women walk on the sidewalk with brooms resting on their shoulders. Cathedral doorway. More aerial views of Budapest: the Hungarian Parliament Building, St. Stephen’s Basilica, bridges cross the Danube, connecting Buda and Pest. Views of Budapest from the Buda Castle. Panoramic shots of Budapest. People in a wave pool, with a sign advising “mely viz” or deep water. Two women in a courtyard, closed restaurant. Austria. “Schloss Restaurant” Inscription in stone outside of a building reads, “Haydn Jozsef håza 1766-1798.” More sights, and memorial: “Ende der k.k. Italienischen Post=und Hauptcomerizial Strasse auf Seite Nieder-Oesterreichs. 12 ½ meilen von Wien.” Touring Lower Austria. In a small town, a bear handler trains a dancing bear. Caravan (Roma?) on the side of the road with tame bears. Cafe. In Matrei, Austria, cows, a river rushes below bridge. Snow-covered mountains. Visitors by the car. More of the town, the mountain, and townspeople. Ends: “KODAK Umkehr-Kopie.”
Jefferson Patterson travels by car through countryside