Detroit's hopes and dreams, circa 1965

Kind of sad to see the then-mayor going on about the Detroit of almost 50 years ago - especially his trumpeting of the city's economic future, as well as its diversity. Of course, nearly everyone in this short documentary is white - and it was the exodus of middle class white residents that really marked the beginning of the end. (The population is now 700,000, down from two million in 1965.) Also note the emphasis on planning efforts ("planning with a purpose" is how the mayor puts it) that would reshape the city and "create a new concept of urban efficiency." Funny how it always looks great on paper.