A Letter from the Publisher: Nov. 4, 1985

Last week marked the 40th anniversary of the United Nations, an occasion that drew 68 heads of state or government to the world organization's New York City headquarters. To record the celebration for TIME, Photographer Eddie Adams had the idea of shooting pictures of every visiting dignitary who would sit for him. He arranged with U.N. officials to set up a small studio near the General Assembly. Over four days he prevailed on no fewer than 35 Presidents, Prime Ministers and foreign ministers to pose with their national flags. From this trove, TIME's editors chose 15 portraits to illustrate this week's...

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