At one level, arm's-length operations might have made sense.

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Its programs opened up American politics at the state and local level to the long arm of Washington as never before, involving the federal government in everything from the construction of city parks to the curriculum and funding of local schools.

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While the park has added newer amusements, most visitors come for the vintage attractions, including a two-tier carousel built in 1921, the Talaia, which raises guests with a rickety metal arm to a height of 550m above sea level, and the iconic Avio ride, modelled on the first plane to fly between Barcelona and Madrid.

BBC: Europe��s grand old theme parks