COLD WAR RADIO FREE EUROPE CRUSADE FOR FREEDOM PROPAGANDA FILM with WALTER CRONKITE 79834
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- Made in 1957, TOWERS OF TRUTH shows how the money collected from the first Crusade for Freedom in 1950 led to the establishment of Radio Free Europe the following year. Scenes recreated by Hollywood actors portray a Cold War version of communist tyranny, the Berlin Wall and Soviet military parades, and show activities such as signal jamming as well as broadcasting.
The Crusade for Freedom was an American propaganda campaign operating from 1950-1960. Its public goal was to raise funds for Radio Free Europe; it also served to conceal the CIA's funding of Radio Free Europe and to generate domestic support for American Cold War policies.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower inaugurated the Crusade for Freedom on 4 September 1950 (Labor Day). The first chairman was Lucius D. Clay, Eisenhower's successor as military governor of occupied Germany. The Crusade for Freedom, officially managed by the National Committee for a Free Europe (NCFE), had direct ties to the Office of Policy Coordination, the State Department, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It was one of the highest-profile domestic propaganda operations in CIA history.
One of the Crusade's first actions was to create a Freedom Bell, designed after the American Liberty Bell. This bell traveled around the United States, along with a Freedom Scroll for people to sign, and was then sent to Berlin, where it was dedicated by Clay on 24 October 1950. Crusaders also organized rallies, parades, and contests to mobilize support from ordinary Americans.
In June 1957, Crusade for Freedom national leaders planned for 400 copies of this film to be distributed to television stations and Crusade support groups around the United States for use in local campaigns.
Famed television newscaster Walter Cronkite, once called "the most trusted man in America," narrated the film with the permission and approval of Frank Stanton, the then head of CBS.
There was no cost to the Crusade for Cronkite’s work, including his traveling to Munich for the filming.
"Freedom is not Free" was the theme of the Advertising Council's 1958 Crusade campaign. One of the advertising appeals was "One dollar buys one minute of time on the 29 truth transmitters of Radio Free Europe."
One example of how the film was later used at grass-roots Crusade campaigns and meetings in the United States took place in February 1958 in Mason City, Iowa, when 108 carriers of the newspaper Globe-Gazette (newspaperboys) watched Towers of Truth during the 1958 campaign kick off drive. Afterwards, they volunteered to take part in the drive to collect $1,000 for the Crusade.
Iowa state chairman W. Earl Hall said, “By joining the Crusade, carriers across the nation are reaffirming their faith in one of America’s most prized possessions: Freedom of the press, or the right to know. Their efforts make if possible for the enslaved millions behind the Iron Curtain to keep in contact with truth.”
Mrs. Camilla Mays Frank, chairman of the Women's Division of the City of New Orleans sent a fund solicitation letter, with a notice of the showing of Towers of Truth, to 500 women's clubs, including garden groups, in the New Orleans area. Another example of grass roots activities, was when the film was presented by Pennsylvania state chairman William K. Harrison at the “Oakmont-South-and-More” Women’s Club covered dish luncheon.
The film was used in subsequent Crusade annual campaigns, for example, on Tuesday, March 10 1959, Towers of Truth was shown by the Idaho Falls, Idaho, television station KID-TV in cooperation with the East Idaho Crusade campaign. The film also was shown at 5:15 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, 1960, by television station WMAR (channel 2) seen in Hagerstown, Maryland and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
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I love how they include Eastern Europe as Poland
I remember very well when Poland considered itself part of Eastern Europe and the Warsaw Pact. Where is Warsaw? Glad Poland separated itself from that but she was central to our foes.
The world should be grateful to USA for opposing socialism. For once the Americans did save the world.
Well, that was our job.
The C.I.A. radio station
You say it like it’s a bad thing
Words used when describing communism/the Soviet-Union:
Lies, weakness, dictatorship, brainwashing, slaves/captives, distortions, brutality, propaganda, “abuses of power”, tyranny, intimidation
Words used when describing America/the RFE:
Freedom/liberty, (forbidden) truth, “free will and conscience”, “building and supporting”, significant, “display of broadcasting power new to the history of communication”, (great) power, “extraordinary reputation for accuracy and reliability”, popular, “hope in an otherwise hopeless situation”
It was located in munich ?
Mr. Periscope... you tend to overly label these historic films as "propaganda." Just because something was made at the height of the cold war doesn't mean it's propaganda. If the CONTENT is historically accurate, it's not propaganda, it's a documentary. It's not just this video, it's an overall impression. Thank you.
We respectfully disagree.
I really enjoy your videos; meant no disrespect. I don't know how old you are. I grew up in the heart of the cold war, and flew in the USAF in WEST Germany. The threat was very real, and may I say, more intense than the threat from terror. The definition of propaganda: "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view." Bias may be there... ALL national films are biased, but the key word is misleading, or better put, lies. Yes the USA made propaganda, but they also made factually truthful material, and this is commonly called "propaganda", which it was not.
It all depends on your definition. Propaganda doesn't necessarily have to be biased or misleading to constitute propaganda.
My definition was directly from Google. If you have your own definition, and it does not parallel that which is commonly understood, then I'd hesitate to post videos and label them "propaganda" based upon your own, minority-held, definition.
Google may not be the most reliable source for this type of definition. Webster's Dictionary defines "propaganda" as: the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person. Based on this, it's absolutely fair to label this film as propaganda. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propaganda?