CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION ACTIVITIES ABROAD
Declassified Document
Agency Source: CIA
Date: December, 1959
Pages: 99
Summary of the Document
The report, titled "Conclusions and Recommendations of the President's Committee on Information Activities Abroad," evaluates the role of psychological and informational factors in U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War. It highlights the need to counter Soviet and Communist influence, covering aspects like the U.S. information system, regional strategies, and specific recommendations for sectors such as business, labor, universities, voluntary aid, travel, news media, motion pictures, television, and books/publications. It includes appendices with staff papers on different regions and topics, and a letter from President Eisenhower establishing the committee.
Names
Below is a comprehensive list of all names found in the document, including committee members, staff, and notable global figures:
Mansfield D. Sprague: Chairman of the President's Committee, affiliated with American Machine & Foundry Co., mentioned in both chunks as a key figure
George V. Allen: Director, U.S. Information Agency, part of the committee structure
Allen W. Dulles: Director of Central Intelligence, involved in committee activities
Gordon Gray: Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, point of contact for Sprague in organizing the committee
Karl G. Harr, Jr.: Special Assistant to the President, committee member
Raymond A. Hare: Deputy Under Secretary of State, Alternate, committee role
John N. Irwin II: Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, committee member
C. D. Jackson: Mentioned in committee context, historical figure
Livingston T. Merchant: Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, committee member
Philip D. Reed: Mentioned in committee context, historical figure
Abbott Washburn: Deputy Director, U.S. Information Agency, Alternate, committee role
F. Haydn Williams: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for National Security Council Affairs and Plans, committee member
Waldemar A. Nielsen: Executive Director, Staff, supporting committee operations
Alfred V. Boerner: U.S. Information Agency, Staff, operational support
Colonel J. I. Corfey: The White House Office, Staff, administrative role
Robert J. Phillips: Administrative Officer, Staff, supporting committee functions
Edmund A. Gullion: Department of State, Staff, diplomatic support
Abraham M. Sirkin: U.S. Information Agency, Staff, media-related role
Colonel John F. Twombly III: Department of Defense, Staff, military support
Mrs. Ruth L. Sivard: Staff, administrative support
Dwight D. Eisenhower: President of the United States, established the committee, key recipient of the report
William H. Jackson: Chairman of the President's Committee on International Informational Activities, mentioned historically
John A. Bross: Alternate for Central Intelligence Agency, mentioned in text, committee role
Patrice Lumumba: Mentioned as a global leader, context of Cold War geopolitics
Fidel Castro: Mentioned as a global leader, context of Cold War geopolitics
Sukarno: Mentioned as a global leader, context of Cold War geopolitics
Nikita Khrushchev: Mentioned in the context of Soviet leadership, geopolitical figure
Charles De Gaulle: Mentioned in the context of French politics, geopolitical figure
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of the Document and Name Extraction
This survey note provides a comprehensive analysis of the document "CIA-RDP86B00269R001400210001-2_CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION_Sprague Committee.pdf," dated December 1960 with January 1961 correspondence, focusing on its content and the extraction of all names mentioned. The document, classified as "SECRET" and approved for release in 2003, is a report from the President's Committee on Information Activities Abroad, chaired by Mansfield D. Sprague, and submitted to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It reflects the geopolitical context of the Cold War, emphasizing the need for enhanced U.S. informational and psychological strategies to counter Soviet and Communist influence.
Document Summary and Context
The report assesses the role of psychological and informational factors in U.S. foreign policy during a period marked by significant global changes, including the Cold War, technological advancements like the launch of Sputnik, and decolonization. It underscores the growing importance of public opinion and the necessity for robust U.S. responses to Soviet economic, diplomatic, and informational tools. The document is divided into sections addressing various sectors, each with specific recommendations:
U.S. Information System: It notes the development of a complex system since World War II, including mass media and cultural exchanges, but highlights challenges like organizational instability and funding fluctuations. Recommendations include expanding efforts in Africa and Latin America, improving training, and enhancing resource allocation.
Psychological Factors: The report emphasizes integrating psychological considerations into policy, understanding foreign public opinion, and ensuring actions align with long-term U.S. goals rather than short-term popularity, avoiding gimmicks.
Regional Strategies: It addresses specific regions such as Western Europe, the Soviet Bloc, Communist China, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, identifying challenges like neutralism, Communist penetration, and the need for educational and cultural engagement to build alliances and counter subversion.
Sector-Specific Recommendations: Detailed strategies are provided for American business abroad (e.g., sharing knowledge, employing locals), labor organizations (strengthening free trade unions, training programs), universities (expanding international studies, study abroad), voluntary aid (closer government cooperation, focus on Africa), travel to the U.S. (promoting tourism, hosting foreign visitors), news media (improving competitiveness against foreign agencies like Tass, Reuters), motion pictures and television (using mobile units, leveraging technology), and books/publications (reducing distribution barriers, translation programs).
The document also includes correspondence, with letters from Eisenhower praising the report's comprehensiveness and ordering its study by relevant agencies, and Sprague emphasizing the committee's objective approach and the urgency of its findings. Appendices list staff papers on various regions and topics, providing additional depth to the analysis.
