The Space Contest

PSC783 Cold War Propaganda and Public Diplomacy, Part II

Olga Zatepilina, Syracuse University

Space Contest

Although the United States had the broadest range of space projects, none could match the impact that the Soviet Union’s Sputnik made on the world’s public opinion

(Dizard, 2004)

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Space Contest, cont’d

• Sputnik’s beeper signals are “endlessly repeated” (Dizard, 2004) by Radio Moscow

• The Soviets’ 1957 achievement curtails the success of the U.S. Space Exploration Exhibitions initiated in 1956

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The Soviet National Exhibition in New York City

The American National Exhibition in Moscow

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People-to-People • “Press coverage of People-to-People consistently

described Americans who participated in the program as ‘diplomats’ and ‘ambassadors.’ They were spreading the truth about America, refuting enemy propaganda, and defending the United States against communist lies. They were making personal contributions to the cause of peace. ‘People are the best propaganda,’ proclaimed Current Events, a national student paper”

(Osgood, 2006, pp. 239-240)

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The Murrow Years

• “Let’s find out what Ed thinks” (JFK in Dizard, 2004)

• Recommends a propaganda campaign for peace as a response to the 1961 atmospheric nuclear testing by the Soviets

• Wants to persuade, not just inform

• Personally drafts responses to TASS statements

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Murrow's swearing in as USIA director

Space Contest, cont’d

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USIA and the Cuban Missiles Crisis

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• Wilson on Ex Com• Round-the-clock VOA

coverage for Cubans and Soviet-bloc listeners

• Few short-wave radios in Cuba• WH agrees with AT&T to

readjust transmitters• Footage supplied to hundreds

TV stations overseas• Telstar for political reasons

Contest Over World’s Youth Initiated by USSR in 1947, World Youth Festivals take place in Vienna (1959) and Helsinki (1962)

Murrow assigns “Youth Officers” to most USIS posts

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USIA Publications• Amerika vs. Soviet Life • Topic, English and French,

Africa• Dialogue, Portuguese and

Russian• Problems of Communism• English Teaching Forum• Economic Impact (1973)

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USIA’s Biggest Asset

• 1962 Jackie’s solo visit to Asia in 1962

• 1963 “Ich bin ein Berliner” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld9A6ZYtI-A

• 1966 USIA-produced “JFK: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums” commercially distributed in 62 countries

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