Radio Free Europe's "Crusade for Freedom": Rallying Americans Behind Cold War Broadcasting, 1950-1960

by Richard H. Cummings

Overview

From 1950 to 1960, millions of Americans participated in Radio Free Europe's "Crusade for Freedom." They signed "Freedom Scrolls" and "Freedom Grams," attended Crusader meetings, marched in parades, launched leaflet-carrying balloons, and donated Truth Dollars in support of the American effort to broadcast news and other programming to the peoples of communist-governed European countries. The Crusade for Freedom proved to be a powerful tool of the state-private network's anti-communist agenda. This book takes an in-depth look at the Crusade for Freedom, revealing how its unmatched pageantry of patriotism led to the creation of a dynamic movement involving not only the government but also private industry, mass media, academia, religious leaders, and average Americans.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786444106
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	10/18/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	265
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Richard H. Cummings was the director of security for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty for 15 years beginning in 1980. He currently lives in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     
Preface     
Introduction     

1. How It All Began     
2. A Roll Call of All Americans Who Love Freedom     
3. Help Truth Fight Communism: Join the Crusade for Freedom     
4. From Freedom-Grams to Flying Saucers     
5. Help Stop World War III Before It Starts: With Truth Dollars!     
6. How YOU Can Help Fight Communism!     
7. Newspaper Boys and Balloons Against Communists     
8. The One Thing the Iron Curtain Can’t Keep Out—TRUTH     
9. Freedom Is Not Free!     
10. Truth Broadcasts, Bowling and Harlem Globetrotters     
11. Concluding the Crusade for Freedom     

Appendix A. National Committee for a Free Europe Press Release     
Appendix B. Dwight D. Eisenhower Labor Day 1950 Speech     
Appendix C. Crusade for Freedom Articles of Incorporation (October 20, 1950)     
Appendix D. Costs and Contributions     
Appendix E. Chronology of RFE, NCFE, and Crusade
Freedom (1949–1959)     
Chapter Notes     
Selected Bibliography     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

well documented and contains a useful chronology of major events”—Studies in Intelligence; “his book provides the first major study of the Crusade for Freedom...the first to provide a full and in-depth expose of the secret state involvement in the Crusade. Cummings’s detailed documentation provides the first important tent pole in our understanding of the Crusade for Freedom”—Journal of American Studies; “the level of carefully footnoted detail incorporated by Cummings is so substantial that his book may be used as a reference work by those wishing to further explore the topic...at a time when Americans are giving every appearance of having forgotten how to work together for the greater good of all, Cummings has provided a heartening reminder that building and sustaining a national consensus on a critical issue—in this case, the necessity of opposing Communist expansionism—was once an achievable goal”—International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence.

From the Publisher

his book provides the first major study of the Crusade for Freedom...the first to provide a full and in-depth expose of the secret state involvement in the Crusade. Cummings's detailed documentation provides the first important tent pole in our understanding of the Crusade for Freedom

Journal of American Studies

well documented and contains a useful chronology of major events

Studies in Intelligence