Diplomatic History Commons^™

The Work Of An Hour: A Case Study Of Propaganda, Michael F. Russo

Faculty Publications

This research paper discusses the messaging of United States President George W. Bush and his administration regarding the U.S. led invasion of Iraq. Transcripts of presidential communications, national news programs, and public opinion polls from 2001-03 were analyzed to identify patterns in these communications. This review demonstrated techniques similar to those used in historical propaganda campaigns to sway public opinion. The introduction and repetition of key terminology from the government was followed by magnification by television news programs. These messages were broadcast despite lack of evidence of Iraq’s involvement with the 9/11 attacks or their possession of weapons of mass …

Res Historica, Volume 3, Lynneth Miller Renberg Phd, Alpha Rho Epsilon Phi Alpha Theta

Res Historica

The 2024 journal of historical research by Anderson University students, Res Historica.

The editorial team for this edition of Res Historica was Dr. Lynneth Miller Renberg, Johnathan Sorce, and Samuel Sanders.

Modern American Propaganda: An Institutional History, Douglas Morrow

War, Diplomacy, and Society (MA) Theses

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy is the primary government institution in charge of overt, foreign-directed propaganda. This paper argues that the institutional culture of this institution was born and came to fruition in the period 1941-1953, and has not significantly changed since. That institutional culture includes a fierce adherence to a “strategy of truth,” with aesthetic norms being reserved and largely unemotional as a result of positioning themselves in moral and aesthetic opposition to Nazi and early Cold War Communist propaganda. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s decision to staff these nascent institutions with artists, poets, …

The Marriage Between Art And Politics: Propaganda, Rebecca J. Counen

The Purdue Historian

During the first half of the twentieth century Europe, Asia, and the United States faced many political/social changes and challenges amid both ideological wars and revolutions. This research paper works to analyze films from this era in order to convey the somewhat unorthodox, yet nonetheless influential and compelling, relationship between the arts and politics and how creativity is oftentimes manipulated for power and influence.

Barry Hoffman Nazi Postcard Collection, Robyn Conroy, Lamisa Muksitu

Strassler Center Archival Collection Finding Aids

This collection is comprised of postcards that are connected to the Nazi Party in Germany. The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideology of Nazism. Its precursor, the German Workers' Party (Deutsche Arbeiterpartei; DAP), existed from 1919 to 1920. The Nazi Party emerged from the extremist German nationalist, racist and populist Freikorps paramilitary culture, which fought against the communist uprisings in post–World War I Germany. The party was …

Soft Power And Polite Propaganda: Public Diplomacy In The Early Cold War, Coby Aloi

Departmental Honors Projects

In the Aftermath of the Second World War, the United States and The USSR stood as the only true superpowers. Both states held their own spheres of influence, with interests in spreading that influence. With the fear of nuclear war and the still looming shadow of global conflict, a new brand of diplomacy began to take hold as the preferred method of international relations between adversarial states. Soft power was beginning to become an influential means to accomplishing the goal of nations abroad.

The careful curation of print media, literature, and informational campaigns became an important element to how the …

A Roundtable For Victoria M. Grieve, Little Cold Warriors: American Childhood In The 1950s, Thomas Field Jr., Julia L. Mickenberg, Lori Clune, Mary Brennan, Donna Alvah, Victoria M. Grieve

Publications

Dr. Thomas Field introduces a roundtable discussion of Victoria M. Grieve's Little Cold Warriors: American Childhood in the 1950s, providing a synopsis of reviewer critiques before the reviewers expand on their views and the author responds.

Soviet Defectors: Sexuality, Gender, And The Family In Cold War Propaganda, 1960-1990, Scott A. Miller

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the rhetoric of gender, sexuality, and the family used by the media of the Soviet Union to discuss American and Soviet defectors from 1960 to 1990. Utilizing previously established historiographies of gender, sexuality and the family as well as statements from Soviet and American government officials, it is shown that the Soviet government linked gender, sexuality and family “perversions” to the individualistic and capitalistic ideology of American society, by contrast with the Soviet collectivist and socialist “purity.” This analysis fills in the gaps in the historiography by connecting studies of gender, sexuality …

“A Battle For Hearts And Minds”: U.S. Public Diplomacy In The Cold War Middle East, Christopher M. Goss

History Honors Papers

This paper analyzes the development of American public diplomacy in the Middle East region from 1945-1961. The purpose of the paper is to situate the public diplomacy effort within existing histories of the Middle East and Cold War propaganda and to analyze the methods used by the U. S. to shape foreign opinion. Analysis reveals that the U.S. felt the need to implement a foreign information program under President Truman, which was later expanded and corrected under Eisenhower, and included a switch from short-term objective seeking to long-term goodwill fostering. The methods were primarily focused on two target audiences: educated …

Letter From William A. Means To President Abolhassan Banisadr, William A. Means

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This is a typed one-page letter sent circa February 16, 1980 by William A. Means, member of the International Indian Treaty Council, to Abolhassan Banisadr, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The letter claims that the Hostage Mail Exchange Service has exposed efforts of the White House and State Department to prolong the hostage crisis for political purposes. Means seeks continued support for the Exchange Service, noting that it is useful for exposing the lies of the United States government.

Message From John Thomas To Students At The Embassy, John Thomas

Iran and the Hostage Crisis

This four-page photocopied handwritten document is a letter from John Thomas to the Muslim students occupying the American Embassy in Iran. The letter, sent circa February 1980, provides updates from Thomas on the Hostage Mail Exchange Service. He recounts difficulties with the press, describes his progress and safety, and shares next steps.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To Clark M. Eichelberger, December 31, 1941, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A typed copy of a letter from Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson addressed to Clark M. Eichelberger, dated December 31, 1941. Within, Wilson responds to Eichelberger's request for suggestions on the committee to Defend America.

Letter From A. Liddon Graham To Chapter Heads, September 27, 1941, A. Liddon Graham

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A typed letter from A. Liddon Graham addressed to the chapter heads of the Fight for Freedom Committee, dated September 27, 1941. Within, Graham calls for every chapter head to get petitions signed to attempt to repeal the Neutrality Act.

Fight For Freedom Newsletter, August 25, 1941, Fight For Freedom Committee

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A typed newsletter entitled, "What's Happening in the Fight for Freedom", dated August 25, 1941. Within, the latest activities and concerns of the Fight For Freedom Committee are distilled.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To Franklin D. Roosevelt, July 11, 1941, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A typed copy of a letter from Francis Mairs Huntington Wilson addressed to Franklin D. Roosevelt, dated July 11, 1941. Within, Wilson praises Roosevelt's recent deployment of American forces to Iceland.

A Voice From The Cracker-Barrel, May 25, 1941, Alexander Woollcott, Fight For Freedom Committee

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A flyer produced by the Fight for Freedom Committee promoting a radio broadcast speech entitled, "A Voice From the Cracker-Barrel", by Alexander Woollcott, dated May 25, 1941. Within, Woollcott criticizes individuals he believes to be working to aid Hitler.

Service To Hitler: Opposition To National Aims Viewed In That Light, May 11, 1941, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A typed reprint copy of a New York Times article entitled, "Service to Hiter: Opposition to National Aims Viewed in That Light", by Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson, dated May 11, 1941. Within, Wilson argues that American isolationism is inadvertently supporting Hitler and Germany.

Memorandum In Rebuttal Of Further Isolationism, March 17, 1941, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A typed copy of a memorandum entitled, "Memorandum in Rebuttal of Further Isolationism", by Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson, dated March 17, 1941. Within, Wilson argues that further isolationist propaganda, in light of the passage of the Lend-Lease act, amounts to treason.

Wanted For Murder, 1941, Fight For Freedom Committee

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A propaganda flyer entitled, "Wanted For Murder", by the Fight for Freedom Committee, dating from circa 1941. The poster is a satire piece aimed at delegitimizing Hitler. On the reverse is a handwritten note to Huntington Wilson from William A. Grant of Stamford, Connecticut.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To Editor Of The New York Times, November 2, 1939, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A typed copy of a letter from Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson addressed to the Editor of the New York Times, dated November 2, 1939. Within, Wilson writes in complaint of isolationists and those like Hamilton Fish.

Keep America Out Of War Committee Contribution Slip, 1939, Hamilton Fish

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A typed contribution slip from the Keep America Out of War Committee, dating from circa 1939. Within, the slip asks for monetary contributions to aid in spreading the message of neutrality.

Letter From The National Committee To Keep America Out Of Foreign Wars, 1939, Hamilton Fish

World War II Era Documents, 1939-1945

A typed propaganda piece from the Committee to Keep America Out of Foreign Wars addressed to the American public. Within, the Committee calls for action to stop the repeal of the arms embargo within Congress.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To Frank E. Gannett, June 28, 1938, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Documents, 1919-1938

A typed copy of a letter from Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson addressed to Frank E. Gannett, dated June 28, 1938. Within, Wilson asks Gannett about the possibility of getting his anti-New Deal writings potentially published.

The New Deal Vs. The American System Of Government, 1938, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Documents, 1919-1938

A typed draft copy of a chapter for an unpublished book, America and the New Deal entitled, "The New Deal vs. the American System of Government", written by Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson, dating from circa 1938.

Letter From Francis P. Garvan To Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson, October 28, 1932, Francis P. Garvan

Documents, 1919-1938

A typed letter from Francis P. Garvan addressed to Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson, dated October 28, 1932. Within, Garvan addresses his disapproval of admitting "Professor Gregory" into the ranks of the economics faculty at Yale University.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To William H. Zinsser, January 10, 1918, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

World War I Era Documents, 1914-1918

A typed copy of a letter from Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson to William Zinsser, dated January 10, 1918. Within, Wilson writes to tell of his financial contribution to the Society for Social Hygiene and its venereal disease committee and offers his opinion on how he feels the society can do more for the country.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To George Haven Putnam, November 15, 1917, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

World War I Era Documents, 1914-1918

A typed copy of a letter from Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson to George H. Putnam, dated November 15, 1917. Within, Wilson discusses enclosing some of his articles while expressing his opinions on new patriotic leagues popping up in response to World War I and his desire for more organized, coordinated efforts.

Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson To Theodore Roosevelt, April 9, 1917, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

World War I Era Documents, 1914-1918

A typed copy of a letter written to Theodore Roosevelt from Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson, dated April 9, 1917. Within, Huntington-Wilson discusses his opinions of Roosevelt taking hold of the National Committee of Patriotic and Defense Societies and of the uses of propaganda.

America And The War, August 1914, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

World War I Era Documents, 1914-1918

A typed draft of an essay entitled "America and the War". Written a few months after the official start of World War I, Huntington-Wilson lays out his opinions on how America should proceed. The essay is divided into three parts: Patriotic duty, diplomatic questions and America's attitude and interests.

Travel Diary: July 8,1914, Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Travel Diaries, 1914-1918

A typed copy of a diary entry dated July 8, 1914. Huntington-Wilson documents his opinions on Peruvian tax policy and Chilean character as he travels aboard the S.S. Mexico.