Chart shows USIA information endeavors to send information behind the "Iron Curtain," including libraries, films, newspapers, and broadcasts involved in anti-Communist propaganda during the Cold War. Other charts cite cooperation with private enterprise, including 750 groups, such as businesses, schools, etc. Illustration shows letters written by Americans to family and friends abroad that can inform them of the truth. Town and city affiliation program is shown, with the example of Montclair, New Jersey, in the United States, and its relationship with Graz, Austria. The Mayor of Graz is seen being honored at a dinner in Montclair. Chart illustrates program of salvaging and sending American magazines abroad.
Opening scenes show radio studio announcers in different countries and in different languages sharing news updates as they speak into microphones. Photographers and camera men shoot a news conference featuring President Eisenhower. President Dwight D Eisenhower speaks whle newsmen, journalists, and reporters disperse quickly from the room and telephone their notes and papers to publish the story. An official exits a taxi cab car and enters the USIS building at 1776 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC. View of door of Office of Director of USIA. '423' and 'Theodore C. Streibert' written on nameplate of office of director of USIA. Narrator describes the people there as working to "reinforce truth against distortion and the big lie." Director Streibert talks on the telephone and sits for a meeting in his office and talks about overseas posts. Map on wall.
United States Information Agency (USIA) radio operators operate radio studio controls and set frequencies for transmission and receiving. USIA staff work on gathering additional facts, with newsroom reporters and editors in a press room typing and working on stories, a woman editing motion pictures, typing, printing at USIA. Exterior view of headquarters building of United States Information Service or USIS. People enter and exit the building of USIS. Members of a Citizens Committee and Director Streibert enter into a room. Map of world in room. Citizens seated on sofa. Director Streibert explains U.S.I.A. mission to a citizens' committee and talks about America's history and involvement in the world. One Citizen Committee member smokes a pipe. The Director shows a chart of how "communist propaganda is spread by a vast worldwide machine." Director Streibert explains (via anti-communist propaganda, or reverse propaganda...during Cold War) its mechanism and control exerted via the presidium of the Soviet communist party. View of Soviet Union leaders watching a military parade in Red Square, Moscow, Russia. Khrushchev is among the leaders. Next scenes show Communist rallies and speakers in Korea and then in China. At the Chinese rally, a scene of unrest unfolds as a group filling a large truck enters a rally, jumps down, and inflames the crowd. Communist leader Khrushchev with other Soviet officials debarks an airplane and meets leaders in India. He waves at a welcoming crowd during a visit. View of piles of Motion picture canisters ,magazines, pamphlets and books distributed as propaganda by Soviet Union. High production quality of paper shown. Industrial equipment and industrial farming equipment is displayed in a large exhibit hall for visiting foreign governments and dignitaries to view and consider investment. The Director states that long term Communist goals are world domination, and short term goals include the encouragement of neutralism, dividing and confusing American allies, and isolation of the United States. Director Streibert explains how the USIS works together with the Department of State to communicate American information. He ends the explanation by giving the USIA campaign pamphlets "Atoms for Peace" and "Atomic Power for Peace" ( The Eisenhower plan) to citizens of committee as example of a communication.
Opening scene shows a U.S. Information Agency (USIA) secretary provides a couple in Germany with information about American schools. Views of students in Saigon, South Vietnam, attending USIA English language classes. View of London, England, showing the Art Deco BBC Broadcasting House at Portland Place (Portland Pl, London W1A 1AA, UK) and All Souls Church, Langham Place (All Souls C of E Church, 2 All Souls' Pl, London W1B 3DA, UK). A man is seen delivering a can, containing the USIA monthly film documentary, to the BBC. View of Broadcasting House of BBC in Marylebone, England. In Iran, a Douglas DC-4 passenger plane takes off, carrying newspaper reporters and Iranian officials to look over an American technical assistance project which is seen from the air. In Tokyo, Japan, a man working in a private publishing company begins translating an American book. The book is open on his desk and contains an illustration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. A page of the book, written in Japanese, is shown being reproduced on a type of mimeograph machine.
Faces of smiling audience watching performers bow at the conclusion of a performance of Porgy and Bess sponsored by the USIS. View of performance by the "Symphony of the Air, " formerly known as the NBC Toscanini Orchestra, in Tokyo. Author William Faulkner is seen visiting with an audience in Japan. Olympic athlete Jesse Owens shows his running block technique to a crowd gathered in Malaya. Jesse Owens signs autographs for a crowd gathered around him. A test preview of a USIS "People's Capitalism" exhibit is shown at Union Station in Washington, D.C. Two Asian women place a pot on a stove as part of the exhibit. A 1955 Ford Thunderbird convertible is displayed at an international trade fair in Salonika, Greece. A man demonstrates and electric razor at the Greek trade show sponsored by USIS. King Paul and Queen Frederika of Greece visit the U.S. trade fair and watch children play on a jungle gym, with toy tractors and with a toy teepee. A crowd gathered at the trade show stand in line to see themselves on a television monitor. View of crowd seen on television. A large spiral display sponsored by USIS demonstrates the "Open Skies Proposal" A model of a B-52 bomber is also at the display.
Map of world. Three distinct areas :The Soviet Union, Satellite countries and Red China shown on map to cover the people beyond reach. Radio networks and transmissions sign on map. Wide shot of Coast Guard cutter 'Courier' underway in the Mediterranean. The Courier operates as a radio relay station. Closeup of phonograph record turntables running on cradles that rock with the movement of the ship. Lighted "ON AIR" sign is seen. Technicians set the frequencies and operate the relay station. Broadcasting programs in different languages on radio. Men in the Soviet Union gather next to a radio to listen to a Voice of America on a radio. Picture of Lenin seen on the wall behind them. Camera zooms out to reveal woman listening to broadcast as well. Broadcast programs give message of hope to whole world.
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