Rebuilding of mechanisms of informational-psychological warfare with Socialist bloc countries during Eisenhower's administration

This article analyses methods and forms that were used by Eisenhower's administration to rebuild the mechanisms of informational and psychological operations aimed at activation of a struggle "for hearts and minds" between the USA and the USSR. Development of nuclear and thermonuclear weapons, buildout of the means of communication and transportation in forties and fifties compelled governments of the leading states to rethink not only means of military confrontation, but also the issues of informational-psychological impact on the adversary. Eisenhower's administration's apprehension of the consequences of nuclear and thermonuclear weapons led to the understanding that new world war is impermissible for the USA. Therefore the struggle for hearts and minds of people came to the forefront of the confrontation between two systems, despite the fact that military sphere still was of crucial importance. To analyze all informational-psychological work of US state machinery, President Eisenhower created two committees chaired by N. Rockefeller and W. Jackson. Almost all key figures of future administration became members of these two committees, therefore their conclusions were given high priority within the administration. Actually, recommendations of the both committees didn't propose something radically new. Basically, they have analyzed all the work that has been done in the sphere of informational-psychological warfare (almost all members of the committees were actively involved in it) and proposed ways to intensify it and make more effective. The informational-psychological aspect of administration's activities was previously institutionalized by Truman's administration via creation of the Council on strategic planning of informational-psychological operations. Rockefeller's and Jackson's committees not only continued this work, but were able to put this sphere of activity on the very top of administrative ladder by creating independent information agency and agency distributing economic help to foreign countries, which directors were given direct access to the President, by-passing the Secretary of State. Besides the creation of the analogue of the Council on strategic planning of informational-psychological operations -the Council on coordination of activities - took into account the fact that the council was ineffective due to the lack of political influence. Now all key figures of administration became members of the Council, giving it the necessary political weight.

Keywords

Authors

References