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42-590: Vietnam! Vietnam! is a United States Information Agency (USIA) film about the Vietnam War . The film, narrated by Charlton Heston , was shot on location in Vietnam in October–December 1968 but not released until 1971. Though John Ford , the executive producer , went to Vietnam, he did not participate in production work there. Ford later did supervise the editing and rewrote the film scenario. Bruce Herschensohn ,

84-599: A greater concentration of people. Four main divisions were established when the USIA began its programs. The first division dealt with broadcasting information, both in the United States and around the world. The radio was one of the most widely used forms of media at the onset of the Cold War, as television was not widely available. The Smith–Mundt Act authorized information programs, including Voice of America . Voice of America

126-402: A positive light, the agency began producing their own documentaries. By the time the agency was reorganized in 1999, the educational and informational efforts encompassed a wide range of activities, outside of broadcasting. These were focused in four areas, the agency produced extensive electronic and printed materials. Its The Washington File information service, was intended to provide, in

168-511: Is a handicap and a threat both to them and to more prosperous areas. For the first time in history, humanity possesses the knowledge and skill to relieve suffering of these people. The United States is pre-eminent among nations in the development of industrial and scientific techniques. The material resources which we can afford to use for assistance of other peoples are limited. But our imponderable resources in technical knowledge are constantly growing and are inexhaustible" Truman denied that this

210-502: The 1958 Brussels World Fair, the USIA directed the design, construction, and operation of the U.S. pavilions representing the United States at major world Expos . The Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, Division G of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, Pub. L.   105–277 (text) (PDF) , 112  Stat.   2681-761 , enacted October 21, 1998 , abolished

252-521: The Department of State's International Information Administration and Technical Cooperation Administration , as well as the Mutual Security Agency . USIA was also responsible for the overseas administration of the exchange of persons program formerly conducted by IIA. The USIA was the largest full-service public relations organization in the world, spending over $ 2 billion per year to highlight

294-703: The Point Four name in favor of simply referring to it as a 'technical assistance program', and reorganized the TCA into the Foreign Operations Administration; its successor agencies include the International Cooperation Administration and the present-day Agency for International Development . The Point Four Program was the first US plan designed to improve social, economic and political conditions in 'underdeveloped' nations. It marked

336-557: The Point Four program and the OCIAA became incorporated into the new organization. Henry G. Bennett was the first TCA administrator from 1950 to 1951. The program was carried out with the countries whose governments concluded bilateral agreements with the US government regarding aid under the program, and the TCA established field missions within those countries, which worked to improve agricultural output and distributed technical know-how on improving

378-533: The President and U.S. government policy-makers on the ways in which foreign attitudes would have a direct bearing on the effectiveness of U.S. policies. The Department of State provided foreign policy guidance. During the Cold War , some American officials believed that a propaganda program was essential to convey the United States and its culture and politics to the world, and to offset negative Soviet propaganda against

420-533: The Soviet Union 2,500 hours a week with a 'tower of babble' comprised of more than 70 languages, to the tune of over $ 2 billion per year". The USIA was "the biggest branch of this propaganda machine." President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the United States Information Agency on August 1, 1953, during the postwar tensions with the communist world known as the Cold War. The USIA's mission

462-412: The U.S. Information Agency effective October 1, 1999. Its information and cultural exchange functions were folded into the Department of State under the newly created Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs . When dismantled, the agency budget was $ 1.109 billion. After reductions of staff in 1997, the agency had 6,352 employees, of which almost half were civil service employees in

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504-473: The US. With heightened fears about the influence of communism, some Americans believed that the films produced by the Hollywood movie industry, when critical of American society, damaged its image in other countries. The USIA "exist[ed] as much to provide a view of the world to the United States as it [did] to give the world a view of America". Films produced by the USIA could by law not be screened publicly within

546-646: The USIA consisted of libraries and exhibits. The Smith–Mundt Act and the Fulbright–Hays Act of 1961 both authorized international cultural and educational exchanges (including the Fulbright Scholarship Program ). USIA would mount exhibitions in its libraries overseas to reach people in other countries. "Fulbrighters" were grant recipients under the USIA educational and cultural exchange program. To ensure that those grant programs would be fair and unbiased, persons of educational and cultural expertise in

588-634: The United States (2,521). About 1,800 of these employees worked in international broadcasting, while approximately 1,100 worked on the agency's educational and informational programs, such as the Fulbright program. Foreign service officers consisting of about 1,000 members of the work force. Broadcasting functions, including Voice of America , Radio and TV Marti, Radio Free Europe (in Eastern Europe), Radio Free Asia, and Radio Liberty (in Russia and other areas of

630-541: The United States due to the Smith–Mundt Act . This restriction also meant that Americans could not view the material even for study at the National Archives. Within the US, the USIA was intended to assure Americans that "[t]he United States was working for a better world". Abroad, the USIA tried to preserve a positive image of the U.S. regardless of negative depictions from communist propaganda. One notable example

672-636: The United States found itself in a Cold War struggle against the USSR . With White House assistants Clark Clifford and George Elsey and State Department official Ben Hardy taking the lead, the Truman administration came up with the idea for a technical assistance program as a means to win the "hearts and minds" of the developing world after countries from the Middle East, Latin America, Asia and Africa had complained about

714-466: The United States might convince few, but the same viewpoints presented by the seemingly independent voices would be more persuasive." The USIA used various forms of media, including "personal contact, radio broadcasting, libraries, book publication and distribution, press motion pictures, television, exhibits, English-language instruction, and others". Through these different forms, the United States government distributed its materials more easily and engaged

756-506: The administrator of the OCIAA, strongly supported the establishment of Point Four in congressional hearings. According to the US Secretary of State Dean Acheson , it was the initiative of the then legal counsel to the president Clark Clifford , who suggested to president Truman to initiate an assistance on a worldwide basis, and to include the issue in his inaugural address. According to Robert Schlesinger 's book, White House Ghosts , it

798-573: The agency operated more than 100 "Information Resource Centers" abroad. These included some public-access libraries in developing countries. Finally, the USIA-operated foreign press centers in Washington, New York, and Los Angeles to "assist resident and visiting foreign journalists". In other major American cities, such as Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, and Seattle, the USIA worked cooperatively with other international press centers. Beginning with

840-566: The decision on whether to order a copy of the film up to individual US Embassies abroad, and only a few did. This article about a documentary film on the Vietnam War is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . United States Information Agency The United States Information Agency ( USIA ) was a United States government agency devoted to propaganda which operated from 1953 to 1999. Previously existing United States Information Service ( USIS ) posts operating out of U.S. embassies worldwide since World War II became

882-411: The economy in general. The first government to do so was the government of Iran , on October 19, 1950. The Point Four Program was different from other programs in that it was not confined to any specific region; it was extended to countries such as Pakistan, Israel, and Jordan. The American University of Beirut (AUB) also received funding from the Point Four program to expand its operations. Among

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924-501: The emphasis on European aid by the U.S. By sharing American know-how in various fields, especially agriculture, industry and health, officials could help " third world " nations—i.e., those not aligned with NATO nor the Soviets—on the development path, raise the standard of living, and show that democracy and capitalism could provide for the welfare of the individual. In his inauguration speech on January 20, 1949, President Truman stated

966-659: The field operations offices of the USIA. In 1978, USIA was merged with the Bureau of Educational Cultural Affairs of the Department of State into a new agency called the United States International Communications Agency ( USICA ). Use of the name United States Information Agency (USIA) was restored in 1982. In 1999, prior to the reorganization of intelligence agencies by President George W. Bush , President Bill Clinton assigned USIA's cultural exchange and non-broadcasting intelligence functions to

1008-471: The first nations to gain extensive technical assistance was India. From 1950 to 1951 India saw the implementation of a penicillin plantation, an increase in schools and medical research facilities as well as dam construction. In addition to economic assistance, India also agreed to maintain a democratic government. U.S. Officials hoped this would prevent India forming alliances with the Soviet Union and China. Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower discarded

1050-569: The former Soviet Union), were consolidated as an independent entity under the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). This continues to operate independently from the State Department. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, some commentators characterized United States international broadcasters, such as Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe, and Voice of America as United States propaganda . Technical Cooperation Administration By 1947

1092-435: The fourth objective of his foreign policy as follows: "we must embark on a bold new program for making the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial progress available for the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas. More than half the people of the world are living in conditions approaching misery. Their food is inadequate. They are victims of disease. Their economic life is primitive and stagnant. Their poverty

1134-483: The free nations are incapable of providing a decent standard of living for the millions of people in under-developed areas of the earth. The Point Four program will be one of our principal ways of demonstrating the complete falsity of that charge." After Congressional approval on October 27, 1950, the Technical Cooperation Administration (TCA) was established within the Department of State to run

1176-450: The grant subject areas selected the grantee recipients. The USIA's third division included press services. Within its first two decades, the "USIA publishe[d] sixty-six magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals, totaling almost 30 million copies annually, in twenty-eight languages". The fourth division dealt with the motion picture service. After the USIA failed in its effort to collaborate with Hollywood filmmakers to portray America in

1218-542: The newly created under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs at the U.S. Department of State and the now independent agency , the International Broadcasting Bureau . USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the Broadcasting Board of Governors , which had been created in 1994. Since the merger of USIA with the Department of State, public diplomacy and public affairs sections at U.S. missions have carried on this work. When USIA

1260-496: The president and other key policymakers. It conducted public opinion surveys throughout the world. It issued a variety of reports to government officials, including a twice-daily report on foreign media commentary around the world. From the beginning, President Dwight Eisenhower said that "audiences would be more receptive to the American message if they were kept from identifying it as propaganda. Avowedly propagandistic materials from

1302-454: The producer, remarked that the purpose of the film was to provide a "balance" to the view which critics of the war were providing. Due to the changing political situation in Vietnam, the film went through numerous cuts and script alterations over a three-year period and, when finally released, managed to offend almost everyone. Critical reviews were unfavorable. USIA Director Frank Shakespeare left

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1344-560: The program, on February 9, 1949, a new committee was established within the Department of State, known as the Technical Assistance Group, chaired by Samuel Hayes. The program was approved by Congress on June 5, 1950, in the Foreign Economic Assistance Act, which allotted to the program a budget of $ 25,000,000 for fiscal year 1950/51. Describing the new program, Truman noted that, "Communist propaganda holds that

1386-456: The promotion of international development policy to the center of the U.S. Foreign Policy framework. Although designed to uplift nations, the program's legacy was one of self-interest as America improved their imports of strategical raw materials, without significantly alleviating the partnered nations of deprivation. The post-war climate and rising threat of communism alongside lack of investment from both congress and American businessmen led to

1428-627: The views of the U.S. while diminishing those of the Soviet Union , through about 150 different countries. Its stated goals were to explain and advocate U.S. policies in terms that are credible and meaningful in foreign cultures; to provide information about the official policies of the United States, and about the people, values and institutions which influence those policies; to bring the benefits of international engagement to American citizens and institutions by helping them build strong long-term relationships with their counterparts overseas; and to advise

1470-542: The words of the agency "both time-sensitive and in-depth information in five languages", incorporating full transcripts of speeches, Congressional testimony, articles by Administration officials, and materials providing analysis of key issues. The Agency also ran a number of websites to transmit information. Second, the agency ran a "Speakers and Specialists Program", sending Americans abroad for various public speaking and technical assistance roles. These speakers were referred to as "American Participants" or "AmParts". Third,

1512-479: Was Project Pedro . This secretly funded project created newsreels in Mexico during the 1950s that portrayed Communism unfavorably and the United States positively. Articles reflecting the views promoted by the USIA were frequently published under fictitious bylines , such as "Guy Sims Fitch". The agency regularly conducted research on foreign public opinion about the United States and its policies, in order to inform

1554-400: Was "to understand, inform and influence foreign publics in promotion of the national interest, and to broaden the dialogue between Americans and U.S. institutions, and their counterparts abroad". The USIA was established "to streamline the U.S. government's overseas information programs, and make them more effective". It operated all of the foreign information activities formerly carried out by

1596-488: Was Chief Public Affairs Officer Benjamin H. Hardy who first came up with the concept. After the suggestion was as good as lost in the foggy miasma of the State Department's bureaucracy, Hardy decided to bring the idea to the attention of Truman aide, George Elsey. Elsey and Clifford went on to herald the abstraction into policy. Hardy eventually left the Department of State and became the new Technical Cooperation Administration's Chief Information Officer. In order to implement

1638-402: Was a colonial venture to dominate other countries. Rather, he insisted, "The old imperialism—exploitation for foreign profit—has no place in our plans. What we envisage is a program of development based on the concepts of democratic fair-dealing. All countries, including our own, will greatly benefit from a constructive program for the better use of the world’s human and natural resources." This

1680-528: Was abolished in 1999, USIS posts once again were operated by the Department of State. Former USIA director of TV and film service Alvin Snyder recalled in his 1995 memoir that "the U.S. government ran a full-service public relations organization, the largest in the world, about the size of the twenty biggest U.S. commercial PR firms combined. Its full-time professional staff of more than 10,000, spread out among some 150 countries, burnished America‘s image and trashed

1722-504: Was intended as an unbiased and balanced "Voice from America", as originally broadcast during World War II. The VOA was used to "tell America's stories ... to information deprived listeners behind the Iron Curtain ". By 1967, the VOA was broadcasting in 38 languages to up to 26 million listeners. In 1976 VOA gained its "Charter", requiring its news to be balanced. The second division of

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1764-636: Was not a call for economic aid—on the order of the Marshall Plan , ⁣⁣but for the US to share its "know-how" and help nations develop with technical assistance. There was bipartisan support, led by Republican Congressman Christian A. Herter of Massachusetts. Point Four was the first global U.S. foreign aid program, yet it drew some inspiration from the nation's wartime Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs (OCIAA), which extended technical assistance to Latin American countries. Nelson Rockefeller ,

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