115. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Murrow) to President Kennedy1
We are continuing to receive unsolicited reports from our overseas missions about the wide use of and enthusiastic foreign response to “A Conversation with the President.”2
In addition to television broadcasts, ambassadors and public affairs officers are still using the film for invitational showings, including a large proportion of political and government leaders.
We know that the program was televised in full in Japan, Germany, New Zealand, Kenya, Germany, Finland, the Philippines (repeated seven times), the Netherlands, Panama (Armed Forces Network), Hong [Page 299] Kong, and Australia. It was televised in major part in Sweden, the U.K., Italy, Peru, Colombia, and Nicaragua.
Here are representative press comments:
“Without doubt, by far the most important TV program of the year, thanks to the President’s open-hearted and stone-hard arguments.” —The Netherlands (name of paper not given).
“In itself, the interview was an absorbing drama . . . President Kennedy talked freely of peril, success, and failure he had encountered. His own analysis of each situation about which he was questioned was searching and sincere.” —Evening Post, New Zealand.
“I now feel that television must be just about unbeatable for presenting human personality.” —Daily Nation, Kenya.
“It was most impressive. No doubt the strongest impression was created by the self-evident way in which Kennedy spoke of the responsibility for the national interests of the U.S. and the security of the Free World.” —Die Welt, Germany.
“The charm of the American President is able to radiate on his television audiences was apparent all the time.” —The Indian Express.
“. . . Perhaps the most effective way in which world leaders can speak directly to their people . . . As many people as possible should be given a chance to see it.” —Visir, Iceland.
Reports from our missions about the reactions to their invitational showings, from all continents, are similar and equally enthusiastic.
- Source: National Archives, RG 306, DIRCTR Sub Files, 1963–69, Bx 6–29 63–69: Acc: #72A5121, Entry UD WW 257, Box 9, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES—White House 1963. No classification marking. Drafted by Anderson. Sorensen cleared the memorandum, writing: “Cleared: TCS.”↩
- On December 16, 1962, at 6:30 p.m. in his office at the White House, the President was interviewed by reporters from the three leading national television networks, ABC, CBS, and NBC. The interview was televised the following day by the three networks; it was also broadcast on major radio networks. The networks broadcast the interview under the title, “After Two Years—A Conversation with the President.” For the text of the interview, see Public Papers: Kennedy, 1962, pp. 889–904.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩