22. Memorandum From the Deputy Director for Policy and Plans, United States Information Agency (Sorensen) to the Director (Murrow)1
Washington, April 7, 1961.
SUBJECT
- Add “Semantics”
Someone in Foy Kohler’s shop has come up with a suggestion that we promote the term “peaceful world community” as a counter-poise to the Soviet slogan “peaceful co-existence.” I like it. If you feel the same way, we can have our media use this expression whenever appro [Page 72] priate.2 Meantime you may wish to tell Messrs. Bowles and Tubby that you endorse the idea—assuming you do.
Thomas C.
Sorensen3
- Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1961, Entry UD WW 142, Box 7, Policy and Plans—General (IOP) 1961 January–June. No classification marking. Payne initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum.↩
- Murrow drew a diagonal line from the word “appropriate” to the right-hand margin and wrote “yes” to the right of it.↩
- Sorensen initialed “T.C.S.” above his typed signature. In an April 8 memorandum to Bowles, copies of which were sent to Tubby, Wilson, and Sorensen, Murrow wrote: “This is to advise that in future we are going to employ the term ‘peaceful world community’ in all media whenever appropriate. I understand this suggestion came from Foy Kohler’s shop. We embezzled it.” (National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1961, Entry UD WW 142, Box 7, Policy and Plans—General (IOP) 1961 January–June)↩