Purpose of this message is to identify themes about American society for use
by Agency media and, as applicable, by individual posts. These themes are
not definitive or exclusive: they do represent principal points that we want
to communicate to our foreign audiences.
There is an excess of noise and information in communications today. Only if
we focus our message can we hope our audiences will focus their attention on
what we have to say. The foreign listener receives a myriad of facts,
impressions and signals about our large and complex society. One of USIA’s chief tasks is to call attention to
the fundamentals of our society and help our audiences put rapidly moving
and frequently confusing day-by-day developments into perspective.
Familiar principles of communication, of course apply. We should repeat,
reinforce, recapitulate; facts presented in isolation have far less impact
than facts ordered explicitly and consecutively to support a well-defined
theme. We must be relevant to our audiences, encouraging them to feel a
sense of common endeavor with us, and speaking where possible in terms of
their own experience.
Every nation has a style. The American style is movement, innovation,
experiment. The vitality of American life presents an obvious magnet; we
should seek to capitalize on it, particularly with younger audiences. The
content and presentation of Agency media, and the atmosphere of our offices,
centers and programs abroad should reinforce the image of a pioneering and
dynamic nation.
Our tone, neither boastful nor defensive, should reflect our conviction and
confidence.
Understanding of the United States as a nation builds a base for
understanding of United States policies. Specific foreign policy themes are
the subject of a separate guidance.2
Attachment
Paper3
Washington, April 21, 1971
Theme I
The Essence of American Institutions is
Freedom
The institutions established for the American Republic two centuries ago,
and modified since to meet contemporary conditions, embody the spirit of
liberty. In contrast to societies which seek to repress “inimical”
ideas, the American system seeks to enlist the efforts of all who would
make a contribution. This ensures that new thinking confronts new
problems, and that the institutions of government, based on the popular
will, remain responsive.
The free circulation of dissenting opinion is basic to the American
democratic process. The right of minorities to express their views by
legal and non-violent means, is guaranteed. Illustrations of dissenting
opinion ultimately being adopted by the majority, or becoming public
policy, show democracy at work.
America’s political, economic, and social institutions seek to give
maximum liberty to the individual, while providing for such governmental
intervention as is necessary to insure the public interest. These
institutions are subject to constant re-examination and modification, to
correct weaknesses and meet changed conditions.
The continuing public debate over the nature and the functioning of our
institutions is a source of strength. Through free competition of ideas
comes progress.
| Topics: |
The principles of 1776 and 1789; their changing application
through our history; their expression in American institutions
today |
|
Government and public concern with the environment—case
history of free discussion in the U.S. |
[Page 337]
|
Dissent in the U.S., dissent in the USSR |
|
American political processes: expression of diverse opinion,
reconciling of diverse interests |
|
Ferment of ideas in the American universities and media |
Theme II
America is Committed to Equality of
Opportunity
Equality of opportunity has been a national ideal since America’s
founding as a nation. In large part, American history is the record of a
continuing attempt to realize this ideal.
At the heart of the American commitment to equality of opportunity is
education. Educational institutions are diversified in structure, free
of centralized control, and by their nature are conducive to experiment.
They have achieved both mass and quality education to a remarkable
degree. Today American schools and universities are the focus of a
national effort, public and private, to meet new demands brought about
by rapid social change.
Each American generation has seen material advancement of the
less-favored groups. While enjoying an unparalleled standard of living,
the nation today is deeply aware of the minority who do not fully share
in its material well-being; varied initiatives are being undertaken to
help. Allocations for human resources make up the largest share of the
federal budget today. Abetting these efforts of government, and the
self-help endeavors of those lowest on the economic scale, business
leaders are using corporate funds to train the formerly-unemployable,
and give them a boost up the earning ladder.
Since World War II racial minorities have made accelerated strides, while
a new principle of compensation for past disadvantage has been accepted.
Through Republican and Democratic Administrations the process of
mobility in American society has been furthered by court decisions,
legislation and Presidential initiatives. Minorities have used peaceful
demonstrations, labor union organization and the ballot to win a bigger
stake in America.
| Topics: |
Minority gains: the Black revolution, new steps for Chicanos
and Indians, election of minority candidates |
|
American education gears to meet new challenges |
|
J.O.B.S.4 and other
initiatives by private enterprise to hire and train the
disadvantaged |
[Page 338]
|
The Philadelphia Plan5
|
Theme III
Innovation and Creativity Mark the Arts
and Sciences in Contemporary America
Vigor, experimentation and creativity mark the arts and sciences in
contemporary America.
The arts in the United States are characterized by imagination, variety,
innovation. Their quality has won world-wide interest and acclaim.
Artists have shown a special facility for working with the materials of
their modern civilization; their work expresses the contemporary
American desire to probe the relationship between technology and human
values. Private philanthropy, community efforts, business support and,
recently, governmental assistance all help artists make their works
available to a broader public.
Similar vigor and creativity are seen in the sciences. Americans have led
the way in recognizing the value of research and in turning the fruits
of science, through technology, into practical advances for human
betterment. The American university is uniquely open-ended to Federal
and State governments and the community, simultaneously serving them all
while involving itself in common problems and needs. From its pioneering
work in the social sciences, both theory and application, to the
physical science investigations that have produced the preponderance of
Nobel Prize winners, to the triumphs of the moon landings and the
practical benefits of space exploration, America has charted new ground.
Today she is one of the leaders in searching for a cancer cure, and in
exploring the oceans for new ways of satisfying human needs for food and
raw materials.
In both the arts and sciences, America has benefited from a rich variety
of contributions from other cultures, and shares its own achievements
with others.
| Topics: |
New American directions in the arts |
|
Cultural centers in regional capitals—Minneapolis, Seattle,
Santa Fe, Dallas, Atlanta |
|
The electronic revolution |
|
The moon and beyond |
[Page 339]
|
Earthly benefits from space exploration and cooperation |
|
Sharing the fruits of research—space, seabeds, medicine |
Theme IV
The United States is in the Forefront of
a New Age
The United States is in the forefront of a new technological age,
adapting to unprecedentedly rapid change. In science, industry, and
social organization, America is pioneering. The forces of change, rather
than the “status quo,” mark American society.
America’s very success in developing a highly productive, complex
post-industrial society has resulted in new challenges to be met. Rapid
technological change has inevitably brought with it tensions and
dislocations in established patterns. If the past is any guide, America
will seek to meet these challenges with a flexible, pragmatic
approach.
Young Americans are particularly sensitive to the need to adapt the
organization and forms of the social structure to accommodate the new
challenges. Their idealism and energy contribute significantly to the
efforts of more mature Americans in the search for constructive
solutions.
There is growing realization of the need for new relationships between
citizens and government. The President’s proposals to reorganize the
Federal government, decentralize governmental responsibilities,6 and redistribute tax revenues are bold and
far-reaching. It is too soon to predict in what form the proposals may
be adopted; but there has been a strong response in Congress, among
state and local officials,
[Page 340]
and
in the nation as a whole to the idea of a re-examination of national
priorities and governmental structures.
America’s size, strength, resources and dynamism in entering its
post-industrial phase may seem to separate the United States from other
nations. And indeed there are indications that America’s technological
lead is growing rather than diminishing. But many of the new challenges
which America faces are presenting themselves with only slight
modifications, or to a lesser degree, in other industrialized nations.
The same challenges in large measure must be faced in the future by
those countries just beginning to industrialize. The need to develop new
patterns of life, improve public services, find adequate sources of
taxation, and combat environmental pollution are not unique to America,
or even to the Northern Hemisphere. Neither can these problems be solved
in isolation from America’s neighbors in the world. America welcomes
international cooperation in seeking solutions.
| Topics: |
New governmental patterns: state-federal relationships;
revenue sharing; federal government reorganization |
|
The post-industrial society as seen in the U.S.; its benefits,
its challenges: examples of urbanization, environment |
|
Technology to serve, not dehumanize, man |
|
Constructive efforts by youth to meet challenges of modern
living |
|
Productivity of the American economy |
