Office of the Historian

55. Memorandum From Michael D. Schneider of the USIA Young Officers’ Policy Panel to the Director (Shakespeare)1

Washington, December 4, 1969

SUBJECT

  • Agency Book Selection Policy

Recent internal and external criticism of Agency book selection procedures points out a serious shortcoming in USIA policy which has disturbed younger officers for some time: The Agency is not helping USIS Posts obtain as varied a selection of its books as they should have. The Agency has unnecessarily shied away from controversial books, conservative as well as liberal. While we can not carry all books, the Posts should be able to demonstrate to their audiences the great range of thought in America, and the confidence we have that free expression of ideas—even if these ideas are offensively stated or radical departures from current norms—is central to the democratic process.

We believe that adoption of the following suggestions would substantially improve the Agency’s book selection procedures:

1) Criteria for selecting “program books” should include: The book’s utility to USIA objectives in different countries; the importance of a book as representative of the views of a significant group in America; the book’s relevance to concerns of people in other countries; the book’s prize and literary significance (Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, the review of major journals can be useful in this respect.)

2) ICS should inform PAOs of all books reviewed by the Agency.

3) ICS should continue to send out “program books,” but PAOs should be allowed to select books from all these reviewed by ICS—or from other sources—without ICS veto, and without justification. The Agency should rely on the judgments of its PAOs in those matters (if necessary Post-ICS differences of opinion should be reviewed at the Area Director level.)

4) The Agency should seek advice from scholars and professional people in various fields to assist in selection of titles and improving selection in special areas. Liaison with the Agency “Campus Representatives” might be improved for this purpose.

  1. Source: National Archives, RG 306, Office of Policy and Plans, IOP/C Cultural Subject Files, 1955–1971, Entry UD–90, Box 1, BKS 1 Task Force on Books Policy. No classification marking. Printed from an uninitialed copy. Copies were sent to Loomis, Weathersby, and Dunlap.↩