Editorial Note
In a Special Message to Congress on June 1, President Eisenhower transmitted Reorganization Plan No. 8 of 1953 “Relating to the [Page 1710] Establishment of the U.S. Information Agency”. In a separate message to Congress that day concerning both Reorganization Plans Nos. 7 and 8 of 1953, the President stressed the need to meet the challenge of unprecedented foreign policy burdens and commitments “effectively—to convert intent into constructive fact,” and he urged that this be done through achievement of “the most efficient and cohesive possible organization for the conduct of our foreign affairs.” In discussing specifically the establishment of the United States Information Agency under Reorganization Plan No. 8, the President noted that the Agency would be responsible for information activities formerly administered not only by the International Information Administration within the Department of State, but also by “the information programs financed in connection with government in occupied areas; the information program of the Mutual Security Agency; and the Technical Cooperation Administration information program.” The establishment of these various information programs in one agency, the President added, “seems the one sound way to provide real unity and greater efficiency. This action, moreover, brings under single management all the funds to be expended on these foreign information activities.” To insure that adequate authority be vested in the new Director of the United States Information Agency, Reorganization Plan No. 8 provided, in the President’s words, that the Director “may, in carrying out his functions, exercise such administrative authorities of the Secretary of State and of certain other officers as the President may specify.” For the President’s Special Messages to the Congress on the Organization of the Executive Branch for the Conduct of Foreign Affairs and Transmitting Reorganization Plans Nos. 7 and 8, all dated June 1, 1953, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953, pages 342–350.
In a memorandum to the heads of all executive departments and the Director for Mutual Security, the President further defined “relationships which will govern executive branch officials in the conduct of our international responsibilities.” Concerning the United States Information Agency, the President wrote:
“The reorganization plan which creates the United States Information Agency also assigns exclusive responsibility to the Secretary of State for the control of the content of a program designed to assure accurate statements of United States official positions on important issues and current developments. It is my desire that this program be so administered as to keep these official United States positions before the governments and peoples of other countries. No material which is not a statement of official United States views, regardless of its nature, or origin, or the medium used for its dissemination, should be identified by the exclusive label which is provided.
[Page 1711]“The United States Information Agency will be the normal outlet for this program, but the Secretary of State may use other channels for disseminating this program abroad when in his judgment the use of such channels is required. The Director of the United States Information Agency should give full cooperation in providing the services and facilities necessary for the preparation, translation, transmission, and distribution of materials for this program.
“The Director of the United States Information Agency shall report to and receive instructions from me through the National Security Council or as I may otherwise direct. I am directing that the necessary changes be made in existing arrangements for Government-wide coordination of foreign information activities to enable the Director of the United States Information Agency to serve as Chairman of the Psychological Operations Coordinating Committee.” (Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953, pages 351–354)
For a discussion of Reorganization Plan No. 7, see the editorial note, volume I, Part 1, page 628.
President Eisenhower’s decision to establish the United States Information Agency as a separate and preeminent agency in the field of overseas information followed the recommendations of his Advisory Committee on Government Organization which were forwarded to the President on April 7, 1953 (see the memorandum to the President, page 1691). At the same time, the President rejected the recommendation of his Committee on International Information Activities that overseas information functions be retained in the Department of State with the provision that the Director of such activities be given broader authority and greater prestige. The President’s Committee on International Information Activities first put forth this recommendation in a letter of May 2, 1953, and reiterated it in Chapter 7 of its report of June 30, 1953. The June 30 report is printed on page 1795, and the letter of May 2, 1953, is printed as Appendix III thereto, page 1868.