209. Memorandum of a Meeting Between the President and Legislative Leaders, The White House, Washington, December 3, 1957, 9:05 a.m.–2 p.m.1

[Here follow a list of persons present (56), including the President, Vice President, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, Senator Everett Dirksen, [Page 614] Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, the Secretary of State, USIA Director Allen, and Adlai Stevenson (Democratic candidate for President in 1956) and discussion of other subjects.]

USIA —The Vice President introduced the new Director and noted the long experience he had had in this field.

Mr. Allen recounted some of the difficulties that had always faced the information program, then sketched his objective as follows: (1) utilizing more fully the advantages we have in this field, (2) shifting somewhat the geographic focus, (3) shifting somewhat the relative use of radio, press, motion pictures and libraries, and (4) working on a long range basis. He compared in some detail the advantages that the Soviet Union has by virtue of its dictatorial controls, etc. To our own advantage, he said, are such things as the great number of escapees from behind the Iron Curtain, the great desire in many areas of the world to learn English, the quality of our overseas libraries, the desires of students from all over to study in the U.S., the basic principles of American life, and the impetus to be had from private efforts on a people-to-people basis. He spoke briefly of the need for increased attention to newly developing areas, like Ghana. He commented at considerable length on the great variety of languages and dialects that need to be used in our programs. He concluded his statement by promising to work in the closest possible cooperation with the Department of State.

Speaker Rayburn commented that in addition to the things he intended to do he had better have some public relations men on the Hill. Mr. Allen responded in terms of the U.S. need for a steady program rather than a lot of ups and downs. Lyndon Johnson concluded the discussion by commending the program Mr. Allen had outlined.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Legislative Meetings, 1957. Prepared by Minnich.