119. Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Bowles)1
MEMORANDUM TO
- USIA—Mr. Edward R. Murrow
- P—Mr. Roger W. Tubby
- CU—Mr. Philip M. Coombs
- C—Mr. George C. McGhee
I have already spoken with Roger Tubby and with Ed Murrow at the Thursday Luncheon2 of the crying need to improve public understanding of the US abroad. It seems to me we must review quickly the question of how we wish to portray ourselves, our society, our policies, and the motivations behind our major programs and consider how to correct many existing impressions abroad of American life and purpose. New techniques and procedures should be devised for improving our public relations efforts covering not only what we say but how we say it. The Thursday Luncheon was in agreement as to the importance of going ahead with this project with Ed Murrow taking the lead.3 I would appreciate it, therefore, if you together would give it your early attention and keep me informed.
- Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 306, USIA Files: FRC 64 A 853, 5/5, Directors Chrons, March ’61. Confidential. Copies were sent to McGeorge Bundy and USIA Deputy Director Donald M. Wilson.↩
- March 2; no record of this meeting, one in a series of regular meetings among Bowles, Murrow, and others in the U.S. foreign policy community, has been found.↩
- Murrow spoke to Bowles at a luncheon meeting on March 8 about the USIA’s “need to know” and his agency’s need to be included in the distribution of high-level correspondence within the administration. (Memorandum from Murrow to Bowles, March 8; Washington National Records Center, RG 306, USIA Files: FRC 64 A 853, 5/5, Directors Chrons, March ’61)↩