Office of the Historian

46. Circular Message From the United States Information Agency to all Principal USIS Posts1

USIA–19244
Washington, November 14, 1969

Agency producing for distribution next week 15-minute TV program “Silent Majority” using Washington Correspondent2 format. Program includes stock and specially filmed footage supporting administration position majority Americans behind government’s Vietnam policy. Also, interview George Gallup Jr. discusses results poll taken same night President’s nationwide telecast November 3.3 IMV distributing usual language versions to Posts using Correspondent and English masters (with narrator on camera) all others. Program timed assist Posts counteract expected negative impact moratorium coverage.4 Arrange placement on channels regularly using weekly Correspondent show. Do not offer program competitive stations. Non-Correspondent Posts free attempt best possible placement. Request usage reports and Post evaluations.5

Decontrol following November 13, 1970.

Loomis
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 306, Office of Research and Evaluation, Office of the Associate Director, Program Files, 1969–1978, Entry P–119, MV General The Silent Majority 1969. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Peter Synodis (IMV/MW) on November 13; cleared by O. Rudolph Aggrey (IMV/M); John DeViney (IMV/PS); Anthony Jowit (IMV/P); Stoddard; Frank Tribbe (IGC); Ralph Price (IMV/O); and William Lowdermilk (IMV/OSC); approved by Herschensohn. Cleared for transmission in USIA at 5:34 p.m. Sent via pouch to Bucharest, Budapest, and Warsaw from Rogers. Sent via telegraph.↩
  2. Reference is to USIA’s weekly topical program, initiated in 1968, shipped to multiple countries. Each country received a special report voiced by a reporter from that country.↩
  3. See footnotes 2 and 3, Document 45.↩
  4. Reference is to the moratorium demonstration organized by the VMC and the New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (New Mobe) scheduled to take place in Washington on November 15.↩
  5. In USIA–19550 to all principal USIS posts, November 20, USIA indicated that the “Silent Majority” program had shipped to all principal posts: “Request you personally screen print immediately upon receipt and, if in your judgment best, arrange country team screening. Agency desires maximum effort for placement and use deemed most appropriate by PAO. Leave matter of direct projections to target group audiences to post discretion.” (National Archives, RG 306, Office of Research and Evaluation, Office of the Associate Director, Program Files, 1969–1978, Entry P–119, MV General The Silent Majority 1969) For additional information about the domestic response to the film, see Document 49.↩