Foreign Relations of the United States, 1917–1972, Volume VIII, Public Diplomacy, 1969-1972

59. Letter From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Shakespeare) to all USIA Public Affairs Officers¹

Washington, December 10, 1969

Dear:

You will shortly receive a circular² outlining certain changes in the procedures for book selection and placement in USIS libraries throughout the world.

It is evident that careful criteria governing the selection of books for our libraries are needed. Some 2,500 books are published monthly in the United States and our facilities are limited by both capacity and budget. USIS libraries are not meant to be replicas of U.S. public libraries, nor are they meant to replace local book stores, but rather to make available representative balanced presentations of responsible and relevant currents of American thought.³

On the whole this function has been well fulfilled. Books reflecting the diverse opinions of our citizenry are readily available at our facilities.

However some of the procedures followed heretofore require modification. For instance, it has come to my attention that in the case of some books, Country Public Affairs Officers cannot obtain them unless they justify their requests in each case. I find that certain books by eminent Americans, such as John Kenneth Galbraith, Edwin Reischauer and Stewart Alsop are in that category. This seems unwise and I have therefore ordered the requirement for justification discontinued.⁴

I regard the Country PAO as the most knowledgeable authority and the best judge on library requirements within his country. He should be able to order his books without the need for justifying his choice in each case.

The need for maintaining a balance among books and publications in ideological areas will continue as the direct responsibility of the PAO. And I know that under the new ruling the PAO’s will continue to exercise their discretion, good taste and best judgment in ordering all books.

Sincerely,

Frank Shakespeare⁵

1. Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1968–1972, Entry A1–42, Box 2, BKS 16–Review, Appraisal, Selection. No classification marking.
2. In Circular Airgram 2 to all principal USIS posts, Budapest, Bucharest, Moscow, Prague, Sofia, and Warsaw, January 2, 1970, USIA transmitted the revised guidelines for PAOs to follow in administering the book program, stating: “As respected cultural institutions providing accurate, objective information in an atmosphere of integrity and credibility, USIS libraries must offer representative balanced presentations of responsible and relevant currents of American thought. The Country Public Affairs Officer is responsible for determining the size and scope of the collection and for selecting titles which are significant and relevant in terms of country objectives and audiences.” (Ibid.)
3. On December 8, the New York Times reported that USIA was in the process of carrying out recommendations made by James Burnham, an editor of National Review, that USIS libraries provide more titles written by conservative authors: “Mr. Burnham’s recommendations appear to reflect Mr. Shakespeare’s and Mr. Buckley’s belief that libraries of the United States Information Agency abroad have been heavily weighed in favor of books by ‘liberal’ writers and that, in the interests of objectivity, the lists must now be balanced with conservative works,” (Tad Szulc, “Author Asks Change in U.S.I.A.: Consultant Bids It List More Books by Conservatives, p. 2) In a December 9 memorandum to Strasburg, Harris took issue with Burnham’s other assessment that American non-fiction and fiction writers were underrepresented in USIS libraries, writing that “Mr. Burnham apparently made the error because he mistakenly assumed that he was reviewing some ‘master list’ of all the books in USIA libraries; what he examined was a consolidated list of books recommended since 1960.” He continued: “Our libraries carry far more representative works of the classic American writers than Mr. Burnham states. They were on the shelves before 1960 (with replacements ordered since then when wear made that necessary).” (National Archives, RG 306, Office of Research and Evaluation, Office of the Associate Director, Program Files, 1969–1978, Entry P–119, PR—Public Relations)
4. Presumable reference to Shakespeare’s decision to strike a USIA policy regarding the screening of certain book titles requested by PAOs. Szulc wrote that “Mr. Shakespeare was reported to have ordered the elimination of a long-standing screening process under which a number of books, usually by ‘liberal’ authors, were not sent when requested by local U.S.I.A. offices. Mr. Shakespeare was said to feel that this represented unwarranted censorship.” (“New Chief Seeks to Reshape U.S.I.A.,” New York Times, December 7, 1969, p. 1) See also Robert Keatley, “Playing it Straight: New USIA Head Talks Conservatively, but He Vows to Seek ‘Balance,’” Wall Street Journal, December 23, 1969, p. 1.
5. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.