LETTER TO WILLIAM J. CASEY FROM EDWIN J. FEULNER JR.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86M00886R001700380022-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 50
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 20, 2008
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: January 31, 1984
• Content Type: LETTER

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United States Advisory Commission
on Public Diplomacy
Washington, D. C. 2Q547
January 31, 1984
The Honorable
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Bill:
The U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy has
submitted its 1983 report to the Congress, the President,
the Secretary of State and the Director of USIA. A copy is
enclosed.
My fellow Commissioners and I believe strongly that no one
in a democratic society would question the importance of
public opinion or the power of ideas. Yet these facts,
unchallenged in our domestic affairs, are often forgotten
or slighted in the conduct of our relations with other
peoples or countries.
This view underlies our concern about the future of public
diplomacy and the USIA, whose role is to explain the
motivations, actions, and policies of the American people
to an often skeptical world. Continuing to treat public
diplomacy like a stepchild in foreign policy may save
dollars, but in the long run it is a costly mistake.
This report has been prepared by a bipartisan, independent
group of citizens whose Congressional mandate is to conduct
a continuing overview of USIA. We would welcome having
your views on its findings and recommendations.
With all best wishes.
Sincerely,
' 11
Edwin J. Feul,ner, Jr.
Chairman
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centz
eDI1Ka
ADVISORY
COMMISSION
ON PUBLIC
DIPLOMACY
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UNITED STATES
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1983 Report of the
UNITED STATES
ADVISORY
COMMISSION
ON PUBLIC
DIPLOMACY
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To the Congress and
to the President of
the United States
In accordance with the requirements of Section 8, Reorganization Plan No. 2 of
1977, and Public Law 96-60, the United States Advisory Commission on Public
Diplomacy submits herewith its annual report on the U.S. Information Agency.
Respectfully submitted,
Edwin J. Feulner. Jr., Chairman
President, The Heritage Foundation
Virginia
e. robert (bob) wallach
Vice Chairman
Lawyer-Counselor
Dean, Hastings Law School Center for
Trial and Appellate Advocacy
California
Olin Robison
Professor of Political Science
President, Middlebury College
Vermont
Hershey Gold
Chairman of the Board
Super Yarn Mart!
California
Vice President and Director of
Legislative Affairs
Timmons and Company, Inc.
Virginia
Tom C. Korologos
Leonard L. Silverstein
Attorney; Partner, Silverstein & Mullens
President, National Symphony Orchestra
Association (1980-83)
Chief Editor, Tax Management
Maryland
Mae Sue Talley
Retired Business Executive, Publisher and
Civic Leader
Arizona
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A MESSAGE FROM
THE CHAIRMAN
Public diplomacy has come
of age.
During the last several years,
as foreign policy decisions have
been seen to have a direct impact on
American politics and the economy, the
role of public diplomacy has been sub-
stantially heightened. In recognition of
this fact, the importance of the U.S. In-
formation Agency within the foreign af-
fairs community has been correspond-
ingly increased.
This Administration, with the Com-
mission's strong support, has under-
taken a long-term commitment to aug-
ment USIA's financial resources and
modernize its facilities. It is heartening
to those who believe in the importance
of public diplomacy that the long-time
"starvation diet" of the Agency has
been to some extent overcome, particu-
larly at a time of great pressure to re-
duce federal spending. Funding levels
have increased in the last three years,
although measured in constant dollars,
the Agency still operates at a substan-
tially lower budget level than it enjoyed
in its peak post war years.
Effective communication of Ameri-
can policies and values is an important
tool for the policymaker. There are se-
vere limitations on military action in
virtually any foreign policy crisis. Simi-
larly, concerted economic action is dif-
ficult because of domestic political con-
siderations and because coordinated
action among allies is often difficult to
achieve. Thus, public diplomacy often
becomes the most appropriate, indeed
sometimes the only, course of action
available to our policymakers.
However, public diplomacy is impor-
tant in its own right not just as the
"other option." As Disraeli said, "It is
with words that we govern men." The
role of semantics is critical in any bat-
tle of ideas. This Commission has ex-
pended considerable effort during the
past year on this issue, and we invite
public discussion of the subject.
My colleagues and I have traveled
throughout the world a great deal dur-
ing the past several years, and we have
talked with many USIA officers and
American ambassadors. We have also
met with a number of senior foreign
policymakers in Washington. We have
been consistently impressed by the
quality of USIA personnel and the high
regard in which they are held by others
in the foreign affairs community. Their
ability to reach foreign opinion leaders,
to explain the subtle nuances of Ameri-
can foreign policy, to convey the uni-
versal regard that Americans of all po-
litical persuasions have for our system
of government, and their ability to re-
spond quickly with official U.S. Govern-
ment views on fastbreaking events
make the USIA professional an essential
part of the American foreign policy
process.
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Much of USIA's work is not new. It
includes time-tested techniques which
are used by our allies and adversaries
as well: exchange programs, foreign ra-
dio broadcasting, television, magazines,
books, libraries and cultural centers,
and many other activities which are
discussed and evaluated in this report.
The current Administration, and par-
ticularly USIA Director Charles Z.
Wick, have brought new energy and a
renewed sense of purpose to the
Agency. Director Wick, while occasion-
ally criticized for his personal style, has
nonetheless brought the Agency to the
forefront of U.S. foreign affairs. New
initiatives, such as "Euronet" (satellite
television links to embassies in Eu-
rope), modernization of the Voice of
America, youth exchanges, and sub-
stantial expansion of educational ex-
change programs, have led to a height-
ened sense of the importance and
relevance of the mission of USIA.
Director Wick has opened up USIA to
new ideas and new people. Private sec-
tor advisory committees have brought
some of the best minds from America's
private sector to the work of public di-
plomacy. Their ideas have been a posi-
tive stimulus to USIA.
Certain policy and managerial
changes have raised criticism as well as
support among members of Congress
and the national news media. While
this Commission has been alert to such
criticism, it is our judgment that the
improvements have far outweighed
whatever shortcomings might be seen
in the Agency.
The communication skills and advi-
sory capabilities of USIA today are
being more effectively utilized. Their
full use in the making of foreign pol-
icy-as well as in policy implementa-
tion-will not be realized until the Di-
rector of the U.S. Information Agency
participates regularly as a statutory ad-
visor to the National Security Council.
This is a recommendation which the
Commission has made previously. We
strongly endorse it again this year.
The United States Information
Agency is effectively carrying out its
legislative mandate. We commend this
report to everyone interested in public
diplomacy.
Edwin J. Feulner, Jr.
Chairman
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CONTENTS
4 Message from the Chairman
8 Summary of Recommendations
12 The Role of USIA and Public Diplomacy
15 Media and Programs
15 Voice of America
20 Television Service
22 Project Democracy
23 Research
24 Exhibits
25 Educational and Cultural Programs
25 Exchanges and International Visitors
27 University Affiliations
27 Private Sector Programs
28 German-American Tricentennial
29 The President's International Youth Exchange Initiative
30 Books, Libraries, and English Teaching
33 Management
33 The Agency Changes Names
33 Relocation and Consolidation of USIA in Washington
34 Need for More Personnel and Posts Overseas
35 Personnel and Management Problems
35 Senior Foreign Service Assignments
36 Appendix I: Radio Marti
42 Appendix II: Former Advisory Commisson Members
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SUMMARY OF
RECOMMENDATIONS
THE ROLE OF USIA
AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
VOICE OF AMERICA
The Commission recommends that a Presidential Directive
be issued implementing Congressional intent that the Di-
rector of USIA serve as a statutory advisor to the National
Security Council and as the principal advisor to the Presi-
dent on foreign public opinion and the conduct of public
diplomacy.
The Commission recommends that a task force he created
under the National Security Council to assess the problem
of semantics in the international "war of words- and pro-
pose an institutionalized means to counter misleading ter-
minology and increase the accuracy of international politi-
cal discourse.
The Commission recommends that USIA's capability to as-
sess the probable reaction of foreign public opinion he uti-
lized in the making of every major foreign policy proposal
or policy options study.
The Commission believes it is urgent and essential that the
U.S. do more to ensure that the Voice of America can de-
liver a strong, reliable signal worldwide.
The Commission recommends that VOA give a higher
priority to research and development on direct satellite
broadcasting (DBS) technology.
The Commission recommends that a Special Representative
of the President with the rank of ambassador he appointed
to coordinate U.S. Government activities relating to the ne-
gotiation of VOA transmitter site agreements.
The Commission believes that placing Radio Marti within
the Voice of America is questionable public policy that sets
a precedent of uncertain consequence. The Commission
recommends that USIA take care to ensure that VOA's
Charter is not compromised, that Radio Marti meets the
highest standards of accuracy and objectivity, and that it
not become the voice of any single segment of American
society.
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RESEARCH
EXHIBITS
PRIVATE SECTOR PROGRAMS
DONATED BOOKS
ENGLISH TEACHING
The Commission recommends that the staff and budget of
the Office of Research be increased substantially to provide
the research capability required for national security and
foreign policy needs and for the regular and methodical
evaluation of Agency programs and products.
The Commission recommends that USIA strengthen Ameri-
can cultural and political presence through an expanded
exhibits program in Western Europe and the Third World.
The Commission recommends that Congress not extend
the requirement that it be notified fifteen days in advance
of all USIA program grants.
The Commission recommends that USIA seek and encour-
age promising new organizations to participate in its grant
programs. Effective, traditionally-funded organizations,
subject to careful scrutiny and periodic review, should con-
tinue to play a central role in multiplying what can be ac-
complished through government programs.
The Commission recommends that Congress enact legisla-
tion increasing the tax deduction for donated books to in-
crease the incentive for publishers to donate books for
USIA program use.
The Commission recommends that the Agency strengthen
its English teaching programs and give increased support
to Binational Centers.
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THE COMMISSION:
WHAT IT IS AND
WHAT IT DOES
For more than a generation, it
has been the intent of Congress
that a bipartisan group of citi-
zens, drawn from a broad cross
section of professional backgrounds,
should bring informed and independent
judgment to bear on America's public
diplomacy. To this end, it has estab-
lished the U.S. Advisory Commission
on Public Diplomacy to conduct a con-
tinuing overview of the activities of the
United States Information Agency.'
It is the task of the Commission to
recommend policies and programs in
support of USIA's mission and principal
activities. The Commission is required
to assess the work of the Agency and to
report its findings and recommenda-
tions to the President, the Congress,
the Secretary of State, the Director of
USIA, and to the American people.
The U.S. Advisonv Commission on Public Diplomacy
was established in 1978 as the successor to two
advisor bodies-the U.S. Advisor' Commission on
Information for the the C.S. Information Agency and
the U.S. Advisory Commission on International
Educational and Cultural Affairs for the former Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the Department
of State. The Commission be law carries out the
(unctions of its predecessors as well as additional
responsibilities set forth in Renr9anization Plan No. 2
of 1977.
President Reagan has nominated Priscilla L. Buckler.
Richard M. Scaife. and Herbert Schmertz to he members
of the Commission, succeeding Leonard L. Silverstein,
Mae Sue Talley, and Olin Robison whose terms have
expired.
Chairman Edwin J. Feulner. Jr., accompanied by Commission members Tom C.
Korologos, Mae Sue Talley, and Vice Chairman e. robert (bob) Wallach, testifies on behalf
of VO.4 Congressional media gallery accreditation before the Senate Rules Committee.
We approach these responsibilities
with a sobering sense of their magni-
tude and in the unanimous conviction
that public diplomacy is indispensable
to our national security.
USIA is an agency in transition. Be-
gun in World War II, it has been forced
for decades to compete in the war of
ideas with inadequate resources and
obsolete equipment. Today. this is
changing. Both in government and
among the American people there is an
increasing sense that "ideas have con-
sequences--that using communica-
tions technology to shape opinions is
as important as maintaining a strong
national defense.
The results are impressive:
^ A heightened role for the Agency in
the conduct of foreign policy.
^ New approaches to USIA's traditional
information programs and to the ad-
ministration of international educa-
tional and cultural exchange pro-
grams.
^ A creative sensitivity to the potential
of communications satellites and
state-of-the-art technology in televi-
sion programming.
^ A systematic and long overdue effort
to modernize the facilities of the
Voice of America.
^ And above all awareness at the high-
est levels of American government
that public diplomacy is an essential
ingredient in the conduct of foreign
affairs.
The Commission has been an active
partner with USIA in bringing these
changes about.
Oversight Activities
The Commission believes it can best
carry out its oversight responsibilities
by thoroughly informing itself on what
USIA is doing now and what its plans
are for the future. This means taking
the time to listen to those engaged in
and knowledgeable about the conduct
of public diplomacy.
During the past year the Commis-
sion met at least once a month and, as
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required, more frequently. It held regu-
lar hearings in Washington with USIA
Director Charles Z. Wick and his senior
associates. In addition it met with
members of USIA's Congressional com-
mittees and their staffs, senior officials
in the White House and the Depart-
ment of State, and with numerous pub-
lic and private sector communications
professionals.'
Members of the Commission have
also visited many of USIA's overseas
posts for a firsthand look at the Agen-
cy's field activities. During 1983, its
seven members visited 25 posts and
discussed public diplomacy problems
and programs with some 20 U.S. Am-
bassadors and more than 50 senior
USIA officers. Many of these post visits
were privately financed. Commission
members also participated in regional
conferences for USIA's Public Affairs
Officers in Africa and East Asia. A
meeting of the full Commission was
held with members of the United States
delegation to the United Nations in
New York.
Legislative Activities
Making its views known to Congress is
an important part of the Commission's
statutory responsibilities. It does so
through meetings with members of
USIA's authorization and appropriations
committees and through letters and re-
ports. At appropriate stages in the leg-
islative process this year, the Commis-
sion expressed its views to members of
Congress and their staffs on USIA's
budget, the need to modernize the
Voice of America, Project Democracy,
the accreditation of the Voice of Ameri-
ca's Capitol Hill correspondents, and
Among others, the Commission met with former
Assistants to the President for National Security Affairs
William P. Clark and Richard V. Allen. Deputy
Secretary of State Kenneth Dam, Representative Dante
B. Fascell. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
Director Kenneth Adelman, Under Secretary of State
William Schneider, State Department Counselor
Edward Derwinski. Ambassador John Holdridge,
Deputy t'SUN Ambassador Charles Lichenstein,
Ambassador Max Kampelman. Assistant Secretary of
State Chester Crocker, Ambassador Thomas Enders,
Ambassador Otto Reich, Chairman of the Board for
International Broadcasting Frank Shakespeare, and
former CBS President Frank Stanton.
Commission member Tom C. Korologos opens the USIA-sponsored "American Theater
Today" exhibit in Athens. Observing are Greek Minister of Culture ,tlelina llercouri and
other honored guests.
legislation to establish Radio Marti
within the Voice of America.
The Commission took a leading role
in seeking accreditation by the
Congressional media galleries for the
Voice of America's news correspond-
ents. For decades, denial of accredita-
tion had been based on the argument
that VOA is a government-funded
agency and therefore not a legitimate
news organization. At the same time,
however, Congress for many years has
permitted numerous other govern-
ment-funded news agencies to be ac-
credited as exceptions to House and
Senate rules-Tass, Radio Moscow, the
BBC, Radio France International, and
East German Radio, among others.
Struck by this double standard, the
Commission brought the accreditation
issue to the attention of the Senate
Rules Committee and other members
of the Senate. In testimony before the
Committee, the Commission pointed
out that VOA is a legitimate news or-
ganization required by law to be an
,,accurate, comprehensive and objective
source of news." Lack of accreditation,
in the Commission's view, gives intel-
lectual ammunition to America's adver-
saries who characterize VOA as a prop-
aganda arm of incumbent
administrations, while the legitimacy of
their own government-supported and
controlled press agencies is enhanced
by having received U.S. Capitol press
credentials.
The Commission is pleased that as a
result of the hearings and discussions
with members of the Senate Rules
Committee and members of the
Congressional Radio-Television Galler-
ies, VOA correspondents finally have
been granted long overdue accredita-
tion and full access to the proceedings
of Congress.
Public Diplomacy Activities
In addition to their advisory responsi-
bilities, Commission members have
contributed directly to the achievement
of public diplomacy objectives. Some
have undertaken speaking engagements
with foreign audiences on topics rele-
vant to USIA's country plan objectives.
Commission members occasionally
grant media interviews while abroad
and engage in personal contact with in-
fluential decision-makers in foreign
countries.
Members have also represented the
U.S. Government in such ceremonial
activities as the launching of the Tri-
centennial of the first German settle-
ment in the United States in Krefeld,
Germany; the opening of USIA's
"American Theater Today" exhibit in
Athens; the opening of new USIS facili-
ties in Sri Lanka; and the opening of
an American graphics exhibit in Tel
Aviv.
The Commission has taken an activ-
ist approach to its responsibilities be-
cause it believes informed private citi-
zens can contribute to the development
of sound public policy. The Commis-
sion is also deeply committed to the
importance of foreign attitudes in
achieving U.S. foreign policy objectives
and to the significance of public diplo-
macy.
The report which follows sets forth
the Commission's principal findings
and concerns over the past year.
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THE ROLE OF USIA
AND PUBLIC
DIPLOMACY
RECOMMENDATIONS
^ The Commission recommends that a Presidential Directive be issued
implementing Congressional intent that the Director of USIA serve as a
statutory advisor to the National Security Council and as the principal
advisor to the President on foreign public opinion and the conduct of
public diplomacy.
^ The Commission recommends that a task force be created under the
National Security Council to assess the problem of semantics in the
international "war of words" and propose an institutionalized means to
counter misleading terminology and increase the accuracy of
international political discourse.
^ The Commission recommends that USIA's capability to assess the
probable reaction of foreign public opinion be utilized in the making of
every major foreign policy proposal or policy options study.
o one in a democratic soci-
ety-certainly no elected offi-
cial-would question the im-
portance of public opinion or
the power of ideas. Yet these facts, un-
challenged in our domestic affairs, are
often forgotten or slighted in the con-
duct of our relations with other coun-
tries. They are, however, the concern
of public diplomacy and USIA whose
role is to explain the motivations, ac-
tions and policies of the American peo-
ple to an often skeptical world.
This is no small task. Even the most
casual observer of foreign affairs must
be aware of the troubled state of U.S.-
European relations, to cite only one
problem area. European publics have
expressed, indeed often demonstrated,
their misapprehensions and criticisms
of the U.S. over nuclear and strategic
matters and the deployment of new
U.S. medium range missiles in Europe.
There are sharp differences over mone-
tary, trade and agricultural export poli-
cies. Much of the European media and
public opinion is hostile to U.S. poli-
cies in Central America. Public opinion
polls show a decline in respect for
American leadership. Some of these is-
sues reflect divergent national inter-
ests. but some stem from misunder-
standings and others are fanned into
controversies by Communist-planted
"disinformation."
Words and Foreign Policy
Perhaps the most serious type of
"disinformation ' sown by the Commu-
nists over the years is that which Un-
der Secretary of Defense Fred C. Ikle
and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan
have termed "semantic infiltration,"
i.e.. the systematic distortion of the
meaning of certain words to confuse or
mislead.' The Communists seem to
have followed the lead of Ilumpty
Dumpty, who explained to Alice,
"When 1 use a word it means just what
I choose it to mean.
In just this way Soviet propagandists
have corrupted such powerfully positive
words as "people," "liberation,"
"peace," and "democratic," and used
them to describe movements and gov-
ernments whose goals and structures
are the antithesis of their names. Any
opposing movement or government is
usually labeled fascist or imperialist.
The efforts of democratic nations to
counter this have been sporadic and
unsystematic, and we have even fallen
into the trap of using Communist ter-
minology ourselves, as in, for example,
the German Democratic Republic.
Regrettably, there is no "truth-in-la-
beling" required of speeches by politi-
cal leaders. If there were, it would help
people everywhere to perceive and un-
derstand the meaning of world events
more accurately. It would also raise the
level and accuracy of international po-
litical discourse. This Commission be-
lieves that both Administration and
Congressional leaders must he made
more aware of the crucial importance
of semantics in the "war of words." If
our adversaries insist on following
llumpty Dumpty's rule, then they must
be called to account for their distor-
tions.
We believe the times require a con-
scious effort to improve the accuracy
and political impact of words and terms
Daniel Patrick'luvnihan. \\ )rd, and Foreign PoIicc.
Policy Review, Fall 1971'; Further Thought, on A\Lrds
and Foreign Pulicc. Policy /7erierr. Spring 1979. Fur
more recent discussion (d this suhicclsee Jim
Guirard. "losing the Semantic AVar. II arhictr/tun
Inquirer. June IT, 1951
Lewis Carroll, Through The Loukinq Glass.
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used by our leaders in speaking to the
world. By so doing, they can help dis-
close the hypocrisy and distortions of
hostile propaganda. This is not a prob-
lem that will go away, and we must be
prepared to deal with it on a systematic
and continuing basis.
The Commission recommends that a
task force be created, under the Na-
tional Security Council and including
representatives of the Departments of
State and Defense and USIA, to assess
the problem and propose an institu-
tionalized means to respond to inaccu-
rate or misleading terminology in in-
ternational political discourse.
Resources
The role of USIA is not to manipu-
late, but to try to ensure that foreign
perceptions of the U.S. are accurate
and to correct misinformation and mis-
understandings. Public diplomacy, wis-
ely and skillfully used, can lessen the
possibility of confrontation and con-
flict, but as we have pointed out in past
reports, it has for years been woefully
underfunded.
The Commission is encouraged by
recent indications that the U.S. Gov-
ernment is beginning, albeit slowly in
certain quarters, to recognize the im-
portance of public diplomacy. A recent
House Foreign Affairs Committee re-
port noted the significance of informa-
tion and educational exchange pro-
grams has long been overlooked by
U.S. policy makers." The Committee
added:
The United States has lagged behind
those nations that compete with the
United States in the dissemination of
ideas, both in content and in the tech-
nology used to deliver that message.
The committee hopes that the recom-
mended increases will be used to ena-
ble the Agency to play a greater role in
promoting U.S. national security and a
more forceful role in the ongoing war
of ideas. ""
After 15 years of declining budgets
(measured in constant dollars) and per-
U.S. Information Agency
Appropriations
Salaries and Expenses,
1967-1984
700
600
z ;00
400
300
200
too
^ Actual Dollars
*FY 1984 include $18 million for the National Endowment
for Uemocracv and $111 million for Radio Marti.
sonnel levels Congress, acting in re-
sponse to an Administration request,
appropriated a total of $578 million for
FY 1983 for USIA, an increase of $82
million over the previous year. For FY
1984, the White House authorized a
USIA request to Congress of $711 mil-
lion.
In a year of severe budget restraints,
Congress actually appropriated $660
million for USIA for FY 1984. (This in-
cludes $10 million for Radio Marti and
$18 million for the National Endow-
ment for Democracy, both new pro-
grams outside the Agency's traditional
activities.) While considerably less than
the Agency's request, it is nevertheless
a solid increase over the previous year's
budget. This Commission has long
urged the expansion of USIA's re-
sources. Consequently, we take much
satisfaction from this action by the
Congress which reflects a growing
commitment to public diplomacy.
Special Planning Group
In previous reports, this Commission
also stated its conviction that public di-
plomacy is an indispensable element in
our national security. We were heart-
ened when President Reagan signed a
National Security Decision Directive
(NSDD 77)4 to strengthen the organiza-
tion, planning and coordination of pub-
lic diplomacy activities.
NSDD 77 established a Special Plan-
ning Group (SPG) responsible for the
overall direction of a wide-ranging pro-
gram of public diplomacy activities. It
is chaired by the Assistant to the Presi-
dent for National Security Affairs and
consists of the Secretary of State, the
Secretary of Defense, the Director of
USIA, the Director of the Agency for
International Development, and the As-
sistant to the President for Communi-
cations.
Four interagency standing commit-
tees operate under the guidance of the
SPG:
The International Information Commit-
tee is chaired by a senior representative
of USIA. A senior State Department of-
ficer serves as vice chairman. It is re-
sponsible for planning, coordinating
and implementing international infor-
mation activities in support of U.S. pol-
icies and national interests.
The International Political Committee
is chaired by a senior representative of
the Department of State. A senior offi-
cer of USIA serves as vice chairman. It
is responsible for planning, coordinat-
ing and implementing international po-
litical activities in support of U.S. poli-
cies and national security interests.
It also plans activities to support the
growth of democratic values and politi-
cal institutions abroad, as proposed in
the President's Westminster speech in
London on June 8, 1982, and develops
strategies to counter totalitarian ideolo-
gies.
NSDD 77 is a classified document. Its substance was
widely reported by the press and described in some
detail to Senate and House Committees in open
hearings on USLA's FY 198-1 budget request. See The
.yew York Times, January 211 and February 1. 198:3.
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White House Chief of Staff
James A. Baker III studies
USIA's daily Foreign Media
Reaction report.
The International Broadcasting Com-
mittee is responsible for the planning
and coordination of international
broadcasting activities sponsored by the
U.S. Government, including the Voice
of America, Radio Free Europe and Ra-
dio Liberty.
The Public Affairs Committee is re-
sponsible for the planning and coordi-
nation of U.S. Government domestic Vietnam, Iran, and now in Europe and
public affairs activities relating to for- Latin America show clearly that foreign
eign policy and national security issues. cultures, attitudes, and opinions must
This rather complicated and inter-
locking committee structure is in place
and functioning. The senior body, the
SPG, met several times last year, and
among other things directed the forma-
tion of a new interagency committee
on arms control. The International In-
formation and International Political
Committees meet biweekly on alternate
weeks. As one senior USIA official told
the Commission: "We are beginning to
sense that the government realizes that
public diplomacy matters."
As a result of NSDD 77, a mecha-
nism now exists that should make for
more effective coordination in explain-
ing and implementing U.S. foreign pol-
icies. It also ensures that the special-
ized resources and skills of USIA will
play an important role in the process.
In its last report this Commission
stated that "the Agency could perform
a valuable and much-needed service by
advising the government on the public
presentation of its foreign policies and
by actively participating in the coordi-
nation of administration statements an-
nouncing or explaining U.S. policies."
This new interagency committee struc-
ture should permit that, and should
help the U.S. Government to speak
with one voice in foreign affairs. We
see this as an important step forward.
Importance of Public Opinion
Advising and participating in the
public presentation of foreign policies
which have already been decided upon
is a satisfactory solution to only part of
the problem. As our previous report
pointed out, "America's experiences in
routinely be taken seriously into ac-
count in formulating U.S. foreign pol-
icy" (emphasis added). A close reading
of NSDD 77 reveals no intent to accord
USIA a regular advisory role in the
making of foreign policy. And from
what we have been told by senior
Agency officials, USIA is still rarely af-
forded the opportunity to participate in
an advisory capacity when policies are
being developed. The Agency's special-
ized knowledge and understanding of
foreign cultures and attitudes, and its
ability to survey attitudinal trends and
measure foreign public opinion remain
a sadly underutilized resource by our
government.
An assessment of the probable reac-
tion of foreign public opinion should
be an integral part of every major for-
eign policy proposal or policy options
study. USIA has the capability to pro-
vide this on a regular basis. We urge
that it be used.
National Security Council
The Commission noted with satisfac-
tion last year that USIA's role in the
foreign affairs community had been
substantially expanded through the en-
ergetic leadership of Director Charles
Z. Wick. We stated our conviction that
this more active role must be institu-
tionalized to ensure the regular partici-
pation of the Agency in the formulation
and execution of American foreign pol-
icy. That is still our conviction.
After a careful study of the various
ways in which this might be accom-
plished, including a review of earlier
reports and recommendations made by
previous Commissions, the Comptroller
General, members of Congress, and
several ad hoc task forces appointed by
Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy,
we concluded, as they did, that USIA
should participate regularly on the Na-
tional Security Council. This does not
necessarily require formal membership.
Membership on the Council is lim-
ited by law to the President, the Vice
President, and the Secretaries of State
and Defense. However, the legislation
that created the NSC provided that it
would have both members and advi-
sors. The Director of the Central Intel-
ligence Agency and the Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been des-
ignated statutory advisors. As a result,
both regularly participate in the meet-
ings of the NSC and, of equal or
greater importance, in the NSC inter-
agency working groups, for it is in
these groups that the policy options are
developed.
USIA already has a legal responsibil-
ity to serve as an advisor to the NSC.
Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1977
states:
"The Agency shall be headed by the
Director ... who shall serve as the
principal advisor to the President, the
National Security Council, and the
Secretary of State on the functions
vested in the Director. "
Thus, the law which created the
Agency confers upon the Director of
USIA the same advisory status with re-
spect to the NSC as that of the Direc-
tor of CIA and the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff. Congressional in-
tent is clear. The statute needs only to
be implemented by a Presidential direc-
tive to formalize the Agency's role and
designate the Director of USIA a statu-
tory advisor to the NSC. The Commis-
sion recommends that this he done.
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, MEDIA AND
PROGRAMS
Voice of America
RECOMMENDATIONS
^ The Commission believes it is urgent and essential that the U.S.
do more to ensure that the Voice of America can deliver a strong, reliable
signal worldwide.
^ The Commission recommends that VOA give a higher priority to
research and development on direct satellite broadcasting (DBS)
technology.
^ The Commission recommends that a Special Representative of the
President with the rank of ambassador be appointed to coordinate U.S.
Government activities relating to the negotiation of VOA transmitter site
agreements.
^ The Commission believes that placing Radio Marti within the Voice of
America is questionable public policy that sets a precedent of uncertain
consequence. The Commission recommends that USIA take care to
ensure that VOA's Charter is not compromised, that Radio Marti meets
the highest standards of accuracy and objectivity, and that it not become
the voice of any single segment of American society.
President Reagan, the
first president since
Dwight D. Eisenhower to
broadcast live from VOA,
addresses a worldwide
audience.
T he Voice of America is the in-
ternational radio of the U.S.
Government. VOA broadcasts
news, balanced programs on
American thought and culture, and ex-
planations of U.S. policies worldwide to
a regular weekly audience of more than
100 million listeners. With a current
budget of approximately $150 million
and a staff of almost 3.000, VOA is the
largest and best known part of USIA.
As President Reagan noted in his
radio address to the American people
on the Korean Airlines tragedy:
The truth is mankind's best hope for
a better world. That's why in times like
this, few assets are more important
than the Voice of America and Radio
Liberty, our primary means of getting
the truth to the Russian people.
"Within minutes of the report of the
Soviet destruction of the Korean jet,
the Voice of America aired the story on
its news programs around the globe.
We made sure people in Africa, Asia,
the Middle East, Europe and, most im-
portant, the people in the Soviet Bloc
itself knew the truth.
"Accurate news like this is about as
welcome as the plague among the So-
viet elite. The Soviets spend more to
block Western broadcasts coming into
those countries than the entire world-
wide budget of the Voice of America. "'
Because of VOA's importance to U.S.
national security policy, the Commis-
sion has examined its activities and
plans for the future with care. We are
both pleased and concerned.
We are pleased because a historical
pattern of neglect of this national re-
source has been arrested and hopefully
reversed. A recent National Security
Council review of the government's in-
ternational broadcasting capabilities led
to a Presidential commitment to mod-
ernize VOA's antiquated and obsolete
facilities and to expand and signifi-
cantly improve its language services
and geographic coverage.
'Radio Address of the President to the Nation,
September 10. 198:3.
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This commitment, which takes into
account past recommendations of this
Commission, the General Accounting
Office and others, has found resonance
among responsible members of Con-
gress in both parties. Increased public
awareness of VOA's needs is helping to
shape a consensus of support for
needed improvements.
VOA Program Developments
The Commission is also encouraged by
a number of recent program develop-
ments at the Voice.
Three new language services have
been established Amharic (Ethiopia).
.Azerbaijani (Soviet Union), and Pashto
(Afghanistan) bringing the total num-
ber of VOA languages to 42. The Pashto
Service, together with Dari and Farsi,
gives VOA direct radio access to all ma-
jor population groups in Afghanistan.
VOA's Polish broadcasting has in-
creased from 21/ to 7 hours daily.
Daily VOA editorials, now broadcast
on all language services, explain and
advocate official government policies.
The Commission finds this to he a pos-
itive development. Lively and vigorous,
the editorials provide a welcome new
format for carrying out VOA's statutory
obligation to "present the policies of
the United States clearly and effec-
tively.-VOA is improving its program review
process. Coherent program and produc-
tion procedures are being instituted for
the first time for all language services.
Higher standards for news content, for-
mat, and general broadcast practices
are being established.
The introduction of computer tech-
nology, long considered essential in the
news rooms of America's commercial
media, has substantially improved the
speed. productivity, and accuracy of
VOA's news operations.
An office of audience relations has
been created to increase analysis of lis-
tener mail and overseas awareness of
VOA. With the Commission's encour-
agement, VOA is for the first time pub-
lishing an audience magazine. The new
bimonthly periodical, called Voice, in-
cludes VOA program guides and feature
I'0.1 broadcasts more than .320 newscasts in 12 regularly scheduled languages twenty-fair
hours a day. Daily editorials contain statements of U.S. policy.
articles that amplify and make more
understandable major VOA program
themes. The Commission urges Con-
gress to pass legislation permitting this
publication to be sold within the
United States.
And the separate VOA personnel of-
fice established in 1980 has done much
to upgrade the quality of recruitment
and personnel administration.
In its 1982 report, the Commission
recommended that USIA take greater
care to avoid actions and policies that
can be easily misinterpreted and cast
doubt on VOA's commitment to accu-
racy and objectivity. Substantial prog-
ress has been made. Leadership conti-
nuity and increased emphasis on
broadcasting professionalism have
helped put to rest the fears of some
that VOA's credibility is being damaged.
The Commission is aware of no evi-
dence that VOA's statutory obligation
to broadcast news that is "accurate, ob-
jective, and comprehensive" has been
compromised.
VOA Modernization
These are all welcome developments. At
the same time, improvements in pro-
gramming and administration avail lit-
tle if VOA is unable to deliver a strong,
reliable signal worldwide.
The Commission is concerned that
the U.S. is still doing far less than it
can to ensure that the Voice of America
becomes and remains technologically
competitive. In President Reagan's
words: "We are as far behind the Sovi-
ets and their allies in international
broadcasting today as we were in space
when they launched Sputnik in 1957.
More than 35 percent of VOA's trans-
mitters are 30 years old or older. Some
equipment predates World War II.
Overseas, VOA uses up to 250 KW
transmitters only, whereas there are
now 96 "superpower" 500 KW trans-
mitters in use by other countries with
more under construction. Some 123
countries now broadcast in shortwave,
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and the possibility of sabotage are risk
factors that must inform VOA's deci-
sion-making. Back-up transmission
sites, redundant facilities, contingency
plans, augmented U.S. transmitter ca-
pability, and new flexible antenna tech-
nology are essential if the U.S. is to
cope adequately with the problem of
vulnerability.
The Commission is aware that this
approach is costly. But it is founded on
the reasonable premise that national
security, not broadcasting economy,
should govern the decisions of Con-
gress and the Executive Branch.
and a crowded high frequency spec-
trum makes it increasingly difficult for
VOA to deliver a signal that can be eas-
ily heard. Soviet jamming compounds
the problem.
The Commission appreciates the po-
litical and technological difficulties of
modernizing in a highly competitive
international broadcasting environment
at a time when budget constraints exist
and communications technology is
changing rapidly. VOA wisely began the
task by commissioning a series of pre-
liminary engineering studies covering
antenna systems, technical transmis-
sion requirements, worldwide power
generation requirements, station char-
acteristics and locations, and a world-
wide operations center and network
control. The absence of such long-
range planning in the past led to piece-
meal projects, numerous delays, major
project changes, and extensive budget-
ary reprogramming.
In the Commission's view, the eco-
nomic and technical decisions underly-
ing VOA modernization ought to be
guided by four fundamental principles.
Redundancy and Dispersal of Facilities
Conventional shortwave broadcasting,
according to recent estimates, will be
VOA's primary medium of communica-
tion for the foreseeable future.
Most experts agree that transmitters
in the U.S. alone cannot send a com-
petitive signal to much of Europe and
Asia or to parts of Africa and South
America. To supplement its U.S. trans-
mitters, VOA maintains 16 stations
around the world to relay shortwave
and some medium wave signals. This
network, which has a current replace-
ment value of about $2 billion, has se-
rious deficiencies. In critical areas of
the world VOA can be heard only with
difficulty, if at all. VOA's construction
program seeks to address these needs.
Overseas transmitter sites, however,
are vulnerable. Political uncertainties
Alternative Technologies
The Commission is persuaded that VOA
must vigorously explore a variety of ap-
proaches to delivering its signal.
Superpower 500 KW transmitters are
one approach to modernization, and
many countries have adopted it. The
Soviet Union now has more than 30
such transmitters. West Germany has
nine. Even countries such as Gabon
and Libya have four each. It may be
that the U.S. should construct some
500 KW transmitters. The Commission
finds persuasive, however, arguments
that simply increasing transmitter
power is not the only answer to VOA's
needs.
A recent MIT study suggests the cost
of using 500 KW transmitters is high,
with the newest using about 40 to 56
percent more power than comparable
250 KW transmitters.` Technical and
safety problems also increase with
higher voltage output. The MIT study
concludes that an alternative wav to
obtain higher power is to use an array
of multiple transmitters and multiple
antennas to produce a single broadcast
beam. New antenna technology also
permits selective increases in signal
levels and focused broadcasting to high
population and crisis areas.
VOA should make every effort to in-
crease retransmission of its programs
'John E. Ward. Ithiel Dc Sola Pool. and Richard J.
Solomon. "A Studv of Future Directions for the Voice
of America in the Changing World of International
Broadcasting.- MIT Research program on
Communications Policy. April 25. 1983.
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by FM, medium wave, and cable where
local conditions permit. Packaged pro-
grams, land line feeds, and direct satel-
lite broadcasting for retransmission to
receivers located in selected local me-
dium wave stations are options that
should be vigorously pursued. VOA
should also take greater advantage of
the worldwide expansion in audio cas-
settes by increasing direct distribution
of VOA cassettes as well as making
them available to broadcasters and ca-
blecasters.
The Commission is also convinced of
the importance of developing and mar-
keting improved HF receivers. Research
in the design of high quality, economi-
cal shortwave receivers should be en-
couraged.
Finally, the Commission believes
that VOA must give a higher priority to
research and development on direct
satellite broadcasting (DBS). USIA's re-
cent contract with NASA to begin ex-
ploratory studies of this option is a
useful but modest first step. Decisions
at ITU Administrative Radio Confer-
ences in the coming years will greatly
influence adaptation to DBS technol-
ogy. The U.S. must take care that it is
well prepared for and adequately repre-
sented at these conferences. And while
the U.S. should be prepared to think in
terms of shared channels and common
carrier approaches that will assure op-
portunities to other broadcasters, all
such discussions must be viewed in the
context of the essential right of VOA to
broadcast without censorship or regula-
tion.
term frequency adjustments to day-to-
day conditions. The Commission be-
lieves VOA should make the automa-
tion of frequency scheduling a high
priority.
VOA should also explore the possibil-
ities of station automation. Completely
automated, unattended sites may not
be desirable given security, fuel, and
remote site maintenance considera-
tions, but VOA should look carefully at
the cost-benefits to be derived from in-
creased automation.
Site Negotiations
The importance to VOA's moderniza-
tion plans of successful bilateral negoti-
ations with foreign governments can-
not be understated. The need to renew
existing relay station agreements oc-
curs periodically. The U.S. is currently
negotiating agreements with the gov-
ernments of Greece, Botswana, and Sri
Lanka. VOA is seeking Congressional
authorization for additional sites in the
Middle East, the Persian Gulf, the
Western Mediterranean, the Far East,
Europe, and the Caribbean.
The stakes are high. Foreign govern-
ments are aware that real estate is es-
sential to U.S. international broadcast-
ing. and demands are made
accordingly. VOA has operated in
Greece since 1979 without a renewal
agreement. Negotiations for additional
facilities in Sri Lanka have been long
and difficult.
The Commission is concerned that
while the importance of site negotia-
tions has been recognized by senior of-
ficials responsible for U.S. national se-
curity policy. the staffing and carrying
out of these negotiations has not been
given the priority they deserve. The ap-
pointment of a senior USIA career offi-
cer as Special Coordinator for Interna-
tional Negotiations is a start in the
right direction. Given the magnitude of
the task. however, the Commission rec-
ommends that a Special Representative
of the President with the rank of am-
bassador be appointed to oversee all ac-
tivities of the U.S. Government with re-
spect to the negotiation of
international transmitter site agree-
ments for the Voice of America.
Automation
Much of what VOA now does manually
can be automated. A start has been
made in the editing and distribution of
news and other program materials.
Frequency scheduling and the determi-
nation of broadcast schedules is an-
other important VOA function which is
labor intensive and involves the predic-
tion of propagation patterns six to
eight months in advance. Better signal
monitoring and measurement com-
bined with more advanced computer-
based scheduling would permit short-
A VOA correspondent talks With Pope John Paul 11 and a member
of the Vatican Secretarial.
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The Commission is sympathetic to
the magnitude of the modernization
tasks facing the Voice of America.
VOA's announced plans are to seek and
spend $1.5 billion during the next six
years on the modernization of its
broadcasting facilities. Planning, re-
search and development are essential to
doing the job wisely, but in our view it
is time to move quickly to the "bricks
and mortar" before audiences are lost
to more aggressive competitors. We
urge the Congress to grant the re-
sources that are needed and at the
same time to be probing in its over-
sight to see that they are spent well.
Radio Marti
Compromise legislation that for the
first time places a surrogate broadcast-
ing service within the Voice of America
was signed into law on October 4,
1983. The legislation establishes Radio
Marti, a Cuba Service within VOA to be
administered separately from other
VOA functions for the primary purpose
of broadcasting news about Cuba to
Cuba.'
Radio Marti's mission will differ sig-
nificantly from VOA's historic mission,
which is to broadcast news about the
U.S. and world events, information
about significant American thought and
institutions, and statements of official
U.S. policy. The head of Radio Marti
T.L. 98-111, The Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act. The
Act provides that the programs of the Cuba Service are
to he designated "Voice of America: Cuba Service- or
"Voice of America: Radio Marti Program."
will report directly to the Director of
USIA and the Director of the Voice of
America.
The Commission believes the deci-
sion to put Radio Marti in the Voice of
America is questionable public policy.
It sets a precedent of uncertain conse-
quence that could cast doubt on VOA's
most important and fragile asset-its
credibility.
In saying this, we do not mean to
suggest that Radio Marti will necessar-
ily be any less dedicated to truth and
objectivity than VOA. The purposes of
surrogate broadcasting, however, differ
a great deal from those of the radio
voice of the U.S. Government. And
these purposes are perceived very dif-
ferently throughout the world. The ap-
propriate organizational location for
Radio Marti is with Radio Free Europe
and Radio Liberty under the Board for
International Broadcasting.
The Commission is persuaded that
the intent of Congress is that VOA's
Charter not be compromised, that Ra-
dio Marti meet the highest standards of
accuracy and objectivity, and that it
not become the voice of any single seg-
ment of American society."
The Commission intends to monitor
closely the implementation of the legis-
lation and the activities of Radio Marti
and its Advisory Board with a view to-
ward maintaining a strong, credible
and highly professional Voice of Amer-
ica.
h0A's master control panel in li ashington
directs programs to transmitters for world-
wide broadcast. Much of I O4 s equipment
is outdated, some of it World War II vin-
tage.
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Television Service
0 f all the media used by USIA,
television has the greatest po-
tential popular appeal and is
perhaps the most powerful
means of communicating with foreign
audiences when it is used well.
Until recently, however, television
was something of a stepchild in USIA.
The Agency was uncertain as to how to
use it or even where it belonged (it has
at times been awkwardly attached to
the Voice of America). There was an
urgent need, as this Commission
pointed out last year, for a qualified
professional to direct the Television
and Film Service. Under the circum-
stances, it is not surprising that televi-
sion has been slow to develop its po-
tential within the Agency.
This is now changing. The Commis-
sion is encouraged by progress already
achieved and efforts to make more ex-
tensive and effective use of this power-
ful medium. An experienced television
professional was brought in as director
of the Service which was subsequently
made a separate element of the Agency,
giving it the prominence it deserves.
One of the first changes of the new
management was the introduction of
marketing concepts to attack a basic
problem: how to get the product
shown. Whereas VOA broadcasts di-
rectly to its listeners, television pro-
grams must be filtered through the
managers and editors of foreign televi-
sion stations. In the future, it may be
possible for USIA to telecast directly
into homes, but now it is necessary to
offer a product that can compete for
time in the highly competitive, sophis-
ticated world of international television
broadcasting. A new marketing division
hopes to accomplish this by employing
basic research, market segmentation,
audience evaluation and careful plan-
ning.
Satellite File
Efforts are also being made to de-
velop new distribution outlets for
USIA's television products. An interest-
ing innovation with much promise is
the weekly Satellite File, a half-hour
reel of short news and features. This is
fed from the Agency's Washington stu-
dios to two commercial international
TV news services which include this
material in their own files. It then is
transmitted to some 275 stations in 80
countries around the world. Copies of
the Satellite File are also hand-deliv-
ered to a number of Washington-based
foreign TV correspondents who incor-
porate some of the clips in reports to
their home stations.
Tracking the use of Satellite File
programs is proving to be difficult.
They are apparently being used with
some regularity in Latin America and
the Far East, but infrequently so far in
Europe where the members of the Eu-
ropean Broadcasting Union have been
reluctant to use USIA material. Never-
theless, the Satellite File has become a
worldwide product. Slightly more than
a million dollars was spent on the File
in FY 1983, and $3.4 million has been
requested for FY 1984.
The Satellite File is an excellent con-
cept. Whether it can break into the Eu-
ropean market, or whether its usage in
other areas will be great enough to
make it cost-effective remains to he
seen. The effort is encouraging, and
the Commission will follow this experi-
ment with interest.
Foreign TV Press
During the past year cooperative pro-
ductions and facilitative assistance have
assumed increasing importance. The
Co-production Unit has tripled in size.
It assists visiting foreign television
teams in covering news events and pro-
ducing documentaries on politics, eco-
nomics, defense, science and the arts.
European stations, which seldom use
USIA-produced material, welcome the
Agency's cooperation in producing
their own. The Unit responds to an av-
erage of 12 requests per week from for-
eign producers for facilitative assistance.
Television is also being effectively
used by the Agency's Foreign Press
Centers, whose potential importance
for explaining U.S. policies to foreign
audiences has finally been realized. At
Director Wick's invitation, senior Ad-
ministration policy-makers now rou-
tinely come to press centers in Wash-
ington, New York and Los Angeles to
brief the foreign press corps on U.S.
views and policies. The Agency has as-
signed experienced producers, with
minicam crews on call, to assist the
foreign TV press. They provide video
pool coverage of "on-the-record" press
briefings, arrange for and record one-
on-one TV interviews with high-level
officials on current issues, arrange for
stock footage and research, and offer
reels of short news clips on important
subjects to correspondents for use on
foreign news programs.
Interviews are also videotaped at
USIA's studios when more elaborate
sets or arrangements are required: for
example, a video dialogue between De-
fense Secretary Caspar Weinherger in
Washington and European correspond-
ents at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Special interviews by foreign corre-
spondents were also videotaped with
Secretary of Agriculture John Block,
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A videotape, using the voices of Soviet
pilots involved in the Korean Airlines
tragedy, is shown to a meeting of the C'
Security Council. USIA produced the
videotape for this historic first use of
television in the Security Council chamber.
Special Trade Representative William
Brock, Deputy Secretary of State Ken-
neth Dam and Dr. Henry Kissinger,
among many others.
All of President Reagan's major pol-
icy speeches have been transmitted by
satellite. USIA also played a major role
in assisting the foreign press at the
Williamsburg Summit. And prior to
Vice President Bush's trips to Europe
and North Africa, the Agency taped
press conferences with the Vice Presi-
dent and members of the foreign press.
These were followed with a series of
one-on-one interviews with journalists
from the countries he was to visit. The
interviews were then sent by satellite to
guarantee timely arrival.
The result of these efforts is more
accurate information about the United
States, its policies and political proc-
esses, presented in the news and docu-
mentary television programs of foreign
countries.
Following the shooting down of the
Korean airliner, the Television Service,
working around the clock, prepared
videotapes using the voices of the So-
viet pilots. These were shown on moni-
tors in the United Nations Security
Council chamber during Ambassador
Jeane Kirkpatrick's dramatic debate
with the Soviet Ambassador-the first
use of television in a UN Security
Council meeting. The historic and ex-
tremely effective presentation was fea-
tured prominently by U.S. and foreign
TV networks to an audience of many
millions. The Commission commends
USIA for its initiative in this innovative
use of the medium.
To take advantage of advances in
communications technology, the Tele-
vision Service has undergone extensive
technical modernization. It now has
complete compatibility with interna-
tional television standards and en-
hanced program flexibility. It has ac-
quired in-house capability to convert
U.S. videotapes to different world com-
mercial standards. For an initial invest-
ment of $55,000 in conversion equip-
ment, the Agency and the American
taxpayer now save more than $150,000
per year in outside contracts.
Euronet
In November 1983, the Agency inau-
gurated "Euronet," a one-way video,
two-way audio link via commercial sat-
ellite and European ground stations
with five embassies in Western Europe.
Other embassies will soon be added to
the net. This provides four hours of di-
rect satellite broadcasting each week,
putting U.S. spokesmen and policymak-
ers in direct contact with embassy offi-
cers, host country officials, and opinion
makers.
The first transmission was made
soon after troops from the U.S. and six
Caribbean countries went into Grenada.
The Prime Ministers from Barbados
and St. Lucia and Ambassador Jeane
Kirkpatrick spoke from USIA studios.
They then answered questions from
journalists gathered in American Em-
bassies in five European capitals. Ex-
cerpts were shown that evening on TV
news programs in all five countries.
Calling it one heck of a con-
ference call, " president Rea-
gan engages in a three-way
conversation arranged by
USIA via Euronet satellite
with West German Chancel-
lor Helmut Kohl (visiting in
Athens) and members of the
first multi-national space
shuttle crew.
Euronet permits live transmission of
Presidential press conferences and
speeches, press briefings from the State
Department and the Foreign Press Cen-
ters, as well as the instantaneous deliv-
ery of USIA films, the TV Satellite File.
and other material.
Next year, through an agreement
with NASA and the Departments of
State and Defense, the Agency hopes to
be able to broadcast via a NASA satel-
lite to dish antennas placed on most
American Embassies in western Eu-
rope. This will permit longer direct
transmissions and obviate the use of lo-
cal land lines. Judging from the experi-
ence thus far. Euronet promises to he a
flexible and powerful communications
tool.
USIA is entering a new and creative
television era. The Commission com-
mends the Agency for the leadership,
initiative, and enthusiastic innovation
demonstrated in its use of this medium.
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Project Democracy
Project Democracy was a major
multi-agency programming ini-
tiative designed to advocate the
principles of democracy abroad
and support people and organizations
committed to the development of dem-
ocratic institutions. Its origins lie in
President Reagan's Westminster speech
to the British Parliament on June 8,
1982 when he promised the United
States would engage in a significant
new effort to:
"... foster the infrastructure of democ-
racy-the system of a free press,
unions, political parties, universities-
which allows a people to choose their
own way, to develop their own cul-
ture, to reconcile their own differ-
ences through peaceful means. "
Project Democracy was presented to
the Congress on February 23, 1983 by
Secretary of State George Shultz. Its
principal components include: (1) lead-
ership training in the skills of democ-
racy, (2) educational exchanges to in-
crease mutual understanding, (3)
programs to strengthen the institutions
of democracy, (4) meetings and publi-
cations to convey ideas and informa-
tion, and (5) development of institu-
tional and personal ties between groups
here and abroad.
Separately, but with Administration
encouragement through an AID study
grant, an alternative approach to the
objective of strengthening democratic
values and institutions abroad was
presented to the Congress by the bipar-
tisan American Political Foundation.
This initiative, labeled "The Democracy
Program," recommended that Con-
gress create a private, independent
non-profit corporation to be called the
National Endowment for Democracy.'
The Endowment would not administer
programs but would provide funds to
private sector groups. As originally
conceived, principal recipients of En-
dowment funding would be institutes
created by the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties, the AFL-CIO's Free Trade
Union Institute, and the Chamber of
Commerce's Center for International
Private Enterprise.
The Commission supports the objec-
'1emhers of the National Endowment fir Democracy`.,
Hoard of Directors include Pull} Baca Barrakan,
William E. Brock III. Legree Daniels. Frank J.
Fahrenkopf. Jr.. Dante B. Fascell. lane Kirkland.
Charles Nianatt, Louis Martin. John Richardson, Olin
Rohison..Alhert Shanker, Jay Aan.Andel, Salk Shelton.
and Charles If. Smith. Jr.
tives of both Project Democracy and
the National Endowment for Democ-
racy. A renewed commitment by the
U.S. Government and American private
sector organizations to the goal of en-
couraging democratic values and insti-
tutions abroad is very much in the
national interest.
At the same time, the Commission
is troubled by elements of both ap-
proaches.
Considerable confusion and misun-
derstanding characterized efforts
to explain Project Democracy. It was
not effectively communicated to the
Congress or to the American people.
The name itself suggests a new man-
date for USIA, when most of what was
intended was enhancement of proven
Agency information and educational
and cultural exchange programs. It is a
disservice to place Agency programs
under a label that gives rise to public
suspicion and misunderstanding--a la-
bel that also provides critical foreign
observers with the opportunity to make
damaging interpretations of the pro-
grams themselves.
The Commission has no intrinsic ob-
jections to USIA's undertaking new ini-
tiatives so long as they are in keeping
with the Agency's statutory authorities.
USIA should do so cautiously, however,
taking care to keep appropriate
Congressional committees fully in-
formed.
The National Endowment for Democ-
racy was approved by Congress in No-
vember, 1983.' Congress appropriated
$18 million in USIA's FY 1984 budget
for the Endowment. The Endowment's
goals, as we understand them, are
unobjectionable. Moreover, the Com-
mission believes strongly that the plu-
ralism of American society provides
scope for initiative, motivation, innova-
tion, and communication that adds ap-
preciably to what can be accomplished
through government programs alone.
It may be that a new quasi-public or-
ganization with its own separate staff
can help to develop a stronger partner-
ship between government and private
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organizations in long-term democratic
institution-building.
It should be remembered, however,
that USIA and AID have for more than
a generation worked successfully with
academic institutions, private founda-
tions, trade unions, civic organizations
and professional associations. The rela-
tionship has achieved public objectives
without undercutting private initiative
and professional independence. And in
those programs where academic integ-
rity is essential-such as the Fulbright
scholarship program-USIA has main-
tained multiple grant relationships with
private organizations while preserving
immunity to short-term fluctuations in
U.S. foreign policy.
The Commission believes that Con-
gress in time should look carefully at
this legislation to determine whether
most if not all of the Endowment's ac-
tivities could be accomplished through
grants made directly to private organi-
zations by existing agencies of govern-
ment. If another organizational filter
for the purpose of channeling appropri-
ated funds to private groups does not
on full examination prove to be unnec-
essary, the Commission believes the
Congress should take care to ensure
that the Endowment's activities com-
plement existing government programs
and promote the long-term interests of
the United States. For its part, the
Commission too will carefully assess
the activities of the Endowment in
keeping with its legislative history and
the Commission's USIA oversight re-
sponsibilities.'
Research
RECOMMENDATION
^ The Commission recommends that the staff and budget of the Office of
Research be increased substantially to provide the research capability
required for national security and foreign policy needs and for the
regular and methodical evaluation of Agency programs and products.
The Director of USIA is required
by Executive Order to provide
the President, the National Se-
curity Council, and the Secre-
tary of State with "assessments of the
impact of actual and proposed United
States foreign policy decisions on pub-
lic opinion abroad."' To the extent that
its limited resources permit, the Agen-
cy's Office of Research does conduct
surveys and analyses of foreign public
reaction to current U.S. policies. It also
studies the perceptions and attitudes of
influential groups toward the U.S.
These studies have been widely used
and praised by the White House, the
NSC, and the Departments of State and
Defense. To date, however, they have
focused mainly on assessing public re-
action in Western Europe and Japan to
existing U.S. security policies and on
the problems of implementing them.
To our knowledge, USIA has rarely
been a participant in those councils or
interdepartmental groups where new
policies or options are developed. Nor
has it been asked to assess the impact
of proposed foreign policy decisions as
called for by the Executive Order.
In the Commission's view, the Agen-
cy's research capability is a highly valu-
able, if underutilized, resource which
An oversight relationship between this Commission
and the National Endowment for Democracy was
discussed in a colloquy in the House of Representatives
between Reps. Dante B. Fascell and Benjamin A.
Gilman. Rep. Fascell stated: "There is certainly an
appropriate role for the U.S. Advisory Commission on
Public Diplomacy in assessing the activities of the
,National Endowment for Democracy.... I believe that
the Commission can, consistent with its charter,
contribute usefully to the oversight of the Endowment
and its relationship with USIA. The Commissions role
would he advisory and in the exercise of its oversight
would have no authority or operational responsibilities
with respect to the Endowment. However, I believe
that Commission oversight will help to maintain the
broad bipartisan support and national consensus that
will he essential to success." Congressional Record.
November 17, 198:3, pp. H 10331-2.
can provide insights into foreign atti-
tudes that should be an integral part of
both executive and Congressional for-
eign policy deliberations.
Recently a new interagency group,
the Foreign Opinion Research Advisory
committee (FORA), was approved by
the Assistant to the President for Na-
tional Security Affairs. It was estab-
lished to coordinate and commission
quantitative and qualitative studies of
foreign opinion in support of the public
diplomacy initiatives undertaken by the
NSC's International Information Com-
mittee= with emphasis on engendering
foreign public support for U.S. policies.
FORA is composed of representatives of
USIA, the Departments of State and
Defense and USAID. It is chaired by an
officer from the NSC.
This is an encouraging, although
thus far modest, development. FORA
has no budget and a staff of only one
officer. If supported and used, however,
it should prove useful in identifying
common information needs of the var-
ious U.S. Government agencies dealing
with foreign affairs. It could also
achieve better dissemination and use of
research data, and involvement of the
various agencies in the research pro-
cess. It could produce some savings
through elimination of duplicate re-
search efforts and through resource-
sharing. And it could help to institu-
tionalize the central role of USIA's
opinion research in the foreign policy
process. The Commission will watch its
activities and results with interest.
In its last two reports, this Commis-
sion observed that staff and funding
levels for research were inadequate and
should be substantially increased. The
NSC has indicated that it agrees. Meet-
ing with this Commission, senior NSC
officers expressed their belief that re-
sources for research should be approxi-
mately doubled. Research did receive a
modest increase in FY 1983 (approxi-
mately $130,000), and we were pleased
to note that FY 1984 appropriations in-
cluded $4.1 million for research, an in-
crease of $991,000 over the previous
year. This is encouraging, but it will
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still not provide the research capability
the Commission believes is required.
The Commission also recommended
the Office of Research play a more ac-
tive and systematic role in evaluating
the effectiveness of Agency products
and programs, including VOA. We rec-
ognized that this would require addi-
tional funding and personnel. The
Office of Research does, of course,
conduct occasional surveys of VOA lis-
teners in various foreign countries to
determine audience size and prefer-
ences. It also has made studies of com-
munication/media habits in a few key
countries. These are of considerable
value to USIS posts in their planning,
and should be done more frequently
and include every priority country. But
these modest efforts fall considerably
short of the comprehensive approach to
program evaluation that USIA needs.
We understand that the Office of Re-
search plans-contingent upon the
availability of funds-to reestablish a
separate media research staff to carry
out research for new VOA listener out-
reach initiatives, to study the impact
and effectiveness of the exchange pro-
grams, and to begin the systematic
evaluation of Agency media products.
Such evaluation and impact studies
would be invaluable to Agency program
planners and resource managers. We
commend these new plans. We hope
the Agency will accord them a high
priority and that Congress will appro-
priate the necessary funds. A substan-
tially increased research budget would
serve the national interest.
American agricultural achievements are
shown in this USIA-produced exhibit seen
by thousands in the provincial cities of
Eastern Europe.
Exhibits
RECOMMENDATION
^ The Commission recommends that USIA strengthen American cultural
and political presence through an expanded exhibits program in Western
Europe and the Third World.
U SIA's Exhibits Service produces
an average of thirteen major
exhibits a year. The Agency
participates in international
trade fairs and special international
promotiops, and it produces and dis-
tributes smaller displays in multiple
copies for USIS posts. USIA is responsi-
ble, too, for official U.S. national exhi-
bitions at International Expositions.
For example, $8.5 million has been ap-
propriated for U.S. participation at In-
ternational Expo '85 to be held in Tsu-
kuba, Japan.
The Commission finds the rationale
for exhibits persuasive. Attendance at
major exhibits ranges from the tens of
thousands to occasional audiences of
more than one million. A single Expo
can draw as many as 20 million visi-
tors. In the provincial cities of Eastern
Europe and in the past, in the Soviet
Union, exhibits with language-qualified
American guides have provided many
with their only first-hand exposure to
the United States and to American citi-
zens.
Following the Soviet invasion of Af-
ghanistan in 1979, the United States
stopped sending exhibitions and other
cultural presentations to the Soviet
Union. Recent efforts to negotiate a
cultural agreement with the Soviet
Union, which would include a major
exhibit, have been sidetracked as a re-
sult of the shooting down of the Ko-
rean airliner. The Commission under-
stands the logic of these decisions, hut
anticipates the day when Soviet atti-
tudes will permit resumption of more
normal cultural relations. The U.S. has
much to gain from the exposure to
American life that major exhibits can
bring to the Soviet people.
The Commission is also persuaded
there is much to he gained by mount-
ing exhibits in Western and developing
countries. For example, the recent suc-
cess of USIA's American theater exhibit
in Athens, at a time when sensitive
base negotiations were taking place,
demonstrated to members of the Com-
mission that exhibits can make a pow-
erful political and cultural statement in
non-Communist countries where the
U.S. has vital interests. The Commis-
sion recommends that USIA strengthen
American cultural and political pres-
ence through an expanded exhibits pro-
gram in Western Europe and the 'T'hird
World.
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EDUCATIONAL AND
CULTURAL
PROGRAMS
Exchanges and
International Visitors
This Commission has long re-
garded USIA's educational ex-
change and international visi-
tors programs to be among the
most effective tools of public diplo-
macy. They serve the long-term secu-
rity interests of the United States by
promoting mutual understanding be-
tween Americans and the citizens of
other countries and by exposing foreign
scholars and leaders to American insti-
tutions and values. In our last report
we expressed our concern over the
steady decline in resources allotted to
these programs, and we recommended
that they be materially strengthened.
We are pleased to note that this de-
cline has been reversed. The Pell
Amendment to USIA's FY 1983 authori-
zation legislation, for example, sought
to double, through annual increases,
the size of the FY 1982 budget for ex-
changes by FY 1986. Director Wick has
declared his wholehearted support for
this amendment. For FY 1984, Con-
gress has appropriated $92.9 million
for the Fulbright program, the Hubert
H. Humphrey North-South Fellowship
program, Congressional-German Bun-
destag sponsored youth exchanges, and
the International Visitors program-an
increase of $15.7 million over the FY
1983 figure. Congress has authorized
even higher funding levels for FY 1985.
The decrease in the number of edu-
cational exchanges and international
visitors was also a matter of concern to
the Commission. From a high point of
904 Americans studying abroad on Ful-
bright grants in 1966-67, the number
fell to 364 by 1980-81. The number
rose to 395 in 1981-82 and stayed
about the same in 1982-83. With the
new budget, however, the number of
American Fulbright scholars is ex-
pected to be well over 500. Foreign and
private sector contributions to the Ful-
bright program last year-more than
$100 million-were substantially
greater than government-provided
funds.
The International Visitors (IV) pro-
gram, which brings young foreign lead-
ers to the U.S. for visits of a few weeks,
has followed a similar pattern. The
American Fulbright Grantees,
1960-1984
900
800
700
600
500
=00
son
zoo
100
International Visitors Program-
Number of Participants,
1974-1984
15-month transition year when USG changed fiscal pea
Projection
number of IV grantees in 1978 was
2,171. Allotted funds did not keep up
with inflation or rising costs, however,
and by 1981 that number had fallen to
1,579. In response to appeals from am-
bassadors and USIS posts overseas,
funds were increased; 1,732 young
leaders visited this country in FY 1982,
and 1,974 grantees came in FY 1983.
The FY 1984 appropriation will result
in a further increase in a program that
this Commission, and many ambassa-
dors with whom we have talked, believe
is one of the most effective foreign af-
fairs efforts conducted by the U.S. Gov-
ernment.
The Hubert H. Humphrey North-
South Fellowship program awarded 125
grants in FY 1983 to mid-career profes-
sionals in public service from develop-
ing countries for one year of non-de-
gree study and practical courses. An
increase of $560,000 over the FY 1982
budget of $3.2 million will permit an
expansion of this program.
The FY 1984 authorization provided
that $2.5 million be used to fund a new
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youth exchange program jointly spon-
sored by the Congress and the German
Bundestag as part of the President's In-
ternational Youth Exchange Initiative.
Indicating the Agency's dedication to
these programs and its desire to im-
prove them, the Director has created
an advisory panel on International Edu-
cational Exchange. Composed of 12
prominent educators, foundation exec-
utives and other private sector repre-
sentatives, the panel was formed to
"suggest means of strengthening ex-
change programs vital to the national
interest."
At an early meeting of the panel, Di-
rector Wick explained his view of the
importance and purpose of exchanges:
"This commitment to exchange pro-
grams demonstrates a broad-based un-
derstanding that they serve a vital na-
tional interest. We simply cannot do
without the link that they provide us
to significant levels of the thinking
leadership of the world. The Fulbright
program is not a national luxury. It is
a national imperative that must be at-
tended to. "
The panel is expected to make a pre-
liminary report early in 1984.
Press and Congressional criticism of
a few controversial grants made by the
USIA 's "Arts America"
program administers the
overseas performing and
fine arts programs of the
U.S. Government. Here
native American dancers
perform for a foreign
audience.
Agency's Office of Private Sector Pro-
grams has provoked fears that the edu-
cational exchange programs might in
turn be "politicized" and their schol-
arly integrity impaired.' The Commis-
sion has discussed these concerns with
a number of Agency officials. Individual
Commissioners have talked with chair-
men of binational Fulbright commis-
sions abroad as well as USIS Cultural
Affairs Officers. We have also talked
with members and staff of the Board of
Foreign Scholarships, whose mandate
is to monitor the administration of the
academic exchange programs, and with
representatives of non-governmental
organizations in the U.S. engaged in
carrying out USIA's exchange pro-
grams. Throughout our inquiries, we
found no reason to doubt that the
scholarly integrity and nonpolitical
character of the peer review process by
which the educational exchange grants
are awarded is being respected and
maintained.
USIA's FY 1984 authorization bill in-
cluded for the first time a charter for
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs analogous to the VOA Charter.
According to the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Committee report, the purpose of
Workshops conducted by American artists
are an integral part of t5l1's cultural
programs.
the charter is "to insure that the schol-
arly integrity, the excellence and the
non-political character of these pro-
grams are maintained." The Committee
added that "The effectiveness of these
programs can be seriously undermined
if they are perceived as a short-term
exercise in promoting a particular
viewpoint."
It was, we suspect, the controversy
over the private sector grants that
moved Congress to legislate a charter
for the Bureau. There were even some
suggestions that the Bureau should he
transferred from USIA hack to the De-
partment of State, to another govern-
ment agency, or to a private founda-
tion.
The Commission does not question
the idea of a charter for educational
and cultural affairs. We are disturbed,
however, by the suggestion that USIA
should be reorganized again when it
has only recently adjusted to the thor-
oughgoing reorganization of 1977. Fur-
thermore, we see no reason for such a
change.
The exchange programs are operat-
ing well. They are expanding, and we
have found no evidence that their in-
tegrity has been in any way impaired or
compromised. The Agency accords a
high priority to the exchange programs
and is committed to safeguarding and
strengthening them.
Finally, it was awkward in the past
and would be again to have the ex-
change programs directed in Washing-
ton by one agency and carried out
overseas by officers of another agency.
We would point out that wherever
these programs are located in Washing-
ton, they will continue to he adminis-
tered overseas by career USIA foreign
service officers. They will continue to
be looked at in terms of their overall
contribution to the long-term foreign
policy goals of the United States. And
the U.S. share of the programs will
continue to come largely from appro-
priated funds.
The Commission is convinced that
the proper place for the educational
exchange programs is where they are
right now-within USIA.
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University
Affiliations
In 1983, USIA began the first year
of the worldwide University Affilia-
tion Program, following initial
pilot linkage projects in specific
geographic areas. This program seeks
to bring closer ties between U.S. and
foreign colleges and universities
through exchanges of faculty for as
short a period as three weeks and as
long as a year.
Grants of $50,000 or less were
awarded to 29 university partnerships
and will be spent over the next two to
three years. These faculty exchanges fo-
cus on the social sciences, humanities,
communications and education. The
institutions receiving grants in 1983
ranged from community colleges
to Ivy League schools and included
state colleges and universities through-
out the United States.
USIS posts in countries where uni-
versity affiliations exist are enthusiastic
about them and hope to see the pro-
gram expanded. The Commission views
this as a logical extension of existing
academic exchange programs and a
commendable new initiative.
Private Sector
Programs
Recommendations
^ The Commission recommends that Congress not extend the
requirement that it be notified fifteen days in advance of all USIA
program grants.
^ The Commission recommends that USIA seek and encourage
promising new organizations to participate in its grant programs.
Effective, traditionally-funded organizations, subject to careful scrutiny
and periodic review, should continue to play a central role in multiplying
what can be accomplished through government programs.
soundness and integrity of these valu-
able programs.
A thorough examination by USIA's
Office of Inspections also identified no
illegalities but did make a number of
useful recommendations that have
since been implemented by the Direc-
tor of the Agency. Chief among these is
the development of adequate guidelines
and standards for the conduct of the
grant process and the independent
evaluation of grant applications. These
guidelines have been submitted to the
Commission and appropriate Commit-
tees of Congress. The Agency has also
adopted personnel policies that will en-
sure continuity, staff expertise, and ad-
equate management supervision in the
Office.
In the Commission's judgment, these
steps have done a great deal to re-es-
tablish public confidence in USIA's
grant programs.
The Commission also welcomes con-
tinued Congressional oversight. It
questions, however, whether the re-
quirement that Congress be notified fif-
teen days in advance of all Agency pro-
gram grants is necessary or sound
public policy.
We strongly support the right of
Congress to inquire into any aspect of
USIA's activities including specific
grant decisions. And USIA's Congres-
sional oversight committees appropri-
SIA's Office of Private Sector
Programs provides selective as-
sistance and limited grant sup-
port to non-profit activities of
private sector organizations whose
goals complement the public diplomacy
programs of the U.S. Government. The
Office has an operating budget of ap-
proximately $7.1 million.
During the past year the Office has
been the focus of considerable press at-
tention and Congressional scrutiny. Al-
legations of political bias, flawed man-
agement, questionable grant decisions,
and even illegality have characterized
an intense public debate that unques-
tionably has affected the ability of the
Office to contribute to the Agency's
overall mission.
The Commission and USIA Inspec-
tors have examined these allegations
with care. We are aware of no illegali-
ties in the operations of the Office, and
we are satisfied that a number of steps
have been taken to assure critics of the
Enduring cross cultural ties with foreign
nationals are maintained by American Ful-
bright scholars who study, teach and con-
duct research abroad on grants funded
by USIA.
ately worked with the Agency to de-
velop new grant application guidelines
and grant review criteria. But it does
not appear to be appropriate or useful
for Congress to participate routinely in
decisions to award Agency grants-in
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effect reserving the right to influence
grant decisions before they are made.
Moreover, to require that all program
grants be submitted in advance creates
an excessive administrative burden on
the Agency. We urge Congress to re-
consider its notification requirement.
Foundations, academic and cultural
institutions, and other not-for-profit
organizations are essential to the con-
duct of public diplomacy. Proven or-
ganizations, traditionally funded by
USIA, should continue to play a central
role in multiplying what can be accom-
plished through government programs
alone. They should not, however, be
immune to careful scrutiny and peri-
odic review. At the same time, promis-
ing new organizations should be en-
couraged to participate in the Agency's
grant programs. By acting as a catalyst
to the involvement of both new and
traditionally-funded organizations, the
Office of Private Sector Programs per-
forms an important and necessary
function.
German-American
Tricentennial
USIA has been deeply involved
during the year in two related
and significant efforts to
strengthen U.S. ties with a key
NATO ally, the Federal Republic of Ger-
many.
The best known is the German-
American Tricentennial, which com-
memorates the arrival of the first Ger-
man immigrants to America in 1683
when 13 Mennonite families from the
city of Krefeld. West Germany, arrived
in Philadelphia and founded German-
town. The Tricentennial celebrates the
contribution that citizens of German
descent have made to the building of
the United States. The Tricentennial
was officially launched on January 6,
1983 when the Chairman of this Com-
mission represented the U.S. Govern-
ment and the American people at the
inaugural ceremonies in Krefeld.
To encourage and coordinate the
many activities and observances that
took place during the year, and to raise
money from private sector contribu-
tions to support them, President Rea-
gan established a commission with
members drawn from the government.
the private sector and the German-
American community. The USIA Direc-
tor served on the Tricentennial Com-
mission as the personal representative
of the President. USIA provided staff
and administrative support. More than
900 programs in 45 states and the Dis-
trict of Columbia have honored the Tri-
centennial. These have included sym-
phony concerts, film festivals, hook
fairs and art exhibits.
Both countries have given this anni-
versary high-level attention. Vice Presi-
dent Bush traveled to Krefeld to take
part with President Karl Carstens and
Chancellor Helmut Kohl in a ceremony
honoring the departure of the first Ger-
man families. The high point of the
years cultural activities and ceremo-
nies was the visit to Philadelphia in Oc-
tober of President Carstens and the
dedication the same month of a two-
acre Friendship Garden on the mall he-
tween the White House and the Jeffer-
son memorial.
Another initiative is the Inter-Agency
Steering Committee on U.S.-German
Contacts. At the request of the Secre-
tary of State, Director Wick became
chairman of the committee on which
25 federal departments and agencies-
all with programs involving the Federal
Republic of Germany-are represented.
They range in size from the Depart-
ment of Defense to the National En-
dowments for the Arts and Humanities.
The Federal Republic has created a
counterpart committee in Bonn. These
committees are working to improve the
quality of contacts between the two
governments as well as to broaden and
strengthen private exchanges.
The Commission regards the Ger-
man-American Tricentennial as an es-
pecially interesting example of private
sector-government cooperation, and
commends the contribution of the
Agency to these important efforts. USIA
would do well, we think, to make con-
tinued use of shared interest in impor-
tant historical events as a basis for sig-
nificant program initiatives.
International Visitors selected and funded by USIA are hosted by thousands ofAmerican
citizens through a nation-wide network of local volunteer organizations. Many are
affiliated with the :National Council for International l isitors.
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The President's
International Youth
Exchange Initiative
gol
Seven exchange students, part of President Reagan 's International Youth Exchange Initiative, meet their nations ' leaders during the
Williamsburg Economic Summit.
President Reagan's International
Youth Exchange Initiative was
launched in May, 1982 at the
Versailles conference with the
enthusiastic approval of all summit
partners. In the President's words, it
will "insure closer relations and mutual
understanding among the 'successor'
generations" by increasing exchanges
of young people, ages 15 to 25, be-
tween the United States and its eco-
nomic summit partners-Canada. Fed-
eral Republic of Germany, France,
Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
These countries are matching the
money that the U.S. is spending on
youth exchanges.
The Youth Exchange Initiative is a
partnership between the private sector
and government to double the number
of exchanges within three years. This
partnership involves private organiza-
tions, who as grant recipients will ac-
tually manage the exchange program:
private sector financial support raised
by the President's Council; a privately
funded advertising campaign; and in-
creased community involvement.
The Initiative will not create new
private or public organizations. Rather,
it will help existing non-profit organi-
zations expand and improve their pro-
grams by offering grants of combined
donated and appropriated funds. In the
first year, grants were awarded to 33
organizations, ranging from $8,000 to
more than $590,000 and totaling about
$1.4 million.
The President's Council for Interna-
tional Youth Exchange is composed of
110 American leaders in business and
education, including Mrs. Mae Sue Tal-
ley, a member of this Commission. The
Council seeks to raise $10 million over
the next three years to match an equal
amount from the federal government.
During its first year, the Council has
received pledges of $3.35 million.
The National Advertising Council has
taken the International Youth Ex-
change as one of its public service ad
campaigns. Youth Exchange ads are
now appearing on television and radio
and in newspapers and magazines
across the country. The Ad Council es-
timates that 30 to 50 million dollars of
free advertising will result. These ads
recruit American host families and
American youth for exchanges abroad.
USIA has always depended heavily on
private citizens to carry out its mis-
sion. Director Charles Z. Wick has
stated that one of his goals is to en-
courage a stronger partnership between
USIA and the private sector in achiev-
ing shared goals in public diplomacy.
The extensive involvement of the pri-
vate sector in Youth Exchange-from
families to large corporations to local
communities-is a major step in that
direction which should be encouraged.
A new program of this magnitude
and complexity will undoubtedly en-
counter some problems. We understand
that the intention is eventually to
broaden this program to include devel-
oping countries as well. In the Com-
mission's view this should be done as
soon as feasible. Youth Exchange shows
promise of becoming a major and per-
manent U.S. exchange program. The
Commission commends the President's
International Youth Exchange Initiative
and will follow its development with
great interest.
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Books, Libraries, and
English Teaching
RECOMMENDATIONS
^ The Commission recommends that Congress enact legislation
increasing the tax deduction for donated books to increase the incentive
for publishers to donate books for USIA program use.
^ The Commission recommends that the Agency strengthen its English
teaching programs and give increased support to Binational Centers.
Books
USIA's book program promotes the ex-
port and distribution of American
books in English and in translation
abroad. Overseas, Agency-supported
hook publishing is primarily in such
languages as Arabic, French, Spanish,
and Chinese, with occasional publish-
ing in other languages such as Korean,
Thai, Burmese, and Portuguese.
USIA maintains regional book offices
in Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Cairo,
Hong Kong, and Paris for the African
Regional Service Center. None of the
books produced are actually published
by USIA. Instead, its support takes the
form of assistance to publishers who
then sell the hooks through commer-
cial channels.
In 1976, the number of books pub-
lished with USIA's assistance dropped
below one million for the first time
since the program was established in
1950. USIA's book production in FY
1982 totalled only 571,035. Worldwide
production in the 1960s was more than
10 million in some years.
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By comparison, in 1980 (the latest
year for which statistics are available),
the Soviet Union published more than
12 million books in Spanish alone. In
1979 and 1980, the USSR's publishing
of Spanish language children's books
exceeded the total worldwide USIA ef-
forts in all languages.
USIA's Donated Book program dis-
tributes books donated by U.S. publish-
ers. These books are used for presenta-
tion to influential foreign nationals; to
support Fulbright lecturers or other
Americans speaking overseas; and for
distribution or exhibition at libraries,
seminars or scholarly institutions. For
many years, donated books have been
an important resource in USIA's cul-
tural programs.
Until 1968, American publishers
were able to deduct the "fair market
value," i.e. approximately the retail
price for books donated to USIA. But
under an IRS ruling and subsequent
tax legislation, publishers were limited
to deductions for the "actual manufac-
turing cost" for such donations. It be-
came cheaper for publishers to destroy
their excess inventories than to pay
shipping costs to USIA. Either way the
tax advantage would be the same. Since
1969 donations to the Agency from
American publishers have decreased
from as many as 3 million books per
year to approximately 100,000 per year.
The Commission recommends that
Congress enact legislation increasing
the tax deduction for donated books to
double the manufacturing cost. This
would provide an incentive for publish-
ers to donate books to USIA and, in the
Commission's view, avoid the abuses
that led to more restrictive tax legisla-
tion. The Agency should of course re-
tain its discretion to select only books
that have program value. The Commis-
sion believes this would be an impor-
tant step in promoting the dissemina-
tion of American books overseas.
The creation of an organization in
the United States similar to the British
Book Development Council should also
be considered. The Council, sponsored
by the British Government and the
publishing industry, views books as an
important expression of culture. It has
proved exceptionally useful in encour-
aging book distribution overseas. It
could serve as a model for U.S. Govern-
ment and private sector cooperation.
Libraries
In the past twenty years the number of
USIA libraries abroad dropped from 254
to 131, and the number of books in
those libraries declined from 2.4 mil-
lion to 800,000. Despite that, libraries
continue to play a vital role in the
Agency's cross-cultural communication
effort.
A collection of books on (I S. lain is donated
to the Bahraini Ministry of Justice and Is-
lamic Affairs by USIS Manama.
USIA's libraries vary from country to
country, but the majority offer a full
range of library services-book loans,
reference services (in person and by
telephone and mail) and access to au-
dio-visual materials. The collections in
each library may range in size from
4,000 to 30,000 volumes. They focus
on current publications in the social
sciences, international relations, the
arts, and the humanities. All maintain
a core collection containing the high-
lights and classics of American thought
and literature. They provide foreign
students and researchers access to the
best of American scholarly and cultural
achievements and are visited by more
than 3.5 million people annually.
In 1982, the Agency issued a new
policy statement for its libraries. It em-
phasized their value, calling them "visi-
ble American institutions ... [which]
provide an important and accessible
American cultural presence overseas
... well suited to reach influential
leaders and the highly motivated self-
selecting audience." The Commission
concurs and hopes that USIA's libraries
will receive the support they need to
strengthen and expand their valuable
work.
English Teaching and Binational
Centers
Declining funds have also seriously
weakened two other important and
closely related programs-English
teaching and Binational Centers
(BNCs).
USIA supports both direct and indi-
rect English teaching programs. The
latter focuses on teacher training, cur-
ricula development, and working with
ministries of education and institutes
of higher learning. In 1967 there were
107 USIA staff officers and 49 American
grantees engaged in English teaching
programs overseas. Today, the Agency
has only 9 English teaching officers
serving as consultants to USIS posts.
The Agency prepares English teaching
and teacher training materials, and also
publishes the quarterly journal English
Teaching Forum for teachers of Eng-
lish as a foreign language.
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The Agency directly supports English
teaching through BNCs, local bina-
tional institutions of private citizens
which are largely self-supporting. In
the opinion of many Agency officers,
they are potentially one of the most
important-and presently most neg-
lected-resources for reaching succes-
sor generations in the developing coun-
tries. They are especially important in
Latin America. Through their classes
and libraries, BNCs teach English to
large numbers of young people. More
than 350,000 attended English-lan-
guage classes at USIA-assisted centers
last year. Some will reach positions of
leadership having made a personal
commitment to learn our language and
culture. The proficiency in English ac-
quired at the BNCs enables many of
these students to seek admission to
American universities and to compete
for our exchange grants.
These centers, through their libraries
and cultural programs, represent a
continuing American interest in the
daily life of the host country, reinforc-
ing the awareness that local citizens
and Americans share basic interests
and can work together to mutual ad-
vantage. Yet despite their proven value
to U.S. interests, years of budget con-
straints and higher priorities in other
areas have led to a steady reduction in
the Agency's involvement with BNCs.
In 1968, for example, 139 American
USIA personnel were serving in 132
BNCs around the world. Today, there
are 13 Agency officers serving in 12
centers. The Agency does maintain
some contact with approximately 60
centers around the world, offering oc-
casional cultural programs and modest
assistance.
Enhancement of the BNCs by USIA
may take forms which do not necessar-
ily mean a return to direct subsidies.
USIA should look carefully at other op-
tions which would allow it to offer
professional in-service training for Eng-
lish teachers and librarians, support in
the form of texts and teaching aids, oc-
casional upgrading of physical facilities
of classrooms and libraries, and more
frequent cultural programs.
An American Cultural Center ceindn11' dis
play commemorates the twentieth annnver-
sarg of Burundian independence.
Thai students learn English at the Il/na-
tional Center in Bangkok.
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, MANAGEMENT
The Agency Changes
Names (Plus que ca
change ... )
The United States Information
Agency (USIA), known from
1978 to 1982 as the U.S. Inter-
national Communication
Agency (USICA), was officially renamed
USIA on August 24, 1982 by act of
Congress. Thus the Agency reverted to
the name it had been known by since
195:3, and overseas it is once again
called the United States Information
Service (USIS).
The name -USICA" led to confusion
about the nature and purpose of the
Agency and was never popular either
with the Agency's employees or with
the public abroad. The legislation
leaves the Agency and its functions in-
tact. The Commission commends the
Agency Director for his initiative and
the Congress for its action in bringing
about a name change that everyone
welcomed.
USIA 's new headquarters building at 301
4th St.. S. W, Washington, D.C.
Relocation and
Consolidation of USIA
in Washington
For 30 years USIA was plagued
by the fact that its personnel
and major activities in Wash-
ington were scattered in many
widely dispersed locations in Washing-
ton. Inevitably, this made communica-
tion and coordination more difficult,
and the efficiency of the Agency suf-
fered. In the fall of 1981 the Agency
began planning to rectify this situation
and achieve a long-standing goal to
consolidate its Washington headquar-
ters.
A search team selected a new build-
ing at 301 4th Street, S.W., across the
intersection from the Voice of America.
and Congressional approval to lease the
building was obtained in September
1982. The design of some 330,000
square feet of interior space was
promptly completed, and the move be-
gan before the end of the year. By Sep-
tember 1983 the new USIA building
was almost fully occupied, and more
than 90 percent of the Agency's head-
quarters employees are now consoli-
dated in three adjacent buildings. Al-
though some regrets were expressed
that the new location moved the
Agency even further away from the
State Department and the NSC, the
consolidation has increased the effi-
ciency of most Agency operations and
improved space utilization.
It is also expected that there will be
substantial savings. One-time expenses
for the move were approximately $6.5
million, but over a ten-year period it
has been estimated that there will be
savings of between $7 and $9 million
over and above the cost of the move.'
The Commission commends the
Agency for its initiative in bringing
about this long-sought relocation and
consolidation and for the efficiency and
swiftness with which the move was car-
ried out.
Consolidation oft nited Stales Information .-lgenc9
Actirities in lUashinglon, 1).C'.. GAO Report of Ianuar
13, 1983.
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Need for More
Personnel and Posts
Overseas
n its earlier reports, this Commis-
sion expressed its conviction that
public diplomacy is indispensable
Ito our national security but that it
has been inadequately understood and
inadequately supported. USIA has never
been given resources commensurate
with its mission and responsibilities. As
columnist James Reston commented
recently, "Congress is so preoccupied
with the war of missiles, tanks and
planes that might happen in the future
that it tends to forget the importance
of the war of words that is now going
on."'
The steady decline in the Agency's
resources over the past fifteen years
should be a matter of serious concern
to Congress and the nation. Measured
in constant dollars, USIA's budget has
declined 27 percent since 1967, and its
personnel level has dropped 34 percent.
Even more disturbing to this Commis-
sion is the drop in the number of USIA
employees overseas-where the work of
explaining U.S. actions and supporting
U.S. policies takes place. In 1967 the
Agency had 1,716 Americans overseas
and 7,062 foreign national employees.
In 1983 there were only 941 Americans
(a decline of 45 percent) and 3,539 for-
eign nationals (a decline of almost 50
percent).
Understaffing makes it difficult to ad-
minister a sound personnel assignment
and transfer system. It also adversely
affects professional development. For
example, USIA's staffing level is too low
to permit adequate specialized educa-
tional and training programs for junior
and middle-grade officers.
The expansion of certain existing ac-
tivities and the addition of major new
programs will further strain the limits
of already overburdened overseas staffs.
The President's new International
Youth Exchange Initiative and the in-
creases in educational exchanges and
the International Visitors program,
mandated by the Pell Amendment, will
require the support of additional Amer-
ican exchange officers and more for-
eign national employees if these impor-
tant programs are to succeed.
The investigations of this Commis-
sion, including inspection trips by indi-
vidual Commission members to a sub-
stantial number of overseas posts in
every geographic area, have pointed up
the pressing need for more people and
more posts. For example, China, the
world's most populous nation, presents
unique opportunities and challenges to
USIA as it emerges from 30 years of
isolation. The Chinese are eager to
know about the U.S. and its policies.
USIS can perform a vital function here,
as it has demonstrated by the achieve-
ments of posts in Beijing, Shanghai
and Guangzhou (Canton).
It is essential that we now reach
other parts of China. The Agency
Distribution of USIA Positions
14
12
to
s
6
~. 4
z
2
0
Total
Overseas Missions *1>rojection
should open branch posts in Shenyang
(Manchuria), in Chengdu (Sichuan),
concurrent with the opening of the
new American Consulate General in
that city this year, and in Wuhan (Cen-
tral China), where another American
Consulate General is soon to he
opened. These cities are the adminis-
trative, commercial and educational
centers for regions having a combined
population of more than 350 million
people. U.S. interests would also he
well-served if there were branch posts
in Khon Kaen, Thailand and in Yogyak-
arta, Indonesia.
Dwindling resources caused the
Agency to close many small posts,
some of which the Commission be-
lieves should be reopened. For the last
ten years USIS has had no American
officers in any city outside of London
or Paris in the United Kingdom and
France. We believe there is important
work for USIS officers in the major re-
gional centers in those countries.
Branch posts are also needed in Spain,
Portugal, Germany, Morocco and Ni-
geria. American officers should he as-
signed to Mozambique and Djibouti.
The Agency recently expanded its east-
ern Caribbean operations to include
Grenada. Beyond that in Latin America,
the need is for more people and re-
sources for existing posts.
We do not wish to list every post and
position where additional personnel are
needed, but we do wish to make the
point that the Agency's overseas staff-
ing has been reduced below the level
where new programs can be accommo-
dated or critical issues adequately han-
dled. While the Agency proposes to add
a few new positions and posts overseas,
it should assign a much higher priority
to the strengthening of its operations
in the field.
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Personnel and Senior Foreign Service
Management Problems Assignments
D wring the spring of 1983, the
Commission became con-
cerned when a number of
newspaper stories alleged nep-
otism, favoritism and other personnel
irregularities in USIA. We were also in-
formed of Congressional inquiries on
the same subject.
The Commission held closed hear-
ings during which it met with the Di-
rector, the Agency's Counselor, the
Chief Inspector and other senior
Agency officials. We learned that the
Director had been out of the country
when the press articles appeared and
the first Congressional inquiries were
made. Upon his return, the Director
acted promptly: he notified the Comp-
troller General of the allegations and
also ordered investigations by the
Agency's Inspection Office, USIA's Of-
fice of Security, and the General Coun-
sel.
The investigations found instances of
procedural irregularities and bad judg-
ment, but nothing of an illegal or
fraudulent nature. Congressional in-
quiries were answered fully and forth-
rightly. The Director subsequently es-
tablished a new position of Inspector
General, the number of auditors was
increased, and an Assistant Director of
Management for Policy Coordination
was named as an addition to the Direc-
tor's staff. More recently, a new Deputy
Director and a new Associate Director
for Management were nominated.
The Commission was concerned that
managerial inadequacies, lax review
procedures and critical press coverage
could erode public confidence in the
Agency. We are persuaded, however,
that when the Director confronted the
allegations and irregularities, he took
action to report, investigate, and cor-
rect them. The Commission will moni-
tor the new management arrangements
and procedures.
F or years, this Commission has
observed with concern the
scant consideration accorded
Senior Foreign Service Officers
from USIA for assignment abroad as
ambassadors or deputy chiefs of mis-
sion (DCM).
USIA's officers constitute approxi-
mately 19 percent of the career Foreign
Service. They enter through the same
competitive process (the same examina-
tions administered by the Foreign Serv-
ice Board of Examiners), are promoted
by the same criteria, and share similar
experiences and responsibilities abroad
with their Foreign Service colleagues
from State. In fact, most senior
USIA public affairs officers have had far
greater experience managing sizeable
staffs and substantial budgets than
their State Department colleagues of
equal rank. Nonetheless, it is rare for a
USIA Senior Foreign Service Officer to
be appointed ambassador or DCM.'
Based on many visits to posts
abroad, we are convinced that this does
not reflect on the quality of USIA's offi-
cers. Rather, it suggests the absence of
a process by which they can be fairly
evaluated in comparison with their
State Department colleagues for these
senior positions.
The legislative history of the estab-
lishment of the USIA career service and
the Senior Foreign Service clearly re-
veals the presumption that USIA offi-
cers would serve in senior positions of
our overseas missions. As early as
1966, the Deputy Undersecretary of
State for Administration, William J.
Crockett, testifying before the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, said:
"Bringing USIA officers into the career
Foreign Service will increase the num-
ber of men and women with broad
professional training in foreign affairs
from whom the President, with the ad-
vice and consent of the Senate, can
choose outstanding individuals for
posts of high responsibility."'
Currently there are 84 State officers in ambassadorial
positions and 128 DCMs. Two USIA officers are
presently assigned as ambassadors. Three are DCMs.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. 89th
Congress, April 19, 1966.
The Foreign Service Act of 1980 in-
structed the Secretary of State and the
Director of USIA to "implement poli-
cies and procedures to insure the For-
eign Service officers of the United
States Information Agency are able to
compete for chief of mission positions
and have opportunities for assignments
outside their area of specialization on
the same basis as other Foreign Service
officers." Unfortunately, this portion of
the Foreign Service Act has largely
been ignored.
The record will show that USIA offi-
cers serve with distinction in U.S. mis-
sions through the level of Public Affairs
Counselor. There they find themselves
blocked with little chance to compete
for DCM and ambassadorial appoint-
ments. Inevitably, this has become a
serious morale problem for senior
Agency officers. An opportunity to be
seriously considered for DCM and am-
bassadorial appointments would benefit
the officers and the entire service.
In an attempt to correct this situa-
tion, Congress in 1983 passed legisla-
tion changing the designation of USIA's
Foreign Service Information Officers to
Foreign Service Officers. The name
change helps remove implications of
second-class status. Congressional in-
tent is clearly to give USIA officers the
same opportunities as State Depart-
ment officers to compete for senior
Foreign Service assignments.`
There is an increasing need for am-
bassadors with public affairs skills.
Modern developments in communica-
tion and transportation have signifi-
cantly altered the role and functions of
ambassadors, greatly increasing the im-
portance of public diplomacy in the
conduct of international affairs. As a
result, the experience of USIA's senior
officers has become even more relevant
to our country's needs abroad.
We realize that years of habit and
tradition cannot abruptly be changed.
Nevertheless, a way should be found by
State and USIA to assign the best of
USIA's career officers as chiefs or dep-
uty chiefs of mission.
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APPENDIX I
United States Advisory Commission
on Public Diplomacy
The Honorable
George Shultz
Secretary of State
Radio Marti
n September 22, 1981, President
Reagan issued Executive Order
12323 creating a Presidential Com-
mission on Broadcasting to Cuba.
A tenmember Commission, chaired by F.
Clifton White, was appointed in mid-Janu-
ary, 1982.'
In its Final Report, the Commission
urged the early establishment of radio
broadcasting to provide the people of Cuba
with accurate news and information, partic-
ularly about Cuba itself. The Commission
recommended that broadcasting to Cuba be
undertaken by an independent, non-profit
entity, called Radio Broadcasting to Cuba,
Inc., which would operate in much the
same manner as Radio Free Europe and Ra-
dio Liberty.
At the same time, President Reagan
sought legislation to authorize and appro-
priate funds for radio broadcasting to Cuba.
The Administration proposed a separate
government-funded station named Radio
Marti and sought to place it under the
Board for International Broadcasting.
Congress approved Radio Marti in the
fall of 1983, but in a very different form.
Rather than a separate station, it placed Ra-
dio Marti within the Voice of America, pro-
viding for 14 hours of daily VOA program-
ming directed at Cuba. It also established a
Presidential Advisory Board for Radio
Broadcasting to Cuba.
The U.S. Advisory Commission on Pub-
lic Diplomacy met to consider the impact of
this legislation. Historically, this Commis-
sion has not questioned separately funded
surrogate broadcasting activities. It has,
however, strongly opposed placing them in
the Voice of America.
The Commission decided to reaffirm its
position publicly in letters to the President
and his senior foreign affairs advisors and
to Congressional leaders involved in the Ra-
dio Marti decision. We have reprinted the
Commission's letter and several replies to
it, because we believe they are helpful in
clarifying Congressional and Administration
intent in implementing the Radio Marti leg-
islation.
As requested by the Assistant to the
President for National Security Affairs, and
in connection with its general oversight re-
sponsibilities, this Commission will assess
the activities and organizational structure
of Radio Marti with care.
'Other memhers of the Commission were William
Bourne Baver, Joseph Coors, Tirso Del Junco, George
Jacohs. Jorge L. Mas, Richard M. Scaife. Herhert
Schmertz, Richard B. Stone, and Charles Z. Wick.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
At its monthly meeting today, this Commission was fully informed
for the first time of pending legislation to place Radio Marti within the
Voice of America. The Commission strongly and unanimously believes
this is not sound public policy and that it sets a precedent of uncertain
consequence.
While we do not argue against Radio Marti as a separately funded
organization administered by the Board for International Broadcasting,
we do oppose placing surrogate broadcasting activities within VOA.
As the official radio voice of the U.S. Government, VOA's mission
historically has differed significantly from the surrogate broadcasting ac-
tivities of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty and the mission for Radio
Marti envisaged by President Reagan. Placing Radio Marti within VOA can
cast doubt on VOA's most important and fragile asset-its credibility.
However, if the decision cannot be reversed, we believe that legisla-
tive history must clearly show Congressional intent that VOA's Charter
not be compromised, that the newly established Cuban Service meet the
highest standards of accuracy and objectivity, and that it not become the
voice of any single segment of American society.
As you know, this Commission is an independent, bipartisan Presi-
dential body created by Congress to conduct a continuing overview of the
U.S. Information Agency and to report its findings to the President, the
Congress, the Secretary of State, and the Director of USIA. In light of
our strong concerns, we will closely monitor the implementation of this
legislation and the activities of the Cuban Service and its Advisory Board
with a view toward maintaining a strong, credible and highly professional
Voice of America.
Sincerely,
Edwin J. Feulner, Jr. (R)
Chairman
VIRGINIA
e. robert (bob) wallach (I))
Vice Chairman
CALIFORNIA
Hershey Gold (D)
CALIFORNIA
Olin C. Robison (D)
VERMONT
Mae Sue Talley (R)
ARIZONA
Tom C. Korologos (R)
VIRGINIA
Leonard L. Silverstein (R)
MARYLAND
'Identical letters were also sent to President Reagan. CSIA Director Charles Z. Wick, \' OA Director Kenneth
Tomlinson, the leadership of the House and Senate, and members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
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Dr. Edwin J. Feulner. Jr.,
Chairman,
United States Advisory Commission on
Public Diplomacy.
Thank you for your September 21 letter expressing the concerns of the Advisory Commis-
sion on Public Diplomacy regarding pending legislation to place Radio Marti within the Voice of
America (VOA).
While we do not consider the proposed "compromise legislation" adopted by the Senate on
September 13 and by the House of Representatives on September 29 to be the best of all possi-
ble arrangements, we are satisfied that the bill will enable the United States to break Castro's
monopoly on news and information within Cuba. We believe that this foreign policy initiative
should have been implemented 25 years ago.
The intent of the legislation, as we understand it, is to establish a Cuba Service within the
VOA as a discrete entity. The Service is directed to "be administered separately from other Voice
of America functions." The head of the Service shall report directly to the Director of the United
States Information Agency, as well as to the Director of the VOA. The drafters of the legislation
have distinguished between the historic mission of the Voice of America and the need for addi-
tional broadcasting designed to promote freedom in Cuba.
Senator Charles Percy, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the
"father" of the VOA Charter, called attention to the discrete missions of the VOA and Radio
Marti during the recent Senate floor debate on the bill. He said, "The purpose of this substitute
(legislation) is to establish within the Voice of America a Cuba Service which will broadcast
news, commentary and other information about events in Cuba in an effort to promote the
cause of freedom in Cuba."
Senator Percy declared that he strongly supported "the goals of the Voice of America and
the establishment of a home broadcasting service for Cuba." He concluded, "It is my hope that
the conflict in these missions will not adversely affect the credibility of the Voice of America nor
unduly restrict the flexibility and effectiveness of Radio Broadcasting to Cuba."
Similarly, Senator Lawton Chiles said, "There is no reason to assume that Radio Marti will
not abide by the same high standards which have been the trademark of Radio Free Europe and
Radio Liberty and the Voice of America: providing objective and reliable information."
While it would have preferred to see Radio Marti under the Board for International Broad-
casting, the Administration has agreed to accept this compromise. Broadcasting tailored to the
objective of promoting freedom in Cuba by the new Cuba Service will maintain the same high
standards for accuracy and reliability as the traditional Voice of America broadcasts. Thus, the
Voice of America will maintain its reputation as a credible and highly professional broadcast
organization.
George P. Shultz
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Dr. Edwin J. Feulner, Jr.
Chairman
United States Advisory Commission
on Public Diplomacy
Washington, D.C. 20547
I have read with interest your letter to the President regarding the Com-
mission's concerns over the legislation that establishes Radio Marti
within the Voice of America. We share your concerns, both because of
our deep commitment to maintaining the integrity of the Voice of Amer-
ica and our parallel commitment to provide a genuine national radio
service to the people of Cuba. We are also concerned about several of the
managerial arrangements incorported in the legislation including the Ra-
dio Marti Advisory Commission which is to be established.
I would encourage your United States Advisory Commission on Public Di-
plomacy to keep a close watch over the development of these activities
and provide the President periodic reporting. We must insure that the
Voice of America mission is not compromised. Similarly, we want to per-
mit Radio Marti to function as it should. I would be interested in your
considered judgement on how the new structure is working after a few
months have passed. I appreciate your interest in these matters which
also are key concerns to the Administration.
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Dr. Edwin J. Feulner, Jr.
Chairman
United States Advisory Commission
on Public Diplomacy
Washington, D.C. 20547
Thank you for your letter regarding the Radio Marti compromise legisla-
tion that places the surrogate home broadcast station within the Voice of
America.
I share the high regard that the Commission holds for the mission and
accomplishments of the Voice of America. The Voice is on the frontlines
in the battle of ideas, and it is in this arena where the ultimate fate of
humanity will be decided. The key to the Voice's success is its credibility.
Without this, its message will fall on deaf ears.
The same is true, however, for Radio Marti. The success of this new sur-
rogate home station is no less dependent than the Voice on its credibil-
ity. If the people of Cuba cannot rely on Radio Marti for accurate and
objective broadcasts then we might as well hang up our hat right now
because the station will be a failure.
Though both Marti and the Voice rely on their credibility for their suc-
cess this does not mean that the purposes of the stations can or should
be alike. I know you are familiar with the mission of the Voice. By con-
trast, Radio Marti is a surrogate home broadcast station, and as such its
broadcasts frequently are hard-hitting reports that contrast the real story
with what the Cuban people are being fed by the Cuban propaganda ma-
chine. Its style will be more like the hard-hitting investigative journalism
that we have seen develop in this country over the last decade. This, I
believe, is not inconsistent with an emphasis on objectivity and accuracy.
I believe that our nation needs both the Voice and Radio Marti, and that
both operations can be conducted in the national interest.
Sincerely,
Paula Hawkins
United States Senator
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COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
WASHINGTON, O.C. 20510
Dr. Edwin J. Feulner, Jr.
Chairman
United States Advisory Commission
on Public Diplomacy
Washington, D.C. 20547
Just a brief note to thank you, and the other members of the Advi-
sory Commission on Public Diplomacy, for informing me of your views
on the recent legislation on Radio Marti. Your concerns regarding a com-
promise of the VOA's charter are well founded and I am glad to know
that you will be monitoring closely the new Cuban service. I hope you
will keep me informed of your findings.
With best wishes,
Charles McC. Mathias, Jr.
United States Senator
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United States
Information
Agency
The Honorable
Edwin J. Feulner, Jr.
Chairman
United States Advisory Commission
on Public Diplomacy
Washington, D.C. 20547
September 23, 1983
Thank you for your September 21 letter concerning the Advisory Com-
mission's views on Radio Marti. USIA did not seek this legislation.
However, I want to affirm that I too will closely monitor its implementa-
tion. We totally agree with the need to maintain a strong, credible and
highly professional Voice of America.
Best regards.
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APPENDIX II
Former Members of the
United States Advisory
Commission on
International Educational
and Cultural Affairs
(1953-1977)
Homer Daniels Babbidge, Jr.
President, University of Connecticut
Connecticut
Eva T. H. Brann
St. Johns College
Maryland
Richard T. Burress
Associate Director
Hoover Institute on War. Revolution and
Peace
California
Leo D. Cherne
Executive Director
Research Institute of America
New York
Thomas B. Curtis
Vice President and General Counsel
Encyclopedia Britannica
Missouri
David R. Derge
President, Southern Illinois University
Illinois
Harry S. Flemming
President, Inverness Capital Corporation
Former Special Assistant to the President
Virginia
Luther H. Foster
President, Tuskegee Institute
Alabama
John W. Gardner
President, Carnegie Corporation of New
York
New York
Lawrence Goldberg
Vice President, Brandeis University
Massachusetts
Rufus C. Harris
President, Mercer University
Georgia
Rita E. Hauser
Attorney at Law
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
New York
Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh
President, University of Notre Dame
Indiana
Walter Johnson
Professor, University of Chicago
Illinois
Jewel Lafontant
Attorney at Law
Stradford, Lafontant, Gibson, Fisher and
Corrigan
Illinois
Roy E. Larsen
Vice Chairman of the Board
Time and Life Building
New York
James A. S. Leach
President, Flamegas Co., Inc.
Iowa
Leonard H. Marks
Attorney at Law
Cohn and Marks
Former Director, United States Information
Agency
Washington, D.C.
Beryl B. Milburn
Vice Chairwoman,
Texas Constitutional Revision Committee
Texas
Wayland P. Moody
President, San Antonio College
Texas
Dortch Oldham
Retired Publisher
Chairman, Tennessee Republican Party
Tennessee
Martha L. Pate
Chairwoman of College and School Division
of the United Negro College Fund
Connecticut
Arnold M. Picker
Executive Vice President
United Artists Corporation
New York
Thomas E. Robinson
Rider College
New Jersey
Robert A. Scalapino
Professor of Political Science
University of California at Berkeley
California
Joseph R. Smiley
Professor of Modern Languages
University of Texas El Paso
Texas
William French Smith
Attorney General of the United States
Washington, D.C.
Pauline Tompkins
President, Cedar Crest College
Pennsylvania
William C. Turner
President, Western Management
Consultants, Inc.
Arizona
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Former Members of the
United States Advisory
Commission on Information
(1948-1977)
Hobart Lewis
Chairman of the Board
Editor-in-Chief, Reader's Digest
New York
Mark A. May
Professor of Psychology and Director of
Institute of Human Relations, Yale
University
Connecticut
Former Members of the
United States Advisory
Commission on Public
Diplomacy
(1978-)
William F. Buckley, Jr.
Columnist
New York
Erwin D. Canham
Editor
Christian Science Monitor
Massachusetts
Mrs. Dorothy B. Chandler
Vice President,
Times-Mirror Company
California
Jonathan W. Daniels
Editor, Raleigh News and Observer, Author
North Carolina
Lewis W. Douglas
Ambassador to Great Britain
Chairman of the Board,
Mutual of New York
New York
Mark E. Ethridge
Publisher, Louisville Courier Journal
Kentucky
George H. Gallup
Chairman of the Board
American Institute of Public Opinion
New Jersey
Ben Hibbs
Editor, Saturday Evening Post
New York
Palmer Hoyt
Publisher and Editor,
Denver Post
Colorado
Sigurd S. Larmon
Chairman of the Board and
President, Young and Rubican Advertising
Company
New York
James A. Michener
Author
Pennsylvania
Justin Miller
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals
President, National Association of
Broadcasters
California
Clark A. Mollenhoff
Columnist, Author
Washington, D.C.
Arthur C. Nielsen, Jr.
President,
A.C. Nielsen Company
Illinois
Morris S. Novik
Labor Consultant on Media, AFL-CIO
New York
Philip D. Reed
Chairman of the Board and President,
General Electric Co.
New York
J. Leonard Reinsch
President,
Cox Broadcasting Corporation
Georgia
John L. Seigenthaler
Editor, Nashville Tennesseean
Tennessee
John M. Shaheen
President, Shaheen Natural Resources
Company, Inc.
New York
Frank Stanton
President, Columbia Broadcasting System
New York
Thomas Van Husen Vail
Publisher and Editor, Cleveland Plain
Dealer
Ohio
John Hope Franklin
Senior Mellon Fellow,
National Humanities Center
Professor of History
University of Chicago
North Carolina
Lewis Manilow
Attorney,
Former President, Chicago Museum of
Contemporary Art
Illinois
Jean McKee
Executive Director,
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
New York
Neil Sherburne
Former Chairman, Association of Governing
Boards of Universities and Colleges
Secretary-Treasurer, Minnesota AFL-CIO
(Retired)
Minnesota
43
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For additional information,
please write:
United States Advisory Commission
on Public Diplomacy
Room 600
301 4th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20547
G. Richard Monsen, Staff Director
Bruce Gregory, Deputy Staff Director
[phone]
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 Approved For Release 2008/11/20: CIA-RDP86M00886RO01700380022-2
United States Advisory Commission
on Public Diplomacy
Washington, D.C. 20547
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 Approved For Release 2008/11/20: CIA-RDP86M00886R001700380022-2
United States Advisory Commission
on Public Diplomacy
Washington, D. C. 20547
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use, $300
Postage and Fees Paid
United States Information Agency
The Honorable
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
0
u
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Tlie Director of Central Intelligence
Wjshinblon. D. C. 20505
Executive Registry
84- 235/1
2 February 1984
Dear Ed,
Thanks for sending me the very interesting report
of your Commission on Public Diplomacy.
Keep up the good work with this and other useful
things you continue to do.
Yours,
William J. Casey
The Honorable Edwin J. Feulner, Jr.
Chairman, United States Advisory
Commission on Public Diplomacy
Washington, D. C. 20547
Orig - Addressee
1 - DCI
1 - ER File
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!/J J