USE OF CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES FOR PROPAGANDA PURPOSES.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00682R000300100020-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 19, 2006
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: May 12, 1952
• Content Type: MEMO

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May 1952
Memorandum for: The Director of Central Intel
From: Legislative Counsel
Subject: Use of Congressional Committees
for propaganda purposes.
1. On 10 May I called upon Majority Leader, Congr
cCormack, at his request. He is interested in CIA's
evaluation of the propaganda value abroad of the Congressional
Committee investigating the Katyn Massacre. from what Mr.
McCormack had learned from the press and talking to the
Chairman and Counsel of the Committee it was Mr. McCormack's
opinion that the Committee's overseas investigation had been
extremely successful from the standpoint of favorable United
States propaganda. This led Mr. McCormack to speculate as
to whether it might not be helpful if other Congressional investi-
gations, might be undertaken with a view towards utilizing them
for psychological warfare purposes.
2. In particular, Mr. McCormack was considering
the possibility of a special Congressional Committee to investi-
gate atrocities against American soldiers in Korea, with broad
enough authority to include examining into the
charges, with the thought that this might give the Uniti
a good propaganda springboard abroad. Part of the hearings
uld be held in the Far East.
3. Mr. McCormack stated that this idea had originat
in a discussion between himself and the Counsel of the Katyn
Massacre Committee
and that he had not discussed it except with Mr.
hall
myself. I believe he would like some informal expression of
Walter L. Plortheimer
Approved For RT710ltlOttlA-RDP91-00682R000300100020-9
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