Crusade for Freedom

Message urging Americans to send Freedom-Grams through the Crusade

The Crusade for Freedom was an American propaganda campaign operating from 1950–1960. Its public goal was to raise funds for Radio Free Europe; it also served to conceal the CIA's funding of Radio Free Europe and to generate domestic support for American Cold War policies.^[1]^[2]

General Dwight D. Eisenhower inaugurated the Crusade for Freedom on 4 September 1950. The first chairman was Lucius D. Clay, Eisenhower's successor as military governor of occupied Germany. The Crusade for Freedom, officially managed by the National Committee for a Free Europe (NCFE), had direct ties to the Office of Policy Coordination, the State Department, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

One of the Crusade's first actions was to create a Freedom Bell, designed after the American Liberty Bell. This bell traveled around the United States, along with a Freedom Scroll for people to sign, and was then sent to West Berlin, where it was dedicated by Clay on 24 October 1950.^[3] Crusaders also organized rallies, parades, and contests to mobilize support from ordinary Americans.^[4]

^ Cite error: The named reference Medhurst 1997 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cummings, Radio Free Europe's "Crusade for Freedom" (2010), pp. 2–3. "The goals of Radio Free Europe and the Crusade for Freedom could be seen as fundamentally the same: winning the hearts and minds of Americans in the ideological struggle against Communism. Their targets were different: Radio Free Europe focused on the hearts and minds of those behind the Iron Curtain; the Crusade for Freedom targeted Americans. Their commonality was to keep the true sponsorship of Radio Free Europe hidden from the public."
^ Cite error: The named reference Cummings 2010 - Freedom Bell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cummings, Radio Free Europe's "Crusade for Freedom" (2010), pp. 2, 3. "From 1950 to 1960, millions of Americans throughout the United States willingly and enthusiastically signed 'Freedom Scrolls' and 'Freedom-Grams,' participated in fund-raising dinners and lunches, attended 'Crusader' meetings, marched in parades, launched large balloons filled with leaflets, participated in writing contests, bowled in tournaments, and otherwise were active in the belief that they were individually and collectively supporting Radio Free Europe in the battle against Communist aggression in Europe. [...] Thousands of local volunteer 'Crusaders' used their imagination, creativity, and willpower to keep the campaigns moving for ten years."

[Medhurst_1997-1] Cite error: The named reference Medhurst 1997 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2] Cummings, Radio Free Europe's "Crusade for Freedom" (2010), pp. 2–3. "The goals of Radio Free Europe and the Crusade for Freedom could be seen as fundamentally the same: winning the hearts and minds of Americans in the ideological struggle against Communism. Their targets were different: Radio Free Europe focused on the hearts and minds of those behind the Iron Curtain; the Crusade for Freedom targeted Americans. Their commonality was to keep the true sponsorship of Radio Free Europe hidden from the public."

[Cummings_2010_-_Freedom_Bell-3] Cite error: The named reference Cummings 2010 - Freedom Bell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[grassroots-4] Cummings, Radio Free Europe's "Crusade for Freedom" (2010), pp. 2, 3. "From 1950 to 1960, millions of Americans throughout the United States willingly and enthusiastically signed 'Freedom Scrolls' and 'Freedom-Grams,' participated in fund-raising dinners and lunches, attended 'Crusader' meetings, marched in parades, launched large balloons filled with leaflets, participated in writing contests, bowled in tournaments, and otherwise were active in the belief that they were individually and collectively supporting Radio Free Europe in the battle against Communist aggression in Europe. [...] Thousands of local volunteer 'Crusaders' used their imagination, creativity, and willpower to keep the campaigns moving for ten years."

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