Speech 450

Propaganda

Creel on the Committee on Public Information

George Creel, How We Advertised America (1920)

Thirty odd booklets were printed in several languages. Seventy-five million copies were circulated in America, and many million copies were circulated abroad. Tours were arranged for the Blue Devils (French soldiers), Pershing's Veterans, and the Belgians, and mass meetings were arranged in many communities. Forty-five war conferences were held. The Four Minute Men commanded the volunteer services of 75,000 speakers, operating in 5,200 communities, and making a total of 755,190 speeches.

With the aid of a volunteer staff of several hundred translators, the Committee supplied the foreign language Press of America with selected articles. It planned war exhibits for the state fairs of the United States, a series of inter-Allied war expositions, and secured millions of dollars-worth of free advertising space from the Press, periodical, car and outdoor advertising forces of the country.

It used 1,438 drawings prepared by volunteers for the production of posters, window cards and similar material. It issued a daily newspaper with a 100,000 circulation for official use. It ran an information service and syndicated feature articles for the Press. Plate-matter for the country Press, and specialized material for the labour, religious and women's Press was supplied. Moving pictures were commercially successful in America and effective abroad, such as "Pershing's Crusaders," "America's Answer," and "Under Four Flags."

Over two hundred thousand stereopticon slides were distributed. Still photographs were prepared, and a stream of 700 pictures per day of military activities were censored. Cable, telegraph and wireless were employed by an official news service. A special mail and photograph service was also built up for the foreign Press. Reading-rooms were opened abroad, schools and libraries were fitted out, photographs were displayed prominently.

Missions were sent to the important districts of the world to look after American propaganda on the spot.

The service cost the taxpayers $4,912,553, and earned $2,825,670.23 to be applied on expenses.

Summary

Printed Material
	Booklets	75,000,000 copies of 30+ booklets
	Articles	Supplied to foreign language press
	Daily newspaper	100,000 circulation

Speakers
	Four Minute Men	75,000 speakers, 755,190 speeches

Public Advertising
	State fairs
	Inter-Allied war expositions
	Free outdoor advertising	Press, car, outdoor

Visual Materials
	Drawings	1,438 drawings for posters, window cards
	Moving pictures	"Pershing's Crusaders," "America's Answer," "Under Four Flags"
	Stereopticon slides	200,000 slides
	Photographs	700 pictures per day of military activities; Other photographs displayed in schools, libraries, etc.

Foreign Missions		Sent abroad to coordinate propaganda

Cost		$4,912,553 (net: $2,086,883)