 |
| 1951 RFE Card |
Christmas played an important role in the 1950s, not only in the history of Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia programs, but also in the Crusade for Freedom fund-raising campaigns.
In December 1951, for example, the Spanish Club of Mineral County High School in Hawthorne, Nevada, held a dance that raised $87 for the Crusade for Freedom and RFE.
James Wright, president of the Spanish Club and La Wanda Kelly club vice president, wrote letters to the Crusade state headquarters describing the fund raising. The two letters were then forwarded to C.D. Jackson, president of Radio Free Europe. Because of that, RFE agreed to broadcast Wright's and Kelly's letters on Christmas Day 1951. Wright's letter included:
At this time in America we are celebrating Christmas. We are celebrating the birth of One who was not only great in other ways but who was great philosopher. Among His writings are to be found these words, 'Seek ye the truth and the truth shall make you free.' Today through the Crusade for Freedom and Radio Free Europe this philosophy is being carried out, and we of the Spanish Club of the Mineral county high school are happy to be able to support it.
The local newspaper reporter proudly wrote, "Hawthorne's support of the Crusade for Freedom was one of highlights of the Nevada campaign this year."
In December 1952, one newspaper article began with,
This Christmas will be just another Thursday to the children behind the Iron Curtain. There will be no Santa Claus, no toys, no days of joy and veneration. The children of Poland, Czechoslovakia and other Iron Curtain countries will spend the usual regimented day, listen to the same steady stream of Communist propaganda.
On December 3, 1952, the Pittsburgh Press newspaper carried a small article and photograph with the caption: “Pittsburgh ‘Red Invader’ Surrenders—‘Russian Soldier’ Stephen Radkoff, really a Pittsburgh actor, remains grim to the end as he surrenders to Freedom Girl Miyal Harvey and Howard G. Burr, center.”
The article described how local Crusade chairman Burr had arranged for Radkoff to walk around the streets of Pittsburgh in a Russian soldier’s uniform on December 2, 1952, hoping to get some sort of reaction from passersby. But, the newspaper reported that the “Red Invader” had gathered little attention from the citizens of Pittsburgh:
Crusade for Freedom Leaders Pull Stunts To Stress Life Behind Iron Curtain
The Crusade for Freedom is turning to dramatics to drive home the facts of life behind the Iron Curtain. Yesterday, for example, a "Russian soldier" tramped through downtown Pittsburgh, followed by puzzled stares. But if the shoppers recognized his uniform they kept It to themselves.
This job can be done successfully only if it is backed by everyone. Christmas isn’t a happy day behind the Iron Curtain, but neither is any other day. We have to let those people, who are on our side in this struggle, know that we here in the United States have not forgotten them. Everyone must know what the Crusade is doing, and join in its work, either though contributions or by signing Freedom-Grams—the messages of hope which the Crusade transmits behind the Iron Curtain.
In December 1952, Radio Free Asia prepared a series of Christmas programs of popular Christmas carols that were recorded by the University of California Extension Chorus. The programs of carols, sung in English, were intended not only for China but also for Japan, to be broadcast over 118 radio stations of the Broadcasting Corporation of Japan. The University of California Extension Chorus was selected by Frank Huggins, chief of the Japanese desk of Radio Free Asia. On December 19, 1952, at 4:30 P.M,, in cooperation with the Crusade for Freedom and Radio Free Europe, ABC’s nation-wide radio network broadcast the program "Caroling Through the Iron Curtain“ to listeners in the United States.
The card (left), which was lofted to Czechoslovakia. was taken from from a painting The Adoration of the Magi by Flemish artist Rogier van der Weyden (1455). The text on the reverse of the RFE Christmas card read:
Men bowed under sorrow and humiliation, men oppressed and persecuted draw from this light the patience and strength to await the day that will bring them peace, truth and freedom. On the threshold of the New Year, we bow before God and renew within ourselves love for our neighbor.
In December 1958, Newspapers around the United States in carried a photograph of 7-year-old Irena Dubicka of Brooklyn, New York, behind a Radio Free Europe microphone recording a “greeting to the children of Poland on behalf of youngsters in America” that would be broadcast by RFE on Christmas Eve as part a special holiday program. The publicity photograph had the caption: "Two Polish-American children serenade their friends in Poland with Christmas carols played on song flutes."
Additional programs to Poland included greetings from Polish-Americans in Chicago, Detroit and Philadelphia, a broadcast by the Polish Boy Scouts in New York, and a Polish Choir in London siging "old" charols. According to RFE, "We save all year to make our Christmas programs our best. No political talks, just Christmas as it would be in Poland with the true religious spirit."
For Czechoslovakia, RFE broadcast Christmas religious services, folklore and interviews with Christmas shoppers in London and New Work—“A potent reminder of the good things to buy in the capitalist countries.” Also, modern "Western" plays that were not shown in Prague were dramatized in special broadcasts.
Listeners in Hungary heard folk songs, a children’s play from the Hungarian High School in Munich, and a special Christmas play performed by émigré actors in New York. Bulgarian émigrés in New York recorded old folklore and Christmas songs banned on Bulgarian radio that were broadcast to Bulgaria. RFE also broadcast a special Christmas program entitled “Greetings to Jammers.”
President Eisenhower’s Christmas message in 1958 also was broadcast over Radio Free Europe and the Voice of America to the countries behind the Iron Curtain and was not jammed.
In December 1966, the song "Christmas Eve in My Hometown" by famed American singer Kate Smith was the "official" Christmas song for Radio Free Europe. Additionally, it was played on Voice of America and 800 international radio stations of the Armed Forces Network (AFN). The record was also sent to 500 college and 2,500 AM radio stations throughout the United States.
