How Communist Propaganda Changed America
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the rise of public relations in America, focusing on Edward Bernays, the nephew of Sigmund Freud, who pioneered propaganda to manipulate consumer behavior. It delves into Bernays' work with politicians, including Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover, and his role in shaping public opinion during the Great Depression. The video also examines Bernays' influence on the New Deal era, his ideological conflict with FDR, and his later work with the United Fruit Company, which led to the CIA-backed coup in Guatemala. It highlights the power of PR in shaping political narratives and the implications for democracy.
Takeaways
- 📢 Edward Bernays, Sigmund Freud's nephew, pioneered the field of public relations in America, focusing on propaganda campaigns to influence consumer behavior.
- 🤝 Bernays collaborated with politicians, including President Calvin Coolidge, to shape public opinion and improve their images through events like the White House pancake breakfast.
- 📉 Bernays' propaganda campaigns contributed to the stock market boom and subsequent crash during the Great Depression, affecting many working-class Americans.
- 🏦 The Great Depression exposed the flaws in Coolidge's economic policies, which included deregulation and tax cuts for the wealthy, leading to increased income inequality.
- 🕴️ Bernays believed in controlling the masses through propaganda by an intelligent minority for the stability of American democracy.
- 🗳️ Franklin D. Roosevelt's (FDR) approach contrasted with Bernays', advocating for active government intervention and trust in the rationality of the public.
- 📊 FDR utilized scientific polling to understand public sentiment, leading to the creation of the presidential approval rating as a measure of public opinion.
- 🛑 Bernays, along with the National Association of Manufacturers, fought against FDR's New Deal, viewing it as a threat to free enterprise and individual liberty.
- 🗽 The 1939 New York World's Fair, influenced by Bernays, showcased an idealized vision of the future, promoting consumerism and technological advancement.
- 🍌 Bernays worked with the United Fruit Company to promote bananas and manage their public image, engaging in propaganda to protect their interests in Guatemala.
- ✈️ Bernays was involved in the CIA's psychological warfare and propaganda campaign that led to the overthrow of Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz in 1954, illustrating the power of PR in shaping international politics.
Q & A
Who was Edward Bernays and what was his role in American society?
-Edward Bernays was Sigmund Freud's nephew and a pioneer in the field of public relations. He specialized in propaganda campaigns aimed at influencing consumer behavior, and he believed that the masses needed to be controlled by an intelligent minority for a peaceful and prosperous American democracy.
What was the impact of Bernays' work on the 1928 presidential campaign of Calvin Coolidge?
-Bernays helped to improve Coolidge's public image by organizing a pancake breakfast at the White House with famous actors and actresses, which made Coolidge appear more relatable. Bernays' efforts contributed to Coolidge's successful re-election and his perception as a popular president.
How did Bernays contribute to the stock market boom and eventual crash during the 1920s?
-Bernays distributed propaganda that encouraged the average American to invest in the stock market, promoting the idea that owning stocks was key to the American dream. This led to a wave of stock purchases, including by banks, which contributed to the overvaluation of stocks and ultimately the stock market crash that marked the beginning of the Great Depression.
What was the role of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and the Federal Farm Board in the response to the Great Depression?
-These government organizations were created to provide loans to banks, businesses, and farmers to stimulate the economy. Bernays, who believed in the interests of corporations over individual citizens, played a role in persuading President Hoover to establish these entities, many of which were also his clients.
How did Bernays' views on democracy and the role of the public differ from those of Franklin D. Roosevelt?
-Bernays believed that the masses were not capable of making informed decisions and needed to be manipulated by an intelligent minority for effective democracy. In contrast, FDR believed in the rationality of the public and that they could actively participate in government, advocating for policies that directly benefited the average American.
What was the National Association of Manufacturers, and how did it influence public opinion against the New Deal?
-The National Association of Manufacturers was a lobby group created by Bernays, consisting of major US corporations. It launched propaganda campaigns to create emotional attachments between the public and big business, and it criticized the New Deal as a threat to free enterprise and individual liberty.
How did Bernays use the 1939 New York World's Fair to promote his vision of the American dream?
-Bernays used the fair to showcase a modern, sleek future filled with new electronic products, symbolizing a harmonized future by capitalism and democracy. He designed Democra City, with a giant white Dome as its main attraction, to represent this vision and to reinvigorate the American dream.
What was the United Fruit Company, and how did Bernays help shape its public image in the United States?
-The United Fruit Company was a corporation that had a monopoly over the Guatemalan banana trade and controlled significant parts of Guatemala's infrastructure. Bernays promoted banana sales by linking them to good health and created the Middle America Information Bureau to control the narrative about Central America, presenting it as a region that should adopt democratic American values.
How did Bernays contribute to the 1954 coup in Guatemala, and what was the outcome?
-Bernays played a key role in the coup by manipulating public perception, framing Guatemala's president as a communist threat controlled by Moscow. He worked with the CIA to spread propaganda and psychological warfare, which led to the overthrow of the Guatemalan government and the installation of a puppet leader favorable to the United Fruit Company and the United States.
What was the significance of the psychological warfare campaign during the Guatemalan coup, and what tactics were used?
-The psychological warfare campaign was significant as it aimed to create fear and paranoia among Guatemalan political figures and the public, convincing them of their inevitable defeat. Tactics included spreading anti-communist propaganda through radio, sending death threats and dummy bombs to government loyalists, and using the media to control the narrative in favor of the coup.
Outlines
📢 The Birth of Public Relations and Consumer Propaganda
This paragraph introduces the concept of public relations and consumer propaganda in America, highlighting the role of Edward Bernays, Sigmund Freud's nephew. Bernays established a firm specializing in propaganda campaigns aimed at increasing consumer spending. He believed that for a peaceful and prosperous democracy, the masses should be controlled by an intelligent minority. The narrative discusses the early 1930s conflict between politicians and corporations over America's consciousness, where Bernays used irrational fears to manipulate public opinion, aligning with the interests of businesses and the government.
🤔 The Manipulation of Public Opinion and the Rise of FDR
The second paragraph delves into the manipulation of public opinion by Calvin Coolidge's administration and Bernays' efforts to make him appear relatable. It discusses the economic policies that led to the Great Depression and how Bernays' propaganda encouraged stock market investments, which backfired. The paragraph transitions to Herbert Hoover's presidency, where Bernays continued his work, focusing on the interests of corporations over citizens. It contrasts Bernays' views with those of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who believed in an active government role and trusted the public's rationality, using scientific polling to gauge sentiment.
🎭 Bernays, FDR, and the Battle for the American Dream
This paragraph contrasts Bernays' and FDR's ideologies and their impact on the American public. Bernays, through the National Association of Manufacturers, launched propaganda campaigns to protect big business interests against FDR's New Deal. He crafted narratives that positioned enterprises as the sculptors of modern America. In response, FDR used films to expose the manipulative tactics of big business and public relations consultants. The 1939 New York World's Fair, organized in part by Bernays, aimed to reinvigorate the American dream, with Bernays creating Democra City to symbolize a harmonious future of capitalism and democracy.
🍌 United Fruit Company and Bernays' Propaganda
The fourth paragraph explores Bernays' work with the United Fruit Company, which had a monopoly over the banana trade and controlled significant aspects of Guatemala's infrastructure. Bernays was tasked with promoting banana sales and managing the company's image in the US. He warned of the dangers of public outrage if the oppressive practices in Guatemala were exposed. Bernays created the Middle America Information Bureau to control the narrative around Central America, aiming to rebrand it as a region aligned with American values. However, the bureau was shut down, and Bernays continued his work with United Fruit as the Guatemalan Revolution unfolded.
💥 Overthrowing Guatemala's Government: Bernays and the CIA
The fifth paragraph details Bernays' involvement in the CIA's coup against Guatemala's President Árbenz. Bernays and the US government framed Árbenz as a communist threat, despite no ties to Moscow. The CIA, with Bernays' help, used psychological warfare and propaganda to manipulate public perception and justify the coup. Bernays orchestrated journalist tours, staged events, and disseminated false narratives to the media. The CIA's operation, supported by United Fruit, successfully installed a puppet government, with Bernays playing a key role in shaping the global narrative to favor US interests.
🌐 The Aftermath of the Guatemalan Coup and Bernays' Legacy
The final paragraph discusses the aftermath of the coup in Guatemala, where the US-backed Castillo Armas became president, returning land to United Fruit and granting them preferential treatment. The US and United Fruit continued to manipulate media to justify their actions, portraying Armas as a liberator. The paragraph also touches on the visit by Vice President Nixon, who was presented with staged 'evidence' of communism to solidify the narrative. The paragraph concludes with a contemporary reference to a new channel launch, suggesting a continuation of narrative manipulation in modern times.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Propaganda
💡Public Relations
💡Consumerism
💡Great Depression
💡Laissez-faire capitalism
💡Herbert Hoover
💡Franklin D. Roosevelt
💡Psychological Warfare
💡United Fruit Company
💡Cold War
Highlights
Introduction to Edward Bernays, the father of public relations and nephew of Sigmund Freud, who used propaganda to influence consumer behavior.
Bernays' belief in the need for an intelligent minority to control the masses for a peaceful and prospering democracy.
The use of propaganda to make President Calvin Coolidge appear more relatable and boost his popularity.
Coolidge's support for laissez-faire capitalism and the deregulation that contributed to the economic gap and the Great Depression.
Bernays' campaign to convince Americans to invest in the stock market, which later contributed to the Great Depression.
Herbert Hoover's hiring of Bernays to manage his public image and response to the Great Depression.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's contrasting approach to government, focusing on active intervention and support for the working class.
Bernays' creation of the National Association of Manufacturers to counter Roosevelt's New Deal and protect corporate interests.
The use of Hollywood and media to shape public opinion against the New Deal and promote pro-business narratives.
Bernays' involvement in the 1939 New York World's Fair, promoting a vision of a modern, capitalist future.
United Fruit Company's hiring of Bernays to promote bananas and manage their public image amidst exploitative practices in Guatemala.
The CIA's coup in Guatemala, orchestrated with Bernays' propaganda to frame the president as a communist threat.
Bernays' role in manipulating media narratives, including planting stories and staging events to control public perception of Guatemala.
The psychological warfare tactics used during the coup, including fear campaigns and the creation of the 'Voice of Liberation' radio station.
The aftermath of the coup, with Carlos Castillo Armas installed as a puppet leader and the media's portrayal of the events as a victory against communism.
Vice President Nixon's visit to Guatemala and the display of planted Marxist literature as proof of the overthrow of communism.
The launch of the 'Context Matters' channel, focusing on politics and providing in-depth analysis of historical events.
Transcripts
to what extent do you trust your
government do you think your government
would lie to you have they ever lied to
you and if
so why in our episode how consumer
propaganda changed America we were
introduced to Sigman Freud's nephew
Edward bernes he had created a new kind
of firm in America one that specialized
in propaganda campaigns meant to
motivate consumers into buying more and
more of the things they didn't need this
marked the birth of a new American
industry it would be called public
relations unlike his clients who
included businessmen celebrities and
notable politicians bernes himself was
not motivated by Fortune fame or even
political office what bernes wanted was
a peaceful prospering American democracy
and in order to have that bernes
believed that the masses needed to be
controlled by an intell ENT minority
this story is about the fight for
America's Consciousness that broke out
in the early 30s between America's
politicians and its corporations in its
aftermath Edward bernes would unite
America around irrational fears fears
that bernes felt if nurtured would be
strong enough to dissuade Americans from
the facts in front of them as the
corporations the president and the CIA
would all band together to feed the
American public
[Music]
lies in 1924 the president of the United
States Calvin kulage hired bernes to
help with his Public Image because
Americans thought coolage was super
boring to make the president feel more
relatable and hip bernes organized a
pancake breakfast at the White House for
coolage and a group of of famous actors
and actresses the event was widely
publicized and bernes continued to work
for coolage as he secured his second
term in office kulage was now widely
seen as a popular and successful
president and in no small part thanks to
America's booming economy like Bernay
kulage was a strong supporter of lé fair
capitalism and believed government
intervention in the economy would only
lead to
inefficiencies as a result of his La
Fair beliefs coolage signed deregulation
laws that allowed Banks to make risky
Investments he also cut taxes for the
wealthy which led to a growing gap
between the rich and the poor to inspire
optimism amongst America's working-class
citizens bernes convinced the masses to
begin investing in America's booming
stock market he distributed propaganda
that argued owning a piece of the stock
market was the key to the American dream
which resulted in a wave of stock
purchases from Banks who also happened
to be Bern's clients America's stock
market continued soaring but its
unsustainable growth had disillusioned
business owners bankers and politicians
who had all convinced themselves
recessions were now a thing of the past
and then seemingly out of nowhere the
Great Depression happened kage's
policies led to a significant oversight
in America's banking system and the
emotion-driven purchasing of Stocks by
retail investors instigated by bernes
had only exacerbated the extent to which
these stock were overvalued but it also
ensured that some of the biggest losers
during the Great Depression would be
workingclass Americans who until then
were convinced that they had been
investing in the American
dream a wave of panic selling had erased
half the value of the stock market and a
quarter of America's Workforce was now
unemployed so what did President kulage
do to fix this mess well nothing because
he had actually left office right before
before the Great Depression had started
and the new president Herbert Hoover had
no idea how he was going to calm down
the Furious American voters and so like
his predecessor he hired
bernes bernes worked to create positive
stories about Hoover in the media but he
also helped coordinate Hoover's response
to the Great Depression bernes believed
that the most important interests at
hand were not that of the American
citizens but that of the American
corporations that made America Rich
efficient and plentiful bernes persuaded
President Hoover to create the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation and
the federal Farm board government
organizations that would provide loans
to Banks businesses and Farmers many of
whom just happened to be Bern's clients
despite Bern's guidance Hoover's
response to the Great Depression was
unsatisfactory and Americans soon became
convinced that Hoover was an ineffective
as the attention of the American public
grew Franklin D Roosevelt emerged as the
leader of the democratic
party Roosevelt advocated for a new
approach to government one that was more
active and interventionalist he promised
to help American people through the
depression and won the 1932 election in
a
landslide soon after taking Office
Roosevelt made it clear that he would be
president of all the people including
those at the bottom of the economic
ladder in the working out of a great
National
program that seeks the primary good of
the greater number it is true that the
toes of some people are being stepped on
and are going to be stepped on but these
tolls belong to the comparative few who
seek to retain or to gain position or
riches or both by some Shortcut that is
harmful to the greater good bernes
didn't like like this as he and FDR had
ideologically opposing views on people
and the future of American democracy
bernes belied that the Judgment of the
masses couldn't be trusted the average
man doesn't know what's right for the
country the economy or even themselves
and that for a democracy to function
effectively the people must believe they
are entrusted with power and freedom but
in reality be guided by more aware
leaders who could mold the desires of
the public to align with a Clear Vision
for the future as bernes cynically
stated in 1928 the conscious and
intelligent manipulation of the
organized habits and opinions of the
masses is an important element in
Democratic Society those who manipulate
this unseen mechanism of society
constitute an invisible government which
is the true ruling power of our country
it is the intelligent minorities which
need to make use of propaganda
continuously and systematically unlike
Bernay FDR believed human beings were
rational and that the public could in
fact be trusted to take an active part
in government he believed that it was
possible to explain his policies to
ordinary Americans and take their
sentiments into account to do this he
was going to use a new American
invention called scientific polling and
its purpose was to offer a clear more
objective way of understanding and
documenting the collective consciousness
of America their system of opinion
polling was based on two assumptions the
first was that the public could be
trusted to provide answers that were
both genuine and useful the second is
that the government could be trusted to
use the polls as a method for
understanding Americans as opposed to
persuading them in the wake of this new
polling methodology the presidential
approval rating was born and whether it
was due to the polling methodology the
government's role in institutionalizing
this poll or FDR's genuine popularity
the newly conceived presidential
approval rating would go on to reaffirm
a clear message America loved FDR's New
Deal FDR's first New Deal focused on
providing relief to the unemployed and
stimulating the economy he became
incredibly popular for looking after the
average American and began advertising
the policies of his second New Deal
ahead of his re-election campaign the
name
please still Franklin Deeds
right president ruselt was cheery as
ever when he went into the booth to
record his own vote and a few hours
afterwards his optimism was justified
Broadway went mad as the former
president was returned again with the
biggest majority ever known in American
politics FDR promised that his second
New Deal would establish larger social
welfare safety nets protect the rights
of workers to bargain Collective
and it would establish minimum wages and
maximum work hours this all sounded like
a nightmare for America's corporate
Elite who believed that Roosevelt was
nothing short of a
dictator the leaders of America's
largest industries did all they could to
Lobby against FDR and spent millions of
dollars to try and bring his presidency
to an end America's industries felt that
they had to fight back and hired bernes
to deploy large scale ideological
Warfare against the values of the New
Deal bernes created the National
Association of Manufacturers a Lobby
group that still exists to this day the
group's members included all the major
corporations of the United States Who
provided bernes with the resources to
launch propaganda campaigns explicitly
designed to create emotional attachments
between the public and big business
bernes crafted a narrative that
suggested it was the Enterprises not
politicians who had sculpted modern
America bernes went on to plant articles
in leading journals like the Wall Street
Journal which sharply criticized the new
deal as a threat to free enterprise and
individual liberty in 1936 the National
Association of manufacturing introduced
the American plan an alternative
anti-new deal proposal which bernes
aggressively marketed across the country
bernes even infiltrated Hollywood
Studios persuading film producers and
news reels that there were greater
profits to be made by casting the New
Deal in a negative light films like
mgm's Gabriel over the White House and
Warner Brothers black Legion portrayed
FDR as a power hungry autocrat who
threatened American
democracy the president of the United
States May the rules be
suspended I would like to dispense with
all tape so I can answer questions
directly while I have the floor Mr
President there is a movement in
Congress for your impeachment hardly the
time for making any requests however
small very well I shall withdraw that
request but I would like to substitute
another I ask you gentlemen to declare a
state of National
Emergency and to adjourn this Congress
until normal conditions are
restored
During the period of that adjournment I
shall assume full responsibility for the
government I believe in democracy as
Washington Jefferson and Lincoln
believed in democracy and if what I plan
to do in the name of the people makes me
a dictator then it is a dictatorship
based on Jefferson's definition of
democracy in response to these campaigns
FDR made films of his own films that
warned the ordinary American of the
underhanded tactics big business used to
manipulate them and the central villain
was not the CEOs of the companies but
the public relations Consultants
themselves they tried to achieve their
Ends by working entirely behind the
scenes corrupting and deceiving the
public the aims of such groups may be
either good or bad so far as the public
interest is concerned but their methods
are a grave danger to democratic
institutions on three different
occasions bernes got a call from the US
president asking for help and now the
office of the US president was turning
against him bernes viewed this new
emerging political landscape with
skepticism he viewed FDR's
interventionalist approach to government
and faith in the rationality of the
public as a direct challenge to the
belief system that was responsible for
America's success this ideological Rift
set the stage for the 1939 New York
World's Fair the fa fair was originally
intended to celebrate scientific
discoveries but as one of the chief
organizers of the fair bernes was
adamant that the fair needed to be used
to reinvigorate an appetite for the
American dream in his own words there's
a growing misunderstanding and ignorance
amongst Americans as to who America is
disorders strikes disagreements
cleavages of all kinds grow out of this
lack of understanding of common
interests and common goals the World's
Fair celebrating 150 years of American
progress must be both a landing stage
and springboard bernes would base the
fair off a vision of a Sleek modern
future filled with exciting new
electronic products like the television
the fair slogan was Dawn of a new day
and it invited everyone to come visit
the World of Tomorrow bernes designed a
giant exhibition he called democra City
its main attraction was a giant white
Dome symbolizing a future harmonized by
capitalism and democracy in attendance
was President
FDR I hereby
dedicate the World's Fair the New York
World
Fair of
1939 and I declare it open to all
mankind he opened the fair with an
enthusiastic speech
but no one seemed to remember it
everyone was instead too enamored by the
shiny promise of future Prosperity the
fair had ushered in the fair was a
tremendous success and Drew in over 44
million visitors the success of the fair
greatly revitalized the reputation of
the public relations industry which had
been undermined by the Great Depression
and New Deal eras Bern's success had
caught the eye of his next client and
this client would be the Pinnacle of
Bern's career and provide an opportunity
for bernes to once again work with the
president of the United States to
disseminate propaganda intended to
strengthen America's democracy following
a surge in global coffee demand in the
late 19th century the Guatemalan
government dispossessed the indigenous
population of their land and allowed
foreign companies to purchase it two of
the largest land owners then merged into
the United Fruit Company
by the year 1900 it had become the
largest exporter of bananas in the world
and had a monopoly over the Guatemalan
banana trade but in addition to selling
lots of bananas United Fruit also ruled
over Guatemala governing through proxy
dictatorships United Fruit controlled
the railroads docks and communication
systems of the country at the expense of
the Guatemalan citizens in order to
protect and control the lucrative banana
trade it was known as a Banana
Republic after the world fair United
Fruit hired bernes to promote banana
sales within the United States which he
did by linking bananas to Good Health
however Bernay warned that United fruits
oppressive tactics over the Guatemalan
people a key element in their banana
Empire risked igniting public outrage in
America bernes knew that if the American
public learned about the harsh realities
of corporate colonization and the dire
working conditions behind their beloved
bananas this would be disastrous for the
company and the spread of capitalist
values to ensure control over
Guatemala's Workforce the United Fruit
Company had been pitting racial groups
against one another for decades American
whites would be given the most
prestigious jobs like managers and
financial advisers while people of color
worked hard labor the company made a
rigid distinction between Hispanics and
West Indian workers and administered
different Privileges and punishments to
each ethnic group if one group was
rewarded management told them it was
because they worked harder than the
other group if a punishment was
administered management told them it was
the other group's fault this would give
the two groups something to focus their
anger on rather than unite against
United
Fruit to control the narrative in
America United Fruit permitted bernes to
create a front group called The Middle
America information Bureau which
supplied information to journalists and
academics back in America Middle America
was Bern's attempt to Rebrand Central
America and reintroduce it to the
American public as a neighboring land
that could and should grow into
Democratic American values let led by
bernes the organization spun events in
Central America through the filter of
United fruits economic and political
goals providing American journalists and
opinion Leaders with United fruits
approved context for example in the
runup to the 1945 Guatemalan Revolution
the Middle America information Bureau
published a pamphlet titled every
American has a personal stake in our
relations with Middle America citing
quotes from military leaders business
executiv and government officials
explaining the interdependence of Middle
America and the United States but by
1948 United Fruit shut down the middle
America information Bureau as Thomas
Dudley kabok United fruit's new
president thought it was a useless waste
of money and terminated the entire thing
before leaving United Fruit himself the
very next year bernes was Furious but
stayed with the company for an annual
fee of more than a100
,000 about $1.3 million in today's
terms as Guatemala's Revolution raged on
a young Colonel named jacobo Arben
announced he would run for president
under a promise to take control over the
country's resources and get rid of
United Fruit it was a massively popular
move but an absolute nightmare for
United Fruit in 1953 president arbz
began taking Guatemala's Land by force
motiv ating United Fruit to turn towards
bernes for an unorthodox solution and
then a bomb went off in
Russia in 1953 the Soviet Union
announced that the United States no
longer had a monopoly on the hydrogen
bomb the fear of nuclear war and
communism gripped the United States and
the government was trying to tell the
people to calm
down president isenhower called upon
bernes for consultation and the two had
a secret
meeting it's the fallacy of devoting 85%
of one's worrying capacity to an agent
that constitutes only about 15% of an
atomic bomb's destroying potential Bern
said rather than reduce the fear of
Communism the President should actually
encourage and manipulate people's fear
in order to weaponize it by controlling
the narrative and such a manner that the
rational arguments became irrelevant the
US would be able to more effectively
unite America around a shared Mission
saving America and so to achieve this
they were going to create a fictitious
narrative in which America and the
American way of life were in danger and
bernes was going to use Guatemala as a
central villain in this Grand
exaggeration the plan was to frame
Guatemala's president as a communist a
communist who was controlled by Moscow
and devoted to bringing an end to
American Liberties but in reality Arben
had no relation to Moscow at all and
wasn't even familiar with communist
literature he was a democratically
elected president who was now going to
see bernes and the US government rewrite
Guatemala's
history President Eisenhower secretly
agreed that it would was America's
interest to topple the ARB Ben's
government and so the CIA was instructed
to pull off a coup using propaganda and
psychological warfare to ensure that the
defeat of the Guatemalans was inevitable
the man in charge of the coup was a man
named Howard hunt one of Nixon's
Watergate
burglars what we wanted to do was have a
terror
campaign uh to terrify our B
particularly terrify his his troops much
as the German Shuka bombers terrified
the population of of Holland Belgium and
and Poland at the onset of World War II
and just rendered everybody paralyzed
working with the United Fruit Company
the CIA trained a rebel Army from
Honduras and found a new leader for
Guatemala Colonel armas meanwhile bernes
was working to evolve the public
perception of
Guatemala Bernay invited a cohort of
journalists from various notable
newspapers on a tour of Guatemala they
knew very little of the country or its
politics but mes arranged for the
journalist to meet a select group of
Guatemalan politicians all of whom
confirmed that arbz was indeed a
communist controlled by Moscow this
technique proved highly effective and
was repeated four more
times during one visit a violent
anti-American demonstration broke out
but those who worked for United Fruit
suspected that bernes had staged the
entire
thing the CIA was now ready to invade
Guatemala but the American public was
fed a starkly different narrative
following Bern's meeting with President
Eisenhower major Publications like the
New York Times the New York heral
Tribune time Newsweek and the Atlantic
Monthly began disseminating articles
these pieces painted a picture of a
looming communist threat in America's
backyard in June 1954 the CIA initiated
the coup it was called operation PBS
success the CIA supported a military
faction led by Carlos armas and coupled
this with a psychological Warfare
campaign designed to convince
Guatemalans of their Inevitable Defeat
bernes played a crucial role here but
becoming the main information source for
major news writers like the Associated
Press United Press International and the
international news service these Global
agencies provided the foundational facts
and imagery that other Publications
around the world use to shape their
narratives and rather have actual
primary sources to draw
from they had
bernes the CIA went as far as to evoke
nerve Wars on individuals their campaign
entailed spreading fear and paranoia
among Guatemalan political figures via
the mail sending out death threats small
wooden coffins dummy bombs and hangman
noses all targeted to those loyal to the
government a pivotal element of the
psychological warfare was the voice of
Liberation a radio station that
broadcasted anti-communist propaganda
urging resistance against the ARB Ben's
government and support for Castillo Aras
while it claimed to operate from within
the Guatemalan jungles it was actually
based in Miami meanwhile the US
information agency was disseminating
hundreds of articles based on CIA
reports across the whole of Latin
America reinforcing the US Viewpoint the
CIA even convinced Allied governments to
Showcase video footage to its people
that casted the events in Guatemala in a
light favorable to the US narrative per
Bern's strategy United Fruit distributed
favorable articles and Anonymous reports
on Guatemala to every member of Congress
informing them that Moscow intended to
use Guatemala as a base where it would
launch an attack against the US in
Guatemala the Jacob arb's regime became
increasingly communistic after its
Inauguration in
1951 Communists in the Congress and high
governmental positions controlled major
committees labor and farm groups and
propaganda facilities they agitated and
led in demonstrations against
neighboring countries and the United
States the CIA wished to make an example
of Guatemala so neighboring host Nations
heavily controlled by American
corporations would be deterred from ever
Uprising the CIA paid off the Guatemalan
military so that the militia group that
they had Source from Honduras would win
after the victory Carlos Castillo armas
was appointed as president of Guatemala
where he served as a puppet of United
Fruit Company for the rest of his term
he returned all of the confiscated land
to United Fruit and gave them
preferential treatment over Guatemala's
ports and Railways the company continued
to influence the media of North and
Central America to justify what they had
done they called armos The Liberator and
told the inspiring tale of how he freed
Guatemala from its communist ties they
also destroyed what was left of our
Bond's reputation by calling him red
jacobo further tying him to the Soviets
a New York Times article written in 1954
states that President Castillo Aras is
continuing to act with the moderation
and Common Sense and jacobo orben anyway
is a defeated balloon hardly like to
cause any more trouble the media praised
armos for his good policymaking yet most
of his policies were proposed by United
fruit or the American
government Colonel arbend fled the
country and within months Vice President
Nixon visited Guatemala to see what a
fantastic job bernes Castillo and the
CIA had done and a final display of
propaganda by the United United States
PR department Nixon was presented with
piles of marxist literature that America
had planted in arb's office and bedroom
the Americans thanks to the help of
bernes had successfully lied to everyone
guys this is the first time in the
history of the world that the communist
government has been overthrown by the
people and for that we congratulate you
and the people of Guatemala for the
support they have given and we are sure
that under your leadership supported by
the people whom I have met by the
hundreds on my visit to Guatemala that
Guatemala is going to enter a new era in
which there will be prosperity for the
people together with liberty for the
people thank you very much for allowing
us to see this exhibit of Communism in
Guatemala I have some exciting news some
very very exciting news news can you
tell that I'm excited the team over
economics explained is launching a new
channel it's called context matters and
it's done in collaboration with the
redline podcast great podcast by the way
if you haven't checked it out and what
I'm perhaps most excited about is this
new channel is dedicated to politics and
we have some amazing videos out there
for the launch so go check it out share
it with all your politics junkies link
is in bio I'm gonna be binging it in
fact I'm gonna go binge it right
now I'm probably GNA start with the
North Korea episode that that looked
like a good episode but then again us
dictator episode that that also looks
like a pretty good episode go check it
out context matters I will see you guys
next time
Посмотреть больше похожих видео
O Século do Ego - Ep.1 de 4 - Máquinas da Felicidade (LEGENDADO)
كيف يمكن أن تقنع الناس بفوائد التدخين والحرب؟ | الدحيح
EDWARD BERNAYS - Comment manipuler l'opinion
How Consumer Propaganda Changed America
Propaganda During World War 1 - Opening Pandora's Box I THE GREAT WAR Special
Influence & Persuasion: Crash Course Media Literacy #6
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)