Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
A key to victory: Lock your lips, 1941 US poster: Security-of-information poster

A key to victory: Lock your lips

Security-of-information poster: a gloved hand holds a large key above a pair of lips with a keyhole in them, with the headline 'A Key to Victory' arcing over it and 'LOCK YOUR LIPS' in heavy type. The slogan frames silence as a contribution to winning. The technique is faint: a plain imperative and a visual pun, with no named threat shown.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Glittering generalities
Date
1941
Period
Second World War
Made by
U.S. Army G-2, art by Stephen Earles
Region
North America
Country
United States
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
Military
Regime
Roosevelt Administration
Leader
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Warn or inform
Themes
Security and surveillance, Home front
Event
World War II
Regime
Roosevelt administration
Leader
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Source
Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
Source
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
Rights
Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-144 (NAID 513592).

Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

A KEY TO VICTORY
LOCK
YOUR
LIPS
[signature: Stephen Earles]
G-2 VI AC NO 14

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