Freedom-Gram: Help Truth Fight Communism
A fundraising mailer for Radio Free Europe asks Americans to sign a 'Freedom-Gram' stating 'I am one of millions of American citizens who has voluntarily contributed to build these stations.' Until 1971 the stations were funded mainly by the U.S. government through the CIA, so the donation drive gave a government broadcaster the public face of a private citizens' campaign. The Statue of Liberty supplies the borrowed prestige.
- Date
- 1952
- Period
- Cold War
- Made by
- Crusade for Freedom / National Committee for a Free Europe (covertly funded by the CIA)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Leaflet
- Issuer type
- Mixed
- Regime
- Truman Administration
- Leader
- Harry S. Truman
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Fundraise
- Themes
- Media and information, War and the military
- Event
- Cold War
- Techniques
- Narrative launderingTransfer
- Source
- Unidentified Source blurred: contractors, cutouts, buried disclosure
- Source
- Wikimedia Commons, retrieved September 27, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Crusade for Freedom (1952); via Cold War Radios / Wikimedia Commons.
Text on the object
Help Truth Fight Communism Give to the Crusade for Freedom FREEDOM-GRAM DO YOU LISTEN TO RADIO FREE EUROPE? I HOPE YOU DO, FOR I AM ONE OF MILLIONS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO HAS VOLUNTARILY CONTRIBUTED TO BUILD THESE STATIONS, WHICH BRING TRUTH TO YOU WHO ARE DEPRIVED OF IT. IN AMERICA MILLIONS REGULARLY PRAY FOR AN UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN OUR PEOPLES. PLEASE ADD YOUR PRAYERS TO OURS. SURELY OUR COMMON FAITH IN GOD IS THE PLACE WHERE HOPE FOR FREEDOM BEGINS. I am a (occupation) ____________________ Name ____________________ Address ____________________ NOTE TO CONTRIBUTOR: Replies to this Freedom-Gram may be received written in a foreign language. If you should be unable to translate them, free translations may be obtained by forwarding the letters to Crusade For Freedom, c/o your local Postmaster. Send your contribution and FREEDOM-GRAM to your local or State committee or: CRUSADE FOR FREEDOM c/o YOUR LOCAL POSTMASTER OR 29 WEST 57th STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. Help Truth Fight Communism... Give to the Crusade for Freedom SUPPORT RADIO Free Europe Free Asia
Two circular seal/stamp graphics on the Freedom-Gram form (upper corners) carry small lettering too low-resolution in this scan to read; not transcribed.
