July 4th, 1956 poster: Magsaysay and Nixon speeches (English poster distributed in Manila)
An English-language Free World supplement quoting speeches by Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay and U.S. Vice-President Richard Nixon at the Luneta, Manila, on the tenth anniversary of Philippine independence. A wide photograph of a very large crowd is captioned as one million Filipinos. The quotations stress partnership, equality, freedom and self-determination and describe 'Godless Communist imperialism' as a threat. The tell is transfer, two leaders' prestige and a crowd shown as endorsement, plus name-calling in Nixon's quoted words.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- July 17, 1956
- Period
- Cold War
- Made by
- U.S. Information Agency (predecessor: State Department International Information and Educational Exchange Program), Propaganda Posters Distributed in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East series
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Eisenhower Administration
- Leader
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Audience
- Foreign public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Themes
- Elections and party politics, War and the military
- Event
- Cold War
- Source
- Unidentified Source blurred: contractors, cutouts, buried disclosure
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 306, Propaganda Posters Distributed in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work; NARA RG 306)
U.S. Information Agency / Department of State, July 17, 1956. National Archives, Record Group 306 (NAID 6949011, 306-PPB-139).
Text on the object
SUPPLEMENT TO Free World VOLUME V Nº 8 AUGUST - 1956 JULY 4, 1956 One million Filipinos hear July 4 speeches by President Magsaysay and Vice-President Nixon. Ramon Magsaysay President Republic of the Philippines Richard M. Nixon Vice-President United States of America EXCERPTS FROM THE ADDRESSES DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT RAMON MAGSAYSAY AND UNITED STATES VICE-PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON AT THE LUNETA, MANILA, DURING THE CELEBRATION OF THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES "We are happy to welcome to our festivities Vice-President Richard Nixon ... here to represent, during this celebration, the country with which we have cooperated so much in the past and with which we will continue to cooperate in the future for the cause of peace and freedom. Our partnership in this cause, based on mutual respect and understanding, is naturally viewed with disfavor by those who do not wish to see peace and freedom secure in this part of the world. It is for this very reason that this partnership must continue." "In recent months I have urged our people toward ... what I have called positive nationalism.... Positive or true nationalism is that which places the national good above personal interest, bias or prejudice. It seeks, discloses and cultivates what is good in the community and the nation, knowing that the stronger growth of what is good will choke out the weeds of what is bad. The true nationalist does not ignore or conceal national shortcomings, but works hard to correct them; he does not advertise them to feed his own vanity." "Ten years ago today, by the grace of God, we realized a dream for which Filipinos had fought and died for hundreds of years. On that day was born the Republic of the Philippines, a sovereign nation of free and independent Filipinos." "Honest and fearless criticism should be welcomed as a healthy manifestation of democracy, but we should insist that it be presented soberly, based upon evidence, and accompanied by a constructive alternative." "The test of our independence is in whether or not the initiative for guiding our destiny rests within our own powers, in whether or not the acceptance or rejection of a relationship with another nation is ours to decide, subject only to the national interest. As your Chief Executive, I say to you: This initiative we possess and exercise, we will never relinquish it!" "What comprises the national interest? Security, first of all. Without security, sovereignty is controlled by, and at the mercy of, the nearest aggressor, making it no sovereignty at all. Next comes the material well-being of our people and our progress in maintaining and expanding that well-being ... but no less important, certainly, are ... our racial and national code of ethics, morality and justice; our principles and ideals; our reputation and prestige as a member of the free world community.... Tested by these criteria, our Republic has good reason for pride, satisfaction and confidence. But this is no excuse for relaxing our vigilance.... Many old problems remain; new problems arise daily. Our success should serve only to give us confidence and incentive for greater effort." "We may yet lose everything we hold dear should we become careless or relax our effort. If freedom is destined to survive at all upon this earth, I have the fullest faith and confidence that we Filipinos have the wisdom and energy which, with Divine grace and guidance, will keep us securely on our course." [Nixon column, quotations continue on the sheet; see notes]
Truncated: the Magsaysay columns are transcribed in full; the Nixon quotations in the right-hand columns (beginning 'I come to you as a representative of a nation that cherishes your friendship and partnership', including the lines 'We are friends. We are allies. We are equals.' and 'Godless Communist imperialism is evil in itself, and a threat to the liberty and aspirations of free people everywhere') are not reproduced in full here to stay under the length limit.
