Content note: A faint, smiling caricature face of Adolf Hitler looms over two drinking workmen. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Loose talk can cost lives
Two workmen talk over beer glasses at a bar while a large, faint, smiling face with a toothbrush moustache and forelock looms behind them. The faint face implies an enemy listening to ordinary shop talk, a fear-appeal; the line 'Don't be a dope' is mild name-calling aimed at the talker.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- British and American Ambulance Corps, Inc. (artist C. C. Beall)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Mixed
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- Home front, Security and surveillance
- 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)
British and American Ambulance Corps, Inc.. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1304D (NAID 514914).
Text on the object
[signature:] C.C. Beall DON'T BE A DOPE AND SPREAD INSIDE DOPE LOOSE TALK CAN COST LIVES [imprint:] © 1942 [imprint:] DISTRIBUTED IN THE INTEREST OF NATIONAL DEFENSE, AND AS A MEANS OF OBTAINING FUNDS FOR AMBULANCES WHEREVER NEEDED. BRITISH AND AMERICAN AMBULANCE CORPS, INC., 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY [imprint:] LITHO. IN U.S.A. [badge on overalls:] 11742
