During his 1959 visit to the United States, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev told Vice President Richard M. Nixon that American grandchildren would live under Communism. This quote was used in the 1960 Crusade for Freedom fund-raising campaign for Radio Free Europe (RFE).
For the 1961 national fund-raising campaign conducted by the Radio Free Europe Fund (formerly Crusade for Freedom), the Advertising Council (Ad Council) prepared a Magazine Advertisement for RFE, which showed somber school children with raised hands in a classroom:
“Your grandchildren will grow up under Communism!” says Nikita Khrushchev
Will the Soviet threat come true? Will your grandchildren live under Communism? Forget God? Salute the Soviet flag? “Never!” you say. But are you sure? How can you oppose Communism? One way is to help Radio Free Europe.
The voice is that of Nikita Khrushchev.
The audience is American.
“Your children will grow up under Communism!” he shouts.
Will your children live to see the Free World die` Forget God? Salute the Soviet flag?
“Never!” you say. But are you sure?
What can you do to oppose Communism? There is one sure way.
Help Radio Free Europe.
What does it do?
Every day, to 79 million captive people behind the Iron Curtain, it broadcasts news of the outside world.
It helps keep these people from turning to Communism. The Poles, Czechs, Bulgarians, Rumanians and Hungarians.
It keeps alive their friendship for America.
It reaches over 90% of these people, despite Communist jamming.
Thousands of letters echo the plea: God Bless You! Please keep Radio Free Europe on the air!”
These people are the buffers between Russia and the Free World”
They pose a major obstacle to the Russians starting any war. And Radio Free Europe is their strongest link with the Free World.
But Radio Free Europe depends on individual Americans for its existence.
How about it?
Will you help`… Give a dollar? … Give five dollars? … Or more?
Surely your heart tells you to give something so that our children -- and all children – shall live in freedom throughout the world.
Give Now to … RADIO FREEE EUROPE
The American People’s Counter-Voice to Communism.
Mail your contributions to Radio Free Europe Fund, P. O. Box 1961, Mt. Vernon 10, New York.
This is perhaps the first time that the phrase “Counter-Voice to Communism” was used to describe Radio Free Europe.
In its January 1961 issue, Billboard magazine reported that Khrushchev’s “anti-U.S. statements (‘We will bury you’ and ‘Your grandchildren will grow up under communism’) will be stressed as the theme of special radio and TV spots. It is estimated that Khrushchev will make 3 billion radio-TV impressions on the American public – an all-time record.”
Some newspapers carried an additional statement with a small coupon to be filled out: “Here’s how YOU can answer Nikita Khrushchev…just clip and mail this coupon with your contribution—whatever you can afford. Do it now!” The coupon read, “Here’s my contribution of _____ to help you answer lies—to keep truthful news going behind the Iron Curtain.”
Some newspapers carried an additional statement with a small coupon to be filled out: “Here’s how YOU can answer Nikita Khrushchev…just clip and mail this coupon with your contribution—whatever you can afford. Do it now!” The coupon read, “Here’s my contribution of _____ to help you answer lies—to keep truthful news going behind the Iron Curtain.”
One variation of this ad was published in the May 1961 edition of Reader’s Digest with a drawing that showed school children with raised hands in a classroom with the same text.
Another variation of this advertisement was used in the February 1962 Radio Free Europe Fund national campaign, when newspapers showed a group of smiling newspaperboys with raised hands. The text read:
WILL YOUR GRANDCHILDREN GROW UP UNDER COMMUNISM?
Nikita Khrushchev says “YES!"
Your Newspaperboys say “NO!”
To back up their answer your newspaperboys are collecting funds to support Radio Free Europe the anti-Communist network, which broadcasts news and information to 79 million captive people behind the Iron Curtain In Poland, Hungary. Czechoslovakia, Romania and Bulgaria Your newspaperboys ask you to join RFE in the light against Communism. Free Europe's 28 powerful transmitters and relay stations broadcast almost 3,000 hours a week through the Iron Curtain around East Europe, These RFE broadcasts are the strongest link the captive people have with the truth and the free world.
Your Truth dollars help fight Communism. One dollar pays for one minute of truth to answer Communist lies and Khrushchev’s boasts. How many minutes will you give?
USE THE ENVELOPE YOUR NEWSPAPERBOY LEAVES TO GIVE GENEROUSLY TO RADIO FREE EUROPE
In 1964, the Free Europe Committee published a cartoon coloring booklet for newspaperboys, with a caricature of Khrushchev and the sentence, “This is Nikita Khrushchev, dictator of the Soviet Union, color him RED.”
For Radio Free Europe, the booklet drawing read, “This is Radio Free Europe‘s Headquarters. The people who work here help the captive people keep alive their hope for freedom and their national and religious heritage. Color the building ANTI-COMMUNIST.”Nikita Khrushchev was removed from office in October 1964; he died in 1971.
