General Lucius D. Clay’s Call to Action to American Women ©

 

General Lucius D. Clay’s Call to Action to American Women

 

Radio Appeal September 8, 1951

 

General Lucius D. Clay gave a radio address that was broadcast by radio station WNBC at 10:15 p.m., September 8, 1951. The New York Times, for example, headlined the speech on September 9, 1951: “CLAY OPENS APPEAL TO AID RED 'SLAVES.” In part, Clay said:

 

The free people were unwilling to believe in 1945 that aggression was again on the march; that Stalin had replaced Hitler. When they learned this lesson, they rallied.  For two years they have resisted the Soviet attempt to enslave more people, while concurrently slowly but surely rebuilding their own strength and their abilities t maintain freedom in areas where it is threatened. The day approaches when they will aid in the restoration of freedom where it has been lost.

 

Then when stability comes, as the armed potential of the West has been mobilized to match -- to more than match – Soviet might, demands which cannon be resisted will develop in the satellite countries for free elections, in which Communist rule will be overwhelmingly defeated.

 

If we truly want a free world, then each and every one of us must be willing to play a part in bringing it about. It is not our way to leave our problems entirely resolved by government. It is our way as a people to join together in doing those things, which we believe worthwhile. The Crusade for Freedom presents the opportunity to each American to take a personal part in the struggle for freedom. 

 

 

Call to Action to American Women

 

There was also a nation-wide newspaper coverage of Clay’s appeal, in the best Cold-war rhetoric, to the women in the United States to support the Crusade, an urgent Call to Action:

 

Last year we accomplished much. With the money contributed to the CRUSADE FOR FREEDOM in 1950 we built a new radio station – the most powerful in Europe. This station of Radio Free Europe broadcasts daily messages of hope and courage to the captive peoples.

 

Now where do we go from here? The answer is, we go on! We need at least two more Powerful radio transmitters in Europe. We need funds to begin work at once on a Radio Free Asia to halt the spread of Communism in the Far East.

 

The CRUSADE FOR FREEDOM is our means, as private citizens, of insuring that the voice of liberty will be heard. Radio Free Europe is our personal instrument for adding our voice to the voices of truth penetrating the Iron Curtain.

 

This struggle (against Communism) reaches into every American home. It involves you and me. It affects the way of life of our children and our grandchildren. 

 

Therefore I call upon the women of America to join in the CRUSADE FOR FREEDOM. I ask you to take this positive action now.

 

The CRUSADE FOR FREEDOM and Radio Free Europe are one of the
means, one of the powerful weapons that can be brought into play against the forces of tyranny – powerful because through them American citizens can dispel the chill blackness of evil ideas with the clear warmth and light of truth. 

 

By helping to win the battle for men’s minds, we thereby help to keep this cold war from developing into a hot war.

 

This is the primary reason why it is urgent for every woman in this nation to enroll in the CRUSADE FOR FREEDOM.