Member-only story

The Unholy Alliance: How Washington Lobbyists Fought to Flack for Stalinist Dictatorship

Blake Kennedy

·6.1k Followers· Follow

Published in Turkmeniscam: How Washington Lobbyists Fought To Flack For A Stalinist Dictatorship

8 min read · 1 week before

719 View Claps

43 Respond

Save

Listen

In the annals of American history, there are few chapters as shameful as the story of how Washington lobbyists worked to promote the interests of the Stalinist dictatorship in the United States.

Turkmeniscam: How Washington Lobbyists Fought to Flack for a Stalinist Dictatorship

by Ken Silverstein

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	489 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	226 pages

Beginning in the late 1920s, a network of lobbyists, public relations firms, and front groups emerged in Washington, D.C., dedicated to advancing the cause of the Soviet Union. These lobbyists used a variety of tactics to influence American policy and public opinion, including:

Spreading propaganda and disinformation about the Soviet Union
Lobbying Congress and the executive branch on behalf of Soviet interests
Organizing front groups to promote Soviet policies
Infiltrating American institutions, such as labor unions and educational organizations

The lobbyists' efforts were remarkably successful. They played a key role in shaping American policy towards the Soviet Union, helping to create a climate of sympathy and support for the dictatorship. They also helped to spread disinformation about the Soviet Union, downplaying its crimes and atrocities.

The lobbyists' work was not without its critics. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, a number of congressional investigations exposed the extent of their activities. As a result of these investigations, some of the lobbyists were convicted of crimes, and others were blacklisted. However, the lobbyists' influence continued to be felt for many years to come.

The story of the Washington lobbyists who fought to flack for the Stalinist dictatorship is a cautionary tale about the dangers of foreign influence in American politics. It is a reminder that even the most powerful governments can be manipulated by those who are willing to use deception and propaganda to achieve their goals.

The Lobbyists

The Washington lobbyists who worked to promote the interests of the Stalinist dictatorship came from a variety of backgrounds. Some were former communists or fellow travelers who had become disillusioned with the Soviet Union. Others were simply opportunists who saw an opportunity to make money by representing foreign governments.

One of the most prominent Soviet lobbyists was William C. Bullitt. Bullitt was a former diplomat who had served as the first American ambassador to the Soviet Union. After leaving the diplomatic service, Bullitt became a vocal critic of the Soviet government. However, in the late 1930s, he began to soften his stance towards the Soviet Union. He eventually became a paid lobbyist for the Soviet government, and he used his connections in Washington to promote Soviet interests.

Another prominent Soviet lobbyist was George S. Counts. Counts was a professor of education at Columbia University. He was also a member of the Socialist Party of America. In the 1930s, Counts became a vocal advocate for the Soviet Union. He wrote a number of books and articles praising the Soviet educational system, and he organized a number of front groups to promote Soviet policies.

These are just two examples of the many lobbyists who worked to promote the interests of the Stalinist dictatorship in the United States. These lobbyists came from a variety of backgrounds, but they all shared a common goal: to advance the cause of the Soviet Union in the United States.

The Tactics

The Washington lobbyists who worked to promote the interests of the Stalinist dictatorship used a variety of tactics to influence American policy and public opinion. These tactics included:

Spreading propaganda and disinformation about the Soviet Union
Lobbying Congress and the executive branch on behalf of Soviet interests
Organizing front groups to promote Soviet policies
Infiltrating American institutions, such as labor unions and educational organizations

The lobbyists' propaganda and disinformation campaign was particularly effective. They used a variety of channels to spread their message, including newspapers, magazines, radio, and film. They also organized a number of front groups to promote Soviet policies. These front groups often posed as non-partisan organizations, but they were actually controlled by the Soviet government.

The lobbyists also used their influence to lobby Congress and the executive branch on behalf of Soviet interests. They met with members of Congress and the administration, and they testified before congressional committees. They also organized letter-writing campaigns and other grassroots efforts to pressure policymakers.

In addition to their propaganda and lobbying efforts, the lobbyists also infiltrated American institutions, such as labor unions and educational organizations. They used their positions to promote Soviet policies and to recruit new supporters for the Soviet cause.

The Impact

The efforts of the Washington lobbyists who worked to promote the interests of the Stalinist dictatorship had a significant impact on American policy and public opinion. The lobbyists helped to create a climate of sympathy and support for the Soviet Union in the United States. They also helped to spread disinformation about the Soviet Union, downplaying its crimes and atrocities.

The lobbyists' influence was particularly evident in the American labor movement. In the 1930s and 1940s, a number of labor unions were infiltrated by communists and fellow travelers. These unions used their influence to promote Soviet policies and to suppress dissent within the labor movement.

The lobbyists' influence also extended to the American educational system. In the 1930s and 1940s, a number of colleges and universities were infiltrated by communists and fellow travelers. These professors used their positions to promote Soviet policies and to recruit new supporters for the Soviet cause.

The lobbyists' efforts had a lasting impact on American society. They helped to create a climate of fear and suspicion that made it difficult to criticize the Soviet Union. They also helped to spread disinformation about the Soviet Union, which made it difficult for Americans to understand the true nature of the Soviet regime.

The Legacy

The story of the Washington lobbyists who worked to promote the interests of the Stalinist dictatorship is a cautionary tale about the dangers of foreign influence in American politics. It is a reminder that even the most powerful governments can be manipulated by those who are willing to use deception and propaganda to achieve their goals.

The legacy of the Washington lobbyists is still felt today. The climate of fear and suspicion that they created made it difficult to criticize the Soviet Union during the Cold War. This climate of fear also made it difficult to expose the crimes and atrocities committed by the Soviet government.

The disinformation spread by the lobbyists also had a lasting impact. It made it difficult for Americans to understand the true nature of the Soviet regime. This disinformation also made it easier for the Soviet Union to hide its crimes and atrocities.

The story of the Washington lobbyists who worked to promote the interests of the Stalinist dictatorship is a reminder that we must be vigilant against foreign influence in American politics. We must also be aware of the dangers of disinformation. We must never allow those who would use deception and propaganda to achieve their goals to succeed.

Turkmeniscam: How Washington Lobbyists Fought to Flack for a Stalinist Dictatorship

by Ken Silverstein

4.5 out of 5