People-to-People Program
The People-to-People Program was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on September 11, 1956 to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures. President Eisenhower felt that creating understanding between people was essential to building the road to enduring peace and envisioned programs such as city affiliations, pen-pals, stamp exchanges, international sporting events, musical concerts, hospitality programs, theatrical tours and book drives as the means to achieving that goal - a critical goal in the existing Cold War climate.
The idea for People-to-People was President Eisenhower's but he envisioned the execution and implementation of this program coming from the country's citizens, not their government; however, the program did have initial links to the U.S. government through the United States Information Agency (USIA). The People-to-People Program was comprised of forty committees chaired by prominent leaders, businessmen and citizens from all walks of American life. The committees ranged from a Cartoonists Committee to a Sports Committee to a Medical Committee and were charged with coordinating programs and events in their areas of expertise.
“If we are going to take advantage of the assumption that all people want peace, then the problem is for people to get together and to leap governments--if necessary to evade governments--to work out not one method but thousands of methods by which people can gradually learn a little bit more of each other."
---President Eisenhower's remarks at the People-to-People Conference, September 11, 1956
Mission of the United States Information Agency, 1954 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 909, OF 247 1954 (1)]
Congratulations letter from President Eisenhower on 1st anniversary of the USIA. July 28, 1954 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 909, OF 247 1954 (2)]
Press Release regarding June 12 White House Conference on People-to-People Partnership. May 31, 1956 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 930, 325 (2)]
Letter from John Hanes Jr. regarding response to student exchange program. June 29, 1956 [John Foster Dulles Papers, Special Assistant Series, Chronological Subseries, Box 10, Macomber-Hanes Chronological June 1956 (1)]
Letter, Abbott Washburn to Gabriel Hauge, August 27, 1956 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 910, OF 247 1956 (1)]
Memorandum of Conference with President. August 31, 1956 [DDE's Papers as President, DDE Diary Series, Box 17, August 1956 Diary-Staff Memos]
President Eisenhower's remarks in Washington, D.C. September 11, 1956 [Public Papers of the President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1956]
Newsletter, People-to-People News, Volume 1, No. 2. October 1956 [DDE's Records as President, PPF, Box 851, 47 People-to-People Foundation]
Memorandum from Abbott Washburn, USIA, to Staff Secretary Andrew Goodpaster regarding People-to-People Foundation, January 1957
Memorandum of Conference with President. March 5, 1957 [DDE's Papers as President, DDE Diary Series, Box 22, March 1957 Diary-Staff Memos (2)]
Summary of Report from Veterans Committee of People-to-People. July 1957 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 935, 325-AA Veterans Organ. Comm.]
Memorandum from President Eisenhower to Sherman Adams. August 12, 1957 (attachment not included) [DDE's Papers as President, DDE Diary Series, Box 26, August 1957-DDE Dictation]
Memorandum of Conference with President regarding Ford Foundation support of the People-to-People Foundation. October 10, 1957 [DDE's Papers as President, DDE Diary Series, Box 27, October 1957 Staff Notes (2)]
Letter, President Eisenhower to Henry Ford II regarding People-to-People Foundation. October 10, 1957 [DDE's Papers as President, Administration Series, Box 29, P-t-P Inc.]
President Eisenhower's Notes for Files re fundraising difficulties. October 11, 1957 [DDE's Papers as President, Administration Series, Box 29, P-t-P Inc.]
Letter, Charles Wilson, President of People-to-People Foundation, to Sherman Adams regarding Ford Foundation Memorandum. October 17, 1957 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 931, 325 (8)]
Letter, Charles Wilson, to President Eisenhower regarding difficulties of the People-to-People Foundation. October 21, 1957 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 931, 325 (8)]
Memorandum, Frederic Fox to Fred Dearborn regarding an early (1945) Eisenhower reference to "people to people." November 8, 1957 (includes President's remarks to the International Congress of Actuaries, October 21, 1957)
Letter regarding the People-to-People Sports Committee. December 25, 1957 [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, General Files Series, Box 89, PTP Program 1957 (1)]
Letter, Edward Eagan, People-to-People Sports Committee, to Jacqueline Cochran, Board Member. December 3, 1957 [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, General Files Series, Box 89, PTP Program 1957 (1)]
Article, U.S. News and World Report. January 17, 1958 [DDE's Papers as President, Administration Series, Box 29, P-t-P Inc.]
People-to-People memorandum regarding program dilemma. March 1958 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 932, 325 (9)]
People-to-People Sports Committee Progress Report. May 11, 1958 [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, General Files Series, Box 98, PTP Program 1958 (2)]
Letter, Sherman Adams to Charles Wilson regarding lack of financial support for People-to-People Foundation. March 17, 1958 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 932, 325 (9)]
Memorandum regarding People-to-People Music Committee. April 30, 1958 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 935, 325-HH Music Committee]
Letter, Sherman Adams to Charles Wilson regarding dissolution of People-to-People Foundation. May 19, 1958 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 932, 325 (9)]
Foreign Service Dispatch regarding the People-to-People sponsored visit of the Pakistan Cricket Team. August 6, 1958 [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, General Files Series, Box 98, PTP Program 1958 (1)]
Letter, George V. Allen to Christian Herter, Under Secretary of State, regarding termination of the People-to-People Foundation. November 21, 1958
Navy Report on the People-to-People Program in Morocco. December 19, 1958 (pages 1-6 only) [Evan P. Aurand Papers, Naval Aide Series, Box 19, P-t-P Program, Morocco (1)]
Memorandum regarding the chartering of a Navy Hospital Ship for Project HOPE (Health Opportunity for People Everywhere). February 16, 1959 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 934, OF 325-W-1 (1)]
Project HOPE pamphlet [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 934, OF 325-W-1 (1)]
Article, Life, "A New 'Great White Fleet'." July 27, 1959 [C.D. Jackson Papers, Box 57, Great White Fleet 1963 (1)]
Letter from Al Capp, Chairman of the People-to-People Cartoonists Committee. August 5, 1959 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 935, 325-Z Cartoonist Comm.]
Memorandum of telephone conversation between Dennis FitzGerald and Carl Harr regarding Project HOPE. October 26, 1959 [Dennis FitzGerald Papers, Box 28, Telephone Conv Oct-Nov-Dec 1959 (5)]
Memorandum regarding Project HOPE. November 27, 1959 [DDE's Records as President, Official File, Box 934, OF 325-W-1 (1)]
Recommendations from Joyce Hall, Hallmark Corp. to Conger Reynolds of USIA. January 21, 1961 [DDE's Post-Presidential Papers, 1961 Principal File, Box 16, PTP-Joyce Hall (2)]
Memorandum regarding Project HOPE from Edgar Smith to C.D. Jackson, Publisher, Life magazine, and Mr. Jackson's reply. January 22, 1963 [C.D. Jackson Papers, Box 57, Great White Fleet 1963 (2)]
Pamphlet regarding the High School Ambassador Program, 1970 [Jacqueline Cochran Papers, General Files Series, Box 230, PTP Program]
Documents regarding projects inspired by the People-to-People Program:
South Plains Lions Club (Texas) [DDE’s Records as President, Official File, Box 932, 325 (13)]
German-American "over the garden fence" [DDE’s Records as President, Official File, Box 932, 325 (12)]
Memorandum regarding presentation of People-to-People Award [DDE’s Records as President, Official File, Box 932, 325 (12)]
Greater Kansas City People-to-People Council [DDE’s Records as President, Official File, Box 932, 325 (12)]
University of Pennsylvania [DDE’s Records as President, Official File, Box 932, 325 (12)]
Greater Miami Books Abroad Committee [DDE’s Records as President, Official File, Box 932, 325 (12)]
Motorola's People-to-People program [DDE's Papers as President, Administration File, Box 2, George V. Allen-USIA]
Photographs:
President Eisenhower receives John Hanes and Edward Lipscomb at the White House. They presented a People-to-People poster in connection with the program. May 20, 1957
Mrs. Zelma George talks with President Eisenhower in connection with the People-to-People program at the White House following the President's trip around the world. June 24, 1959
President Eisenhower receives Committee Chairmen of the People-to-People Program at the White House. October 19, 1959
James Lambie, Special Assistant to the President, presents gifts to the winners of the People-to-People nationwide program, sponsored by the Crusade for Freedom in support of Radio Free Europe. July 11, 1960
President Eisenhower receives participants in the International Field Hockey Festival which was held in connection with the People-to-People Sports Committee. He greeted the group in the White House Rose Garden. October 11, 1960
Rededication of the Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri. November 10, 1961
Charter Night of the Abilene, Kansas chapter of People-to-People held in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library Auditorium. November 18, 1963
Dwight D. Eisenhower presents a citation to Dr. Walsh who served on the S.S. Hope hospital ship. November 15, 1967
For a listing of collections at the Eisenhower Presidential Library with materials pertaining to this topic, please see: People-to-People Subject Guide.
