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Book Review
Cold War Radio
The Dangerous History of American Broadcasting in Europe 1950-1989
by Richard H Cummings
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Radio Free Europe ad.
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Although intended for listeners in Eastern Europe, programs from
Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were regularly heard from their
powerful shortwave transmitters across Asia and the Pacific.
Listeners in this region regularly wrote to both stations, most to
obtain confirmation cards and promotional materials, but some wanting
to hear familiar radio voices from their homelands and in their own
language.
Through public fund raising and advertising campaigns in the USA, the
general public probably believed comments like those from
presidential candidate Dwight D Eisenhower that these stations were
engaged in a 'Crusade for Freedom'.
It's doubtful if most listeners also knew that both stations were
actually being continuously targeted by a variety of real threats.
These ranged from low level efforts to have staff spy in return for
'protection' for their families still living in the Soviet bloc, to
attempts to find out how the stations conducted their audience
listening research within the target countries, through to more
serious [and sometimes successful] attempts at kidnapping, assault,
and even murder.
The 'highlight' of these activities was a terrorist bombing
masterminded by Carlos 'The Jackal' at the station headquarters in
Munich. Who says that shortwave broadcasts have no impact?
Richard was director of security at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
for 15 turbulent years [1980-1995], covering the period when the
Berlin Wall fell and Eastern Europeans again connected with their
fellow Europeans.
Admitting he's not the person to write the usual radio station story
about programs, policies and bland personalities, Richard instead
delivers a shortwave radio thriller.
From detailed bombing plots, kidnappings, the infamous umbrella
murders, counter intelligence activities and much more, the book
takes readers deep inside a world that their casual listening to
these shortwave stations would never have revealed.
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The Dangerous History of American Broadcasting in Europe 1950-1989 jacket.
© Richard H Cummings.
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Richard draws on personal experience, delisted intelligence reports
from Washington, Moscow, Bucharest, Berlin and other European
capitals, interviews and his own collections of materials to show us
the underbelly of international shortwave radio just a few decades
ago.
However, it's a very sharp reminder that some governments can still
fear radio and its ability to broadcast uncontrolled news and views.
Governments today may not resort to using batteries of anti-aircraft
guns and fighter jets to destroy 'freedom' message balloons drifting
across their borders [and promoted by shortwave broadcasts] as the
Czech authorities did in the early days of Radio Free Europe and
Radio Liberty.
But 'freedom of the airwaves' is still an ongoing and hard fought war
more than 50 years later, even within many democracies that pride
themselves on strong human rights and press freedoms.
In 1950, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was 'sold' as 'a campaign
sponsored by private American citizens to fight the big lie with the
big truth' yet in 1969 a secret CIA report stated 'Radio Free Europe
and Radio Liberty are the oldest, largest, most costly and probably
the most successful covert action project against the Soviet Union
and Eastern Europe'.
'Cold War Radio' examines the facts. The decisions are for readers to
make. Our thanks to Richard for sharing his unique radio heritage
story and making the book available for review.
Broadcasting from within Europe has always been able to and still
does, reach across the miles and impact on the wider Pacific region.
Radio signals have always ignored the boundaries.
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