Charles Douglas (C. D.) Jackson (March 16, 1902 – September 18, 1964) was a U.S. government psychological warfare expert who served in the Office of War Information in World War II, and later was Special Assistant to the President in the Eisenhower administration. He was also a publisher of Fortune and Life magazines, and a senior executive at Time Inc.

Life and career

Jackson was born in New York City. After graduating from Princeton University in 1924, he entered the private sector. In 1931 he took a position as Assistant to the President of Time Inc. In 1940 he was President of the Council for Democracy, and from 1942 to 1943, Special Assistant to U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Laurence Steinhardt.

After the war, Jackson was managing director of Time-Life International. He later characterized his job as "waging psychological warfare against the Communists" under the guidance of Times founder Henry Luce. In 1949, Jackson became publisher of Fortune magazine. From 1951 to 1952, he was president of the anticommunist Free Europe Committee, and was a speechwriter for Dwight Eisenhower's successful 1952 presidential campaign. He was also a member of the covert operations group known as the Operations Coordinating Board. When joining the White House, Jackson took a leave of absence from Fortune. His new job title was Special Assistant to the President for International Affairs, with a salary of $15,000 a year. Jackson was reportedly one of the writers of Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" speech delivered at the UN General Assembly in December 1953. Jackson represented the U.S. as a delegate at the UN's Ninth General Assembly in late 1954.

In the early 1950s, Jackson helped establish the Bilderberg Group and ensured U.S. participation. He attended most of the Bilderberg Group meetings from 1954 to 1964.

Jackson was instrumental in creating Radio Free Europe, and he defended its mission to promote American values throughout the world. When the organization was accused of fomenting anti-Soviet rebellions behind the Iron Curtain, he stated: "Over the years, Radio Free Europe has never, in a single broadcast or leaflet, deviated from its essential policy, and did not broadcast a single program during the recent Polish and Hungarian developments which could be described as an 'incitement' program." To counter Soviet propaganda about the mistreatment of Negroes in the U.S., Jackson emphasized "the significant progress toward full equality brought about by the democratic system", and championed Porgy and Bess as illustrative of the social and cultural advancement that was occurring.

In the late 1950s, Jackson resumed working in the publishing industry. He was administrative vice president at Life magazine, and then in April 1960 was promoted to publisher of the magazine. In 1958 he briefly returned to the White House to aid President Eisenhower as a speechwriter and consultant during the Lebanon crisis. Upon watching the disturbing film on November 24, Jackson ordered it locked away and denied public viewing until an appropriate later time.

Jackson was Time Inc.'s Senior Vice President before his death at age 62 in September 1964.

See also

  • U.S. President's Committee on Information Activities Abroad

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References

  • Papers of Marie McCrum (secretary to Jackson) at Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
  • C. D. Jackson Biographic profile at Spartacus Educational