Charles Douglas Jackson
Encyclopedia
General Charles Douglas Jackson (16 March 1902 – 18 September 1964) was an expert on psychological warfare
who served in the Office of Strategic Services
in World War II
and later as Special Assistant to the President in the Eisenhower administration.
Jackson was born in New York City
. After graduation from Princeton University
in 1924, he enter the private sector. In 1931 Jackson took a position with Time Inc.
In 1940 he was President of the Council for Democracy. From 1942-1943 he served as special assistant to the Ambassador to Turkey. From 1943-45 he served with the OSS. From 1944 to 1945 he was Deputy Chief at the Psychological Warfare Division
, SHAEF.
After the war, he became Managing Director of Time-Life International from 1945-49. He then became publisher of Fortune Magazine. From 1951-52 he served as President of the anti-communist Free Europe Committee
. He was a speech writer for Dwight Eisenhower's 1952 presidential campaign. He was assigned to be President Eisenhower's liaison between the newly created CIA and the Pentagon.
From February 1953 to March 1954, Jackson served as adviser to the President on psychological warfare. He worked closely with the Psychological Strategy Board
and was a member of the Operations Coordinating Board
. He was also a member of the Committee on International Information Activities known, after its chairman William Jackson
, as the Jackson Committee.
During 1953 and 1954, C. D. Jackson was key in establishing the Bilderberg Group
and ensuring American participation. He attended meetings of the group in 1957, 1958 and 1960.
Jackson was an active defender of Radio Free Europe
after the latter was accused in 1956 of having triggered the Hungarian rebellion. On November 12, 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." Others argue that some of the broadcasts were inflammatory and penned by Hungarian émigrés and that they may have caused Soviet leaders to doubt Hungarian leader Imre Nagy’s managerial skills, fear the power vacuum in Hungary, and conclude that a second military invasion was necessary.
He later served in a position at the United Nations. From 1958 to 1960 he served as a speechwriter and White House manager, after the departure of Sherman Adams
and the death of John Foster Dulles
. In 1960 he was publisher of Life magazine.
Jackson became acquainted with Whittaker Chambers
while at Time Inc. He developed a harsh opinion of Chambers as a psychopath. During the first two years of the Eisenhower administration, Jackson urged strong action by the President in dealing with personalities like Senator Joe McCarthy and Chambers. In Jackson's opinion they were damaging the anti-Communist cause with self serving and unstable behavior. Sherman Adams, Chief of Staff urged a more moderate, political approach which the President followed.
Psychological warfare
Psychological warfare , or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations , have been known by many other names or terms, including Psy Ops, Political Warfare, “Hearts and Minds,” and Propaganda...
who served in the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and later as Special Assistant to the President in the Eisenhower administration.
Jackson was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. After graduation from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1924, he enter the private sector. In 1931 Jackson took a position with Time Inc.
Time Inc.
Time Inc. is a subsidiary of the media conglomerate Time Warner, the company formed by the 1990 merger of the original Time Inc. and Warner Communications. It publishes 130 magazines, most notably its namesake, Time...
In 1940 he was President of the Council for Democracy. From 1942-1943 he served as special assistant to the Ambassador to Turkey. From 1943-45 he served with the OSS. From 1944 to 1945 he was Deputy Chief at the Psychological Warfare Division
Psychological Warfare Division
The Psychological Warfare Division of SHAEF was a joint Anglo-American organisation set-up in World War II tasked with conducting principally 'white' tactical psychological warfare against German troops in North-west Europe during and after D-Day. It was headed by US Brigadier-General Robert A...
, SHAEF.
After the war, he became Managing Director of Time-Life International from 1945-49. He then became publisher of Fortune Magazine. From 1951-52 he served as President of the anti-communist Free Europe Committee
National Committee for a Free Europe
The National Committee for a Free Europe was an American anti-communist organization, founded on March 17, 1949 in New York, which worked for the spreading of American influence in Europe and to oppose Stalin's Soviet occupation and dictatorship...
. He was a speech writer for Dwight Eisenhower's 1952 presidential campaign. He was assigned to be President Eisenhower's liaison between the newly created CIA and the Pentagon.
From February 1953 to March 1954, Jackson served as adviser to the President on psychological warfare. He worked closely with the Psychological Strategy Board
Psychological Strategy Board
The Psychological Strategy Board was a committee of the United States executive formed to coordinate and plan for psychological operations. It was formed on April 4, 1951, during the Truman administration. The board was composed of the Under Secretary of State, the Deputy Secretary of Defense,...
and was a member of the Operations Coordinating Board
Operations Coordinating Board
The Operations Coordinating Board was a committee of the United States Executive created in 1953 by President Eisenhower's Executive Order 10483...
. He was also a member of the Committee on International Information Activities known, after its chairman William Jackson
William Harding Jackson
William Harding Jackson was a U.S. civilian administrator, New York lawyer, and investment banker who served as Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Jackson also served briefly under President Dwight D...
, as the Jackson Committee.
During 1953 and 1954, C. D. Jackson was key in establishing the Bilderberg Group
Bilderberg Group
The Bilderberg Group, Bilderberg conference, or Bilderberg Club is an annual, unofficial, invitation-only conference of approximately 120 to 140 guests from North America and Western Europe, most of whom are people of influence. About one-third are from government and politics, and two-thirds from...
and ensuring American participation. He attended meetings of the group in 1957, 1958 and 1960.
Jackson was an active defender of Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a broadcaster funded by the U.S. Congress that provides news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East "where the free flow of information is either banned by government authorities or not fully developed"...
after the latter was accused in 1956 of having triggered the Hungarian rebellion. On November 12, 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." Others argue that some of the broadcasts were inflammatory and penned by Hungarian émigrés and that they may have caused Soviet leaders to doubt Hungarian leader Imre Nagy’s managerial skills, fear the power vacuum in Hungary, and conclude that a second military invasion was necessary.
He later served in a position at the United Nations. From 1958 to 1960 he served as a speechwriter and White House manager, after the departure of Sherman Adams
Sherman Adams
Llewelyn Sherman Adams was an American politician, best known as White House Chief of Staff for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the culmination of a relatively short political career that also included a stint as Governor of New Hampshire...
and the death of John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. He was a significant figure in the early Cold War era, advocating an aggressive stance against communism throughout the world...
. In 1960 he was publisher of Life magazine.
Jackson became acquainted with Whittaker Chambers
Whittaker Chambers
Whittaker Chambers was born Jay Vivian Chambers and also known as David Whittaker Chambers , was an American writer and editor. After being a Communist Party USA member and Soviet spy, he later renounced communism and became an outspoken opponent later testifying in the perjury and espionage trial...
while at Time Inc. He developed a harsh opinion of Chambers as a psychopath. During the first two years of the Eisenhower administration, Jackson urged strong action by the President in dealing with personalities like Senator Joe McCarthy and Chambers. In Jackson's opinion they were damaging the anti-Communist cause with self serving and unstable behavior. Sherman Adams, Chief of Staff urged a more moderate, political approach which the President followed.
External links
- http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/M.html Papers of Marie McCrum (Secretary to C.D. Jackson), Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library