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
Use Web Browser button to return to this page
Documents:
Mission of the United States Information Agency. 1954
Congratulations letter from President Eisenhower on 1st anniversary of the USIA. July 28, 1954
Press Release regarding June 12 White House Conference on People-to-People Partnership. May 31, 1956
Letter from John Hanes Jr. regarding response to student exchange program. June 29, 1956
Letter, Abbott Washburn to Gabriel Hauge. August 27, 1956
Memorandum of Conference with President. August 31, 1956
President Eisenhower's remarks in Washington, D.C. September 11, 1956
Newsletter, People-to-People News, Volume 1, No. 2. October 1956.
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
Summary of Report from Veterans Committee of People-to-People. July 1957
Memorandum from President Eisenhower to Sherman Adams. August 12, 1957 (attachment not included)
Memorandum of Conference with President regarding Ford Foundation support of the People-to-People Foundation. October 10, 1957
Letter, President Eisenhower to Henry Ford II regarding People-to-People Foundation. October 10, 1957
President Eisenhower's Notes for Files re fundraising difficulties. October 11, 1957
Letter, Charles Wilson, President of People-to-People Foundation, to Sherman Adams regarding Ford Foundation Memorandum. October 17, 1957
Letter, Charles Wilson, to President Eisenhower regarding difficulties of the People-to-People Foundation. October 21, 1957
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
Letter, Edward Eagan, People-to-People Sports Committee, to Jacqueline Cochran, Board Member. December 3, 1957
Article, U.S. News and World Report. January 17, 1958
People-to-People memorandum regarding program dilemma. March 1958
People-to-People Sports Committee Progress Report. May 11, 1958
Letter, Sherman Adams to Charles Wilson regarding lack of financial support for People-to-People Foundation. March 17, 1958
Memorandum regarding People-to-People Music Committee. April 30, 1958
Letter, Sherman Adams to Charles Wilson regarding dissolution of People-to-People Foundation. May 19, 1958
Foreign Service Dispatch regarding the People-to-People sponsored visit of the Pakistan Cricket Team. August 6, 1958
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)
Memorandum regarding the chartering of a Navy Hospital Ship for Project HOPE (Health Opportunity for People Everywhere). February 16, 1959
Project HOPE pamphlet
Article, Life, "A New 'Great White Fleet'." July 27, 1959
Memorandum of telephone conversation between Dennis Fitzgerald and Carl Harr regarding Project HOPE. October 26, 1959
Letter from Al Capp, Chairman of the People-to-People Cartoonists Committee. August 5, 1959
Memorandum regarding Project HOPE. November 27, 1959
Recommendations from Joyce Hall, Hallmark Corp. to Conger Reynolds of USIA. January 21, 1961
Memorandum regarding Project HOPE from Edgar Smith to C.D. Jackson, Publisher, Life magazine, and Mr. Jackson's reply. January 22, 1963
Pamphlet regarding the High School Ambassador Program. 1970
Documents regarding projects inspired by the People-to-People Program:
South Plains Lions Club (Texas)
German-American "over the garden fence"
Memorandum regarding presentation of People-to-People Award
Greater Kansas City People-to-People Council
University of Pennsylvania
Greater Miami Books Abroad Committee
Motorola's People-to-People program
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
Use these searches to find information on any of the Presidential Libraries web sites. Check the box next to the library or libraries you wish to search.
Enter search terms to narrow your search.
[TOP]
Fee Schedule For Reproduction Orders
Schedule of Fees
Please complete the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library Schedule of Fees for Reproduction Services form and mail your reproductions request to the Library.
This fee schedule is for electrostatic copies, photographs, video and sound recordings. Payment may be made in cash, U.S. postal money order, bank draft, or check, to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library. Payment may also be made by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover (Novus). Remittances received from outside the U.S. must be made by international money orders payable in U.S. dollars or by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover (Novus).
[TOP]
