Flyer: "Do You Know How to Combat Communism?"

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This tri-fold brochure promotes a “School for Anti-Communists,” hosted March 15–19, 1960, at San Francisco’s Whitcomb Motor Hotel. Organized under the auspices of the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade (CACC), the event promised “basic information concerning the Communist mind, morals, motives, methods.” Its bold cover features an octopus-like Soviet monster wrapping tentacles around a globe, with blood dripping overhead—a dramatic portrayal of communist expansion threatening to engulf the free world.

Historical Context

At the dawn of the 1960s, the Cold War was simmering. Heightened tensions in Berlin and other global flashpoints fueled widespread alarm about perceived communist infiltration and subversion. Organizations like the CACC harnessed such fear to stage regional “schools” where attendees could attend workshops, lectures, and films. In the wake of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s investigations, anti-communist fervor remained potent, and many ordinary Americans sought guidance on identifying and combating “the Red menace.”

Structure and Themes

Detailed Schedule: Five days of morning-to-evening sessions included topics like “Philosophy of Communism,” “The Communist Party and Captive Organizations,” and “Debate with a Communist.”
Prominent Faculty: Speakers included Fred Schwarz, M.D. (leading the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade), Herbert Philbrick (an ex-FBI informant dramatized in the TV series I Led Three Lives), W. Cleon Skousen (ex-FBI, author of The Naked Communist), and Fred Schlafly (attorney on anti-communist committees). Their credentials lent official or moral weight to the notion that Communist infiltration required professional and spiritual countermeasures.
Religious Undercurrent: The Christian framing underscores a recurring argument: Communism was not just a political threat but a moral and spiritual one, warranting the involvement of clergymen and lay faithful alike.

Language, Imagery, and Symbolism

Octopus Motif: The menacing tentacled creature has historically symbolized a vast, strangling power. Here, it illustrates Communism’s supposed global ambitions.
Blood and Red Hue: Red drips at the top of the cover echo widespread anti-communist imagery, visually reinforcing the notion of Communism as a predatory force.
Dramatic Rhetoric: Phrases like “Do You Know How to Combat Communism?” conjure an existential crisis that demands immediate engagement—a staple technique in Cold War propaganda.

Impact and Legacy

Events like this “Anti-Communist School” served as rallying points for conservative activists, equipping them with arguments, propaganda tools, and networking opportunities. Over the longer run, the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade and similar groups contributed to shaping a political culture deeply suspicious of socialist ideas, influencing everything from local school board decisions to national party platforms. Pamphlets like this offer a striking window into the intense fear—and organizing energy—generated by the Cold War confrontation between superpowers.

Special thanks to the USC Digital Imaging Lab for their support in digitizing this item.