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Hosted at the Holiday Inn on Independence Mall, this three-day conference from November 24 to 26, 1972, brought together high-profile conservative figures to outline what they perceived as the most pressing threats to the United States: communism, feminist movements, and domestic “subversive” agendas. Organized by the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade (CACC)—an organization led by the Australian physician Dr. Fred C. Schwarz—and a local Philadelphia Citizens Committee, the seminar sought to educate (and alarm) attendees about the supposed perils facing America.

Historical Context

By the early 1970s, the Cold War’s balance of power seemed to be shifting. The Vietnam War continued to polarize Americans, and President Nixon’s pursuit of détente with the Soviet Union both relieved and unsettled different segments of the U.S. public. The Christian Anti-Communism Crusade had begun in the late 1950s, but it found new life by casting emerging social issues—such as the women’s liberation movement—as part of a broader communist plot to weaken American values and authority.

Strategy and Key Themes

1. All-Encompassing “Subversion”
   Seminar presentations tied a broad array of phenomena to the communist threat. Sessions ranged from “What is Communism?” and “Leninism” to “Women’s Liberation and the Subversion of the Family,” painting feminism, social reform movements, and liberal policies as interlinked with global Marxist ideology.
2. Prominent Speakers as “Experts”
   • Dr. Fred C. Schwarz (CACC founder) delivered talks on communist doctrines, continuing his decades-long crusade against atheistic Marxism.
   • Phyllis Schlafly—already well-known for her opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment—addressed how women’s liberation allegedly undermined families.
   • Miss Juanita Castro, sister to Fidel Castro, offered supposed “insider” revelations about life under Cuban communism.
   • Herbert A. Philbrick, famed for the autobiographical I Led Three Lives (about his time as an undercover FBI informant), spoke on infiltration strategies.
   • Joseph Dunner and Charles E. Rice provided viewpoints linking communism to broader attacks on Jewish communities and constitutional governance.
3. Christian Framing
   A Sunday slot, “Time for Church,” and consistent references to moral and spiritual imperatives underlined how the CACC blended religious identity with patriotic anti-communism. The schedule’s structure aimed to recruit believers into what they saw as a righteous struggle against “Godless” subversion.
4. Workshops, Films, and Networking
   The event’s timetable integrated film screenings—The Truth About Communism, The Ultimate Weapon, and The Riot Makers—with dinner-hour discussions. This mix of media, lectures, and fellowship fostered strong group cohesion, helping participants see themselves as active fighters in a cultural and ideological battle.

Language, Imagery, and Symbolism

• Patriotic Visual Elements: The brochure design features iconic Philadelphia imagery (Independence Hall), reinforcing the idea that their crusade defended the nation’s founding ideals.
• Wartime Terminology: Words like “enemy,” “infiltration,” and “liberation” evoke battles for hearts and minds, pushing attendees to view cultural changes as a stealth war waged by communists.
• Heroic Stance: By framing church attendance and anti-communist fervor as twin pillars of good citizenship, the seminar taps into Cold War moral dualities—pious patriots versus an atheistic, tyrannical foe.

Impact

In the short run, gatherings like this sought to unify conservative factions in Philadelphia and beyond, channeling fears of global socialism into specific policy battles—such as opposing the ERA or certain Supreme Court decisions. Over time, these seminars helped lay the groundwork for later conservative coalitions that coalesced around religious, cultural, and patriotic themes. Their lasting imprint is evident in the rhetoric of subsequent movements that continue to link social policy debates with perceived threats to American sovereignty or moral fiber.

Today, the Philadelphia Anti-Subversive Seminar brochure stands as a piece of vivid historical evidence, showing how anti-communist crusaders adapted their message to an era of social upheaval. It illustrates the blend of religion, national identity, and staunch anti-Marxism that shaped segments of American political life during the waning years of the Vietnam era and beyond.

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