LETTER TO MR. F.J. MC GRANE FROM (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R003600150007-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 22, 2002
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: September 16, 1960
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2002/07/29 :CIA-RDP80B01676R003600150007-2
ER 60-T1s31a
16 September 1460
STAT
Dear M . Mc Graas:
Oa beh~elt of 2wCr. I~-allas, I waeit tQ tbarsh ~a tos
yoar xs~#tes o#' 12 September t~ma~eu#ia; an his saceat
speech t? the Vatesass of a'ese#*a Wass.
W a ~o ~?t Ji~aow Of aay ~ttost by the B'edes~tl
Goveramaat to dev+tlrap idtas each as you surest. 1si
Otis speech, Mx. ~xltes indieated tbat the proldttm- of
`acatian. psearticularl~ ~-~- the evils:-~ Comxa~usisa~, was
:nose ~-saperly a co~eenra Qf all p~rias#a citi~s+~ss.
Yeur intasfst in tb-is subject is iadee$ appr.cisted.
If I n~ alfes oae s~estioa~ tl~e emphasis ~ Charistiaa
coacepR~r preseats a pecnlias problem ire deali~ with n3anp
of the Eros world peaoples.
Siacesely~,
STAT
STAT
D f IBC hP
Distrfbu aa:
?ri~j .? Addressee
1 ~ Colonel Grogsa
:~1-ER w bas }
1-
A,saietaat tc~ the Etireetos
Approved For Release(2002/07/29 :CIA-RDP80B01676R003600150007-2
N.
 September 12~ 1960
Mr. Allen Dulles, Director
The Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Dulles:
I have read with considerable interest your speech to the Veterans of Foreign
Wars as printed in the U.S. News and World Report, dated September 5, 1960.
Your speech reads in part (p. 89): "These men disseminate ideas, and ideas
must be met by sounder and more satisfying ideals, not merely by force."
Your statement, if I understand it correctly, summarizes what is to me one
of our greatest national misconceptions: viz. confronting an idea system
(Marxism-Leninsim) primarily with weapons' systems. Our effort is, perhaps
based on the belief that a military defeat of Russia is co-extensive with
the extermination of Communism. The former is~ I believe, an effort incor
rectly conceived; and the latter is, I am convinced a dangerous assumption.
Basically, I am asking if you know whether or not our Federal Government
is making the effort to develop ideas of Christian, democracy, stretching
from metaphysics to politcal application, which may have more appeal to
other nations than our "image " appears t o have today.
It seems that the dialectics of Hegel and the materialism of Feuerbach, '
dressed up for application by Marx et. al., have won the minds of some of
the world's leaders. Andy it appears to men we have been singularly unsuc-
cessful in gaining adherents to some of our concepts.
I would like to see started an Institute of Basic Conceptual Systems; its
function would be analogous to that of a basic research organization in the
physical sciences. It would study perhaps re -formulate and re-synthesize
some of our Christian, democratic concepts. It might discover new principles
which we have neglected. We might find a 1960 Jefferson or Hamilton in our
midst. I would like to give some of my energies to starting such an organiza-
tion; I am inquiring if you would take a moment to examine the feasibility
and practicality of such an organization.
Please be assured that I am aware that your worms. load probably precludes
a detailed reply to this letter; however, if it serves no other purpose, I
hope that this letter indicates the interest of one more citizen to meet
Communism head.-on, idea for ideas to write about it and teach it to our
citizens. An informed populace will not accept it; a Christian populace
will reject it.
Sincerely yours
Approved For Release 2002/07/29: CIA-RDP80B016
 STAT
Mr. Allen Dulles, Director
Central Intelligence Agency
2.30 E St. N. W.
Washington, D. C.