1949
April 29, 1949
FEC - Certificate of Incorporation filed under the name “Committee for Free Europe”
May 15, 1949
FEC – Filed name change “National Committee For Free Europe” (NCFE)
June 2, 1949
FEC – Three operating committees inside NCFE were discussed
June 16, 1949
FEC – The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors (EC) was formed [1]
July 7, 1949
FEC – The powers of EC were established “to exercise the powers of the Board when the Board is not in session”
[1] Not to be confused with “Executive Committee,” the rubric used after 1959 to refer to the CIA (Comment by Ross Johnson)
*All pictures here and further are taken from the FEC/RFE Blinken OSA Collection.
1950
January 1, 1950
FEC - Fundraising Committee Formed (Dulles, Clay, Poole)
March 16, 1950
FEC – Robert Lang sent to Europe to purchase equipment and organize foreign personnel for the creation of the radio [1]
April 3,1950
FEC – A National Council Division (NCD) was formed to conduct relations with the National Committees, exile individuals, and organizations
FEC – Budget for Radio increased to cover the cost of three shortwave transmitters
April 11, 1950
FEC – Filed name change for “National Committee for a Free Europe” (NCFE)
April 21, 1950
FEC – Informed that Maynard Barnes (Office of Policy Coordination) was sent to Europe to investigate opening a European office
August 24, 1950
FEC – Certificate of Incorporation amended to widen the roles of the various committees
September 28, 1950
RFE – Approval given for the building of a medium wave transmitter in Holzkirchen, Germany
November 15, 1950
RFE – The aims and objectives of RFE were presented by Poole and Altschul
November 15, 1950
RFE – Board approved the installation of two shortwave transmitters in Biblis, Germany.
December 7, 1950
RFE – Approved the construction of a power installation at Holzkirchen, and a monitoring and receiving station at Schleissheim, Germany
[2] This Chronology is based on data taken from summarized an anonymized FEC document “FEC Board Meetings Highlights, 1949-1976,” without an indication of the precise date of creation. The complete set of original FEC Board minutes is available in the Hoover Library and Archives - RFE/RL Corporate Records. For more check: http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt4489q9wz/dsc/#ref92
[3] Lange’s principal mission was to try and rent or otherwise arrange to use existing shortwave transmitter facilities (Comment by Ross Johnson)
1951
February 15, 1951
RFE – Portuguese authorities approved NCFE’s plans for building a second shortwave transmitter facility
February 15, 1951
RFE - Lang requested additional funds to make RFE operational in Germany by May. Board agreed.
April 12, 1951
RFE – Sociedade Anonima de Radio Rentransmissao (RARET) formed in Portugal to manage construction and running of the transmitter facilities in Portugal
May 17, 1951
FEC – Poole reported the creation of a Free European University in Exile in Strasbourg, France
July 19, 1951
FEC – NCFE office was opened in the La Salle Apartment Hotel in Washington D.C.
August 2, 1951
RFE – Initiation of Hungarian programming was under study
August 23, 1951
RFE – Hungarian Broadcasting Review Committee submitted a favorable Report initiating Hungarian Broadcasting
October 19, 1951
FEC – “Santa Claus” operation discussed (Sending of penicillin and other drugs by balloons to behind the Iron Curtain). (The plan was never implemented)
December 20, 1951
FEC – Budget for 1951-52 approved, total 11, 191,430 USD. (RFE – 7, 535,895 USD)
1952
January 3, 1952
RFE – Lang reported on the use of funds for Polish programming
May 22, 1952
RFE – FEC Board approved the sale of the Lampertheim station to the American Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia, for 85 000 USD
July 17, 1952
RFE – RFE Budget of total 13,632,432 approved. Discussion over London – Paris program office was raised.
November 25, 1952
RFE – RFE appointed committee to discuss the problems that RFE was having in Germany
1953
February 19, 1953
RFE – FEC Board agreed to send representatives to Turkey to discuss setting up a broadcasting station to reach Bulgaria
March 17, 1953
RFE – RFE discussed negotiations with the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Bonn for the legal recognition of NCFE as a foreign membership corporation
April 21, 1953
RFE – Budget for 1953 – 54. Total operating and capital 18,336,206. (RFE – 11,173,748 USD)
May 19, 1953
RFE – The idea of live broadcasting from Portugal was discussed and dismissed.[1]
July 14, 1953
FEC – Discussion of Operation Prospero (leaflet campaign for Czechoslovakia)
July 14, 1953
FEC – Board agreed that a Strategy Board should be formed to coordinate all divisions. This group would be a panel of division chiefs who would meet frequently. De Neufville was appointed to serve as executive secretary for both.
October 2, 1953
RFE – Board approved the formation of a panel of 38 American Area Policy Specialists to act as consultants to RFE
[1] Portugal did have a small staff of broadcasters in exile as backup for live broadcasts if/when program transmissions from Munich were interrupted (Comment by Ross Johnson).
1954
February 15, 1954
FEC – approved creation of four new vice-presidential positions. Elected Messrs. Lang, Tyson, Walker Yarrow
March 5, 1954
FEC – NCFE – Decided to change name to Free Europe Committee Inc. (FEC)
September 20, 1954
RFE - Board informed about Turkish project well received by officials. Board approved preparation for the moving of a mobile transmitter to Turkey from Cham, Germany.
September 20, 1954
FEC – Committee of Divisional Directors formed.
1955
May 24, 1955
FEC – State Department requested that FEC support the newly formed Romanian National Committee in terms of stipends, office costs, and travel costs.
May 24, 1955
FEC – Budget for 1955 – 56. Operating and capital costs of total 14,378,355.00 USD
1956-57
March 15, 1956
West German Government informally requested an end to the balloon activities, Czech foreign minister Vaclav David complained to UN Secretary General that FEC balloons violated the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation of 1944
April 2, 1956
FRE – Granted an additional 5 151 000 USD in funds to open London office and to expand transmitter in Lisbon to counter Soviet jamming.
January 8, 1957
FEC – Number of Directors increased from fifteen to twenty
March 28, 1957
All balloon sites were deactivated.
April 8, 1957
FEC – Since the Hungarian Revolution FEC has worked to consolidate elements of Hungarian leadership in exile
July 8, 1957
FEC - Budget for 1957-58 16 700 328 USD
July 8, 1957
FEC – balloon operations completely suspended
September 5, 1957
FEC – FEC President expressed interest in expanding FEC activities in Asia, Africa and South America
1958-59
March 10, 1958
RFE – German Authorities take issue with security clearances of RFE employees.
March 10, 1958
RFE – Program Analyst Group formed with Mr. Stankovic as Chair, Schell in charge of the Hungarian branch, Elbot of the Czech branch, Pascaleff in charge of the Bulgarian branch
April 8, 1958
FEC – Board agreed to form West European Advisory Board
July 15, 1958
FEC – Bozz, Allen and Hamilton’s management survey discussed and recommended organizational changes were accepted.
October 3, 1958
RFE – Consideration given to broadcasting to Baltic States due to a reduction of VOA coverage.
October 3, 1958
FEC – Advisory Group of FEC to survey the need for increased FEC activity in Latin America
March 12, 1959
FEC Board agreed on a change to the FEC Charter that permitted minor attempts to influence legislation.
April 14, 1959
FEC – West European Advisory Council (WEAC) was approved by the State Department
October 7, 1959
FEC President informed the meeting of a change in financing FEC’s activities. The Crusade For Freedom Funds could be used to fund RFE and now also other FEC activities
1960-62
January 29, 1960
FEC paper “Evaluation of Current FEC Mission” to be distributed for WEAC meeting. The term “liberation” to be down played and “independence” used instead.
January 29, 1960
FEC paper “Reorientation of Exile Support” detailed reorganization plans to provide a more efficient use of the individual exile and exile groups
April 7, 1960
FEC – Office of the Vice-President for Administration was created. C. Rodney Smith was elected to the new post.
June 14, 1960
Certain WEAC members proposed to create a small organization in Europe similar to FEC. It was rejected due to lack of funds
October 6, 1960
FEC – Utilization of Echo Satellite was possible through the cooperation with the US government. Messages were sent to Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary
October 6, 1960
FEC – African placements discussed
December 8, 1960
RFE – Board proposed the use of the Portugal facilities for broadcast to South America when it is not in use by RFE
January 27, 1961
RFE – Board agreed on the reorganization RFE’s NYC office. The Office of Director was abolished and the post of European Director was placed directly under the President. Other organizational changes were adopted.
June 8, 1961
RFE – Office of the Director of Radio Free Europe was transferred to Munich and the former RFE headquarters in New York eliminated. The RFE programming unit in NYC remained unchanged.
June 8, 1961
FEC – A Policy Group was established in the President’s Office to serve all divisions
November 9, 1961
RFE – 1 020 000 USD allocated for the new transmitter to be located in Portugal, Biblis, Germany or at a new location, due to increased jamming and competition
March 3, 1962
FEC – decision to request additional budgetary funds for four transmitters
RFE – Burks, Deputy Director for Political Affairs in RFE Munich, explained that RFE policy was a strategic operation, i.e. kept contact with the target areas, preserved hope, and functioned as a free channel. RFE was also engaged in a “tactical assault” in a major effort to undermine Communist morale and unity.
August 16, 1962
FEC – Actual total expenditures for 1961-62 were 15 178 184 USD and for 1962-63 budget allotments were 16 929 104 USD.
1963-65
February 7, 1963
RFE – The four requested transmitters were expected to be in service by Sept. 1963
February 7, 1963
RFE – Richard C. Rowson, Deputy Director of Policy, reported on the recent policy symposium (the purpose of which was to bring together the FEC policy group, RFE policy Board, top experts from NYC and Munich, Munich broadcast Directors and NY desk Chiefs and consultants). (Document to be on display).
February 7, 1963
RFE – Rowson outlined RFE objectives: to work for greater freedom from Russian interference in internal affairs and to bring about the diffusion of power outside the communist party to new non-communist party elites and other strata of society.
September 11, 1963
RFE – Budget for 1963-64 decreased to 17 360 000 USD from 18 000 000 USD.
January 14, 1965
FEC – Estimated income for 1965-66 budget not to be increased over 17 550 000 USD
June 3, 1965
FEC – J.C. Grew died on May 25, 1965
June 3, 1965
FEC – Budgetary restraints were accepted to accommodate budget ceiling imposed by primary sponsor
October 28, 1965
FEC – Discussion of closing of the London and Vienna offices in response to budget crisis. Finally, Vienna office was closed and London office remained.
October 28, 1965
FEC – Change in name from FEC, Inc. to FE, Inc. was approved (FE)
1966-69
April 14, 1966.
FE – A Policy Committee of the Board of Directors and Forward Planning Committee were established
June 16, 1966
FE – Whitney H. Shepardson, former President, life time Honorary Member of the Board died on May 29, 1966.
September 8, 1966
RFE –A new budgetary process was established which reduced the possibility of a budget crisis: a five year RFE Capital Plan.
September 28, 1967
FE – Newly created sub-committee of the Boards of FE, Inc. and the RFE Fund reaffirmed.
December 21, 1967
FE – Discussion of the Katzenbach Report to accept proposed transfer of funds for the operations of FE, Inc. and RFE
June 6, 1969
FE – Clay presented a plan for consolidation of the Boards of RFE Fund and FE, Inc.
June 6, 1969
RFE – First Secretary of the Communist Party Husak and the Czech Minister of Interior attacked RFE for counter-revolutionary activities in Czechoslovakia
August 17, 1969
RFE – Advertising Council requested to conduct 1970 RFE national campaign
August 17,1969
RFE – Mission of the Radio was defined as to sustain the spirit of freedom among the peoples of Eastern Europe. It was stated that it could not be accomplished in the short-run but most likely through several generations
August 17,1969
FE – Obtained a review by appropriate authorities of FE’s budget requirements for 1970 with a view of eliminating the contemplated reductions
October 2, 1969
FE – Certification of Incorporation was amended. It provided an increase in the maximum number of Directors from twenty to thirty
October 9, 1969
FE – Five Year Study completed with new budget recommendations
1970-73
April 9, 1970
FE – The Primary Sponsor agreed to fund FE, Inc. for 1972 and 1973 with appropriate increase to compensate for inflation. It led to the lay-off of 30 people from the RFE office in NYC. The primary sponsor agreed to the Program of Modernization
April 9, 1970
FE – Polish Foreign Minister raised the issue of RFE’s license to operate in West Germany to West German delegation. The German Foreign Office appointed an official to evaluate the Polish complains.
April 9, 1970
FE – Jamming resumed in Czechoslovakia while Bulgaria continued to jam heavily. Poland maintained some out of country jamming. There was little or no interference in Hungary and Romania
June 11, 1970
FE – Since 1962 non-radio expenditures were reduced from 5.1 million to 1.4 million USD. Nothing was left but the operation of the radio and its administrative support
June 11, 1970
FE - Polish complaints sent to Foreign Office of West Germany resulted in a request to RFE to moderate their broadcast to Poland. The Board expressed concern that the West German authorities might withdraw RFE’s license.
June 11, 1970
FE – Discussion of Senator Case’s announcement regarding RFE’s government relationship. State Department was considering some alternatives to the present funding arrangements while achieving the same purpose
April 4, 1971
FE – The State Department concluded that the best alternative would be the establishment (by the US Congress) of an independent, privately incorporated non-governmental corporation to serve as the funding channel.
April 4, 1971
FE – The German Government indicated its preference that RFE’s support should come through another agency and the connection with the CIA should be terminated.
October 14, 1971
RFE - At Senator Fulbright’s request RFE was investigated by the Legislative Reference Service of the Library of Congress and by the General Accounting Office
October 12, 1972
RFE – RFE Fund announced that it was approximately 250 000 USD behind the level of contribution reached the year before
October 12, 1972
RFE – Security problems continued in Portugal. RFE had some power outages resulting from industrial sabotage
December 6, 1972
FE – A Presidential Study Commission requested an internal report on RFE and RL
February 8, 1973
FE - Presidential Study Commission’s Report was delivered to White House on Jan. 31. 1973. It recommended the formation of new Board responsible for allocating funds for the radios (BIB – Board for International Broadcasting)
June 14, 1973
FE - It was agreed upon that Radio Liberty should pay for its share of the RFE news service
August 29, 1973
FE - Senator Fulbright’s amendment authorizing financial year 1975 at 50% was defeated in the Senate
October 4, 1973
FE – Congress passed an authorization bill for RFE and RL for the fiscal year
October 4, 1973
FE – The State Department requested the Corporation to submit nominations for the five-man Board for International Broadcasting which was established under the authorization bill
November 29, 1973
FE – The Office of Management and Budget accepted the Radios’ proposal to reduce operation level through the consolidation of RFE and RL
June 20, 1974
FE – Clay reported that the leadership for the new corporation RFE/RL had still not been resolved
October 17, 1974
FE – Plans for consolidation included retaining the two Boards of Directors with separate Chairmen, and appointing a single President for both organizations and a single Field Director. The two corporations (RFE and RL) would maintain their respective broadcasting departments with a single support staff providing technical and administrative services for both.
October 17, 1974
FE – Directors looked at a document in which two Presidents had agreed that they would resign from their respective positions as of 1.1.1976. Meanwhile Durkee took primary responsibility for carrying out the consolidation plans in Europe, while Sargent took on the same task in the US
October 17, 1974
FE – BIB (Board of International Broadcasting) sent two construction experts to look into the construction plans related to the consolidation in Munich
December 19, 1974
FE – BIB said that the Radios’ consolidation program had not been going fast enough and that it may not satisfy Congress
December 19, 1974
FE – BIB sent a letter to Senator Tummey (published in Congressional Record), which - according to Durkee - contained false and seriously misleading statements together with unsubstantiated criticism of the Radios’