Democracy versus Communism series, 1961

Item Details

Princeton, NJ, Institute of Fiscal and Political Education/Van Nostrand, 1961 [1957], wrappers

Series of 10 booklets (6” x 9”) in colorful cardstock wrappers, stapled bindings, joined together as a group with a single brass-colored brad at lower left corners.  Each booklet is approximately 25 pages, with study questions at end.  VG condition, with minor edgewear only. Interior pages white, completely clean & unmarked. The front cover of pamphlet No.1 & back cover of No. 10 show mild rubbing, small areas of insect damage. All other pamphlets are pristine having been protected between these two outermost ones. 

Kenneth Colegrove (1886-1975) served as secretary-treasurer of the American Political Science Association from 1937-1946 & taught that subject at Northwestern University, where he remained until 1952, as he faced increasing censure for his public support of Senator Joe McCarthy & his “war on communism.” Colgrove himself described communism as “soft liberalism.’ His 1957 book, Democracy and Communism, was his best-known work, backed by the Institute of Fiscal and Political Education, a New York organization directed by a group of conservatives, educators and right‐wing supporters. After its 1961 revision, that book served as the basis for these pamphlets, approximately 2.5 million of which were printed & distributed to the US Armed Forces by the Department of Defense. Colegrove's part in the booklets came to light after former Major General Edwin A. Walker resigned from the Army following a reprimand for the right‐wing indoctrination of troops. Uncommon: Worldcat lists many copies of Colgrove’s book, but no copies in this pamphlet format.