Memorandum from C. D. Jackson Regarding the Soviet Satellite

for xl MENDRANDUN TO: Mr. Luce FROM: G. D. Jackson October 8, 1957 cc: Mr. Jessup Mr. Furth D. 1 Xf I were still in Washington working for the President, this is what I think I would have told him Monday morning. * * The successful lamching of the Soviet satellite is am important event againet our side. You know the military implications better than I do, and your scientific edvisers can spell out the scieutific inaplications bettez than 1. And conceivably on these two points you may think ay word "overwhelming" is too streng. But from the standpoint of worldvide paychological variare it is the correct word. In the Middle East, in Africa, in Asís, where de will be exploited to the hile by the Communists, it will have tremendous impact. This will be the firet time that they will have achieved a big scientific jung on us, ostensibly for peaceful scientific purposes, yet with tremendous military everceses. Up to now it has genarally been the other way around. In this country, it vill not have the sano jolting impact, and the Americans will undoubtedly do a slower "take". But it will certainly dempen the national malaise, and the inter-Service and pertisan political bickering that is certain to develop will heighten the confusion and make a further continuing contribution to the maise. For some time, I have used the vord "orchestration" to try to describe the way the should conduct our psychological or political varfaze. Orchestration as opposed to one-shot spectaculars. Except in the case of I have never been able to achieve orchestration, and even that was not as good as it might have been. Within the past thirty days wo have been treated to as skillfully executed an exemple of paychological variaze excheatration as x have ever seen. The first note was the arrival of the Soviet jet airlinex. The second was the announcement of the successful testing of their ICBM. The third was the earth satellite. The fourth was the announcement of their setting off a hydrogen device "at great height". The fifth will be another bigger and better earth satellite to be launched on the 40th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. You will notice the skillful alternation of war and peace -- coexistence and atomic blackmoil. You vill also notice that all chede itema convay either Soviet "firsts" or Soviet succeas where the U.S. has sither failed or not yet succeeded.