Difference between revisions of "Plain Talk (magazine)"

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Plain Talk was a monthly political magazine published in the United States from September 1946 to 1950. Edited by Isaac Don Levine, the magazine was known for its strong anti-communist stance and its focus on exposing the activities and influence of communism in the United States and abroad. Plain Talk positioned itself as a defender of American democracy and Western ideals during the early stages of the Cold War.

History

Plain Talk was founded in September 1946 by Isaac Don Levine, a prominent journalist and staunch anti-communist. Levine, known for his work in exposing Soviet espionage and his support for Whittaker Chambers during the Hiss-Chambers Case, used the magazine to warn against the perceived threats of communism to American institutions. The publication attracted contributions from notable anti-communist intellectuals and writers, including Max Eastman and Arthur Koestler.

The magazine was published out of New York City by a corporate entity Plain Talk, Inc.

In 1950 there was a minor editing controversy, where Senator Millard Tydings alleged that an article submitted to Levine and Plain Talk by Emmanuel S. Larsen was substantially edited prior to publication. Larsen was one of the six arrested in the Amerasia scandal.

Levine was pushed out of editing the magazine in June 1950, by the magazine's financial supporters including Merwin K. Hart.^[1]

The magazine's content frequently critiqued the policies and ideologies of the Soviet Union while advocating for a robust U.S. foreign policy to counter communist expansion. It also addressed domestic issues, including alleged infiltration of communists into American labor unions, government agencies, and cultural organizations. The magazine was funded by Alfred Kohlberg. Its offices were at 240 Madison Avenue in New York City.

Editorial Focus

Plain Talk specialized in investigative journalism, opinion pieces, and cultural commentary, often with a focus on: - Soviet espionage and influence in the United States. - Critiques of pro-Soviet sentiment in American politics and media. - Advocacy for strong anti-communist policies and vigilance against ideological subversion.

The editorial team was Isaac Don Levine as the Editor, Ralph de Toledano, then Mabel Travis Wood as the Managing Editor, and three Contributing Editors: Eugene Lyons, Suzanne LaFollette, and George S. Schuyler.

The magazine also highlighted the testimonies and accounts of former communists and defectors, such as Whittaker Chambers and Elizabeth Bentley, whose stories underscored its warnings about the communist threat.

Prominent Contributors

• Henry Hazlitt
• Freda Utley
• Ayn Rand
• Howard Rushmore
• Ralph de Toledano

Demise and Legacy

Despite its influence among conservative and anti-communist circles, Plain Talk ceased publication in 1950, largely due to financial difficulties and the limited audience for such a specialized magazine. However, its legacy continued through the works of its contributors and its role in shaping the anti-communist discourse of the early Cold War.

Isaac Don Levine’s leadership and connections to high-profile anti-communist figures ensured the magazine’s place in the historical narrative of U.S. opposition to communism. Levine later expanded on many of the themes from Plain Talk in his own writings.

In 1976, 26 years after the magazine closed, Levine published a book anthology of the writings of Plain Talk.^[2]

See Also

• Isaac Don Levine
• Whittaker Chambers
• Elizabeth Bentley
• Anti-communism in the United States
• Cold War propaganda
• List of Plain Talk (magazine) issues

References

• Schrecker, Ellen. Many Are the Crimes: McCarthyism in America. Little, Brown, 1998.
• Chambers, Whittaker. Witness. Random House, 1952.