How did the USA and the USSR use propaganda to get their message across

in the Cold War?

During the Cold War the USA and the USSR used many forms of propaganda to get
their message across. For about fifty years both countries flaunted their
competitiveness and their strength and power over each other. It is possible to see
examples of this from sources produced during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 .
Source 1 was produced during what is now referred to as the Cuban Missile Crisis. It is
an excerpt of a speech given by the US President John F Kennedy to the American
public about the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba on October 22, 1962. As this
speech was given by the President of the USA suggests a government perspective of
these events. JFK appeals to his citizens to remain patient and aware of dangers
during this difficult time. It was given to reassure the public that the USA would deal
with the threat from the USSR and that their ultimate goal was peace. The source
includes persuasive devices such as inclusive language and alliteration to appeal to
the American public- the speech is extremely emotive and demonstrates the strength
of the USAs convictions. This source does not mention the presence of American
missiles in Turkey that were threatening the USSR and therefore its purpose is to give
a sense of security to the American public rather than explain the broader context of
these events. Source 1 gives some sense of how the USA used propaganda to get
their message across during the Cold War.
Source 2 is a photograph taken of protesters for the Campaign of Nuclear
Disarmament during the USAs action over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba in
London on 28th October 1962. This image was also produced during the Cuban Missile
Crisis. However, it offers a different perspective of these events. The men in the
image are marching with banners stating Hands Off Cuba! implying that they do not
support the USAs actions in Cuba. This source demonstrates an alternative view of
the Cuban Missile Crisis showing that there were groups such as the CND that voiced
their protest over these events. This source demonstrates how groups other than the
USA voiced their concerns over these actions, however it is only the perspective of
one group in London and so therefore does not necessarily representative of the rest
of Europe and specifically the USSR. Source 2 gives little insight into how the USA or
the USSR has used propaganda to get their message across during the Cold War.
Both Source 1 and Source 2 offer a perspective of the events of the Cold War,
particularly the Cuban Missile Crisis. While Source 1 offers the perspective of the
American president and his goal of reassuring the public, Source 2 offers an
alternative perspective of the USAs actions in Cuba. Both sources are effective in
representing different perspectives. Factors that may account for these differences
include the audience to which they are intended. While the speech from JFK is clearly
meant for an American audience, the image of CND protestors is available to a more
global audience. It is possible to conclude from studying these sources that the Cuban
Missile Crisis was highly contentious and that worldwide it generated much discussion
and debate. However, it is difficult to evaluate how the USA and the USSR used
propaganda to get their message across during the Cold War from both of these
sources as there is no evidence of any propaganda from the USSR.

Sources produced during the Cold War demonstrated the opposing ideological views
of the USA and the USSR. Both of these sources give alternative perspectives on the
Cuban Missile Crisis and the USAs actions during these events.