# 1951 PUBLIC AFFAIRS TV SHOW "WASHINGTON CLOSE-UP" UNITED NATIONS WORLD GOVERNMENT 60984

Dating to 1951, WASHINGTON CLOSE-UP is the pilot episode of an an early public affairs television show that ran on the DuMont Network. Hosted by veteran radio broadcaster John B. Hughes, who holds up a plastic donkey and elephant to symbolize the Democratic and Republican Parties, the show was intended to present news fairly and impartially (so what else is new?). This episode looks at world government, the threat to U.S. sovereignty, and a gag rule that emerged as part of the Cold War. At 1:27 the show gets going as Hughes discusses the Truman Administration's effort to classify government information and the "gag rule" that seemed to limit the power of the press and the public to gather information about government activities. At 2:00 , printing presses are seen with newspapers, and press conferences are seen. At 2:17 Sen. John W. Bricker is seen commenting on Truman's executive order. At 4:26 Thomas Jefferson's statue is seen as Hughes quotes him regarding the importance of free speech. At 5:00 , a royal visit is seen with leaders of Washington society signing guest books, making phone calls, etc. At 6:00 , Hughes discusses the " World Government Constitution " or New Order, and shows the League of Nations, the 1939 book "Union Now" by journalist Clarence Streit calling for a federal union of fifteen of the world's major democracies, and the United Nations. At 6:55 , Albert Einstein is shown speaking at the U.N. and Truman is seen at 7:00 . At 7:21 , Sen. Estes Kefauver…

- Kind: Film
- Genres: Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/60984WashingtonCloseUpVwr)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/60984WashingtonCloseUpVwr?play=1)