U.S.-Thai Public Diplomacy: The Beginnings of a Military-Monarchical-Anti-Communist State, 1957-1963

During the Cold War, U.S. and Thai leaders invested in public relations programs to win the hearts and minds of the people of Thailand. Changes in Thailand between the years 1957 and 1963, which gave rise to Thai General Sarit Thanarat and King Bhumibol Adulyadej to positions of political authority, strengthened U.S.-Thai relations. To project their power, Washington and Bangkok relied on practicing public diplomacy through the United States Information Agency (USIA) to demonstrate the benevolence of the United States, the army's paternalism, and the god-like image of the king. The period from 1957 to 1963 saw the beginnings of a strong U.S.-Thai relationship and the creation of a stable anti-Communist, military-monarchical government that lasted until the end of the Cold War.