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Communist Quote by W. Averell Harriman

“It never occurred to me that we would have as grandiose a program as the Marshall Plan, but I felt that we had to do something to save Europe from economic disaster which would encourage the Communist takeover.” quote by W. Averell Harriman
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“It never occurred to me that we would have as grandiose a program as the Marshall Plan, but I felt that we had to do something to save Europe from economic disaster which would encourage the Communist takeover.”

W. Averell Harriman

About This Quote

Source Speech: Marshall Plan Announcement, 1947

The Marshall Plan was a bold economic effort to rebuild Europe and prevent communism, driven by urgency and moral duty.

In simple terms: Rebuilding Europe to stop communism.

Key Takeaway

Act decisively in crises.

Themes

politics economics cold war humanitarianism strategy

Mood

strategic historical

Type

policy diplomacy

When to use this quote

  • post‑war Europe
  • policy making
  • global diplomacy

Key Concepts

containment reconstruction international aid

Questions to Reflect On

  • What risks did the Marshall Plan face?
  • How do we balance urgency with careful planning?
A Different Perspective

Large programs can be politically contentious and costly.

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