Goodwill ambassador Orson Welles

delia garcés , welles @ argentine film critics association awards reception citizen kane (april 1942)

in late november 1941, welles appointed goodwill ambassador latin america nelson rockefeller, u.s. coordinator of inter-american affairs , principal stockholder in rko radio pictures. mission of ociaa cultural diplomacy, promoting hemispheric solidarity , countering growing influence of axis powers in latin america. john hay whitney, head of agency s motion picture division, asked brazilian government produce documentary of annual rio carnival celebration taking place in february 1942. in telegram december 20, 1941, whitney wrote welles, believe make great contribution hemisphere solidarity project.

the ociaa sponsored cultural tours latin america , appointed goodwill ambassadors including george balanchine , american ballet, bing crosby, aaron copland, walt disney, john ford , rita hayworth. welles thoroughly briefed in washington, d.c., before departure brazil, , film scholar catherine l. benamou, specialist in latin american affairs, finds not unlikely among goodwill ambassadors asked gather intelligence u.s. government in addition cultural duties. concludes welles s acceptance of whitney s request logical , patently patriotic choice .

in addition working on ill-fated film project, s true, welles responsible radio programs, lectures, interviews , informal talks part of ociaa-sponsored cultural mission, regarded success. spoke on topics ranging shakespeare visual art @ gatherings of brazil s elite, , 2 intercontinental radio broadcasts in april 1942 particularly intended tell u.s. audiences president vargas partner allies. welles s ambassadorial mission extended permit travel other nations including argentina, bolivia, chile, colombia, ecuador, guatemala, mexico, peru , uruguay. welles worked more half year no compensation.

welles s own expectations film modest. s true not going make cinematic history, nor intended to, later said. intended honorable execution of job goodwill ambassador, bringing entertainment northern hemisphere showed them southern one.