The Definition of the Committee of Public Information
The Committee of Public Information, or the Creel Committee after its executive director, was created by President Woodrow Wilson to build public support for the country's involvement in World War I.
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Committee's Members
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President Woodrow Wilson created the committee by executive order on April 14, 1917, 8 days after the country entered World War I.
The committee consisted of the Secretary of State Robert Lansing, War Secretary Newton D. Baker, Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels and a civilian executive director, who was newspaper owner and reporter George Creel.
Committee's Creation
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Wilson created the committee after receiving an April 13 letter from those three Cabinet officials stating, "Even though the cooperation of the press has been generous and patriotic, there is a steadily developing need for an authoritative agency to ensure the publication of all the vital facts of national defense....It is our opinion that the two functions---censorship and publicity---can be joined in honesty and with profit, and we recommend creation of a Committee of Public Information."
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The Official Bulletin
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The Official Bulletin, first published the week of May 7, was the committee's vehicle for distributing war information. It was to be prominently displayed in post offices and distributed to military installations.
Articles included "Bill to Give President Power Over Freight Shipments" and "New Rulings by Post Office on Forwarding Mail for or From War Prisoners."
It also listed officer assignments and, of course, implored people to buy war bonds.
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