“Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty,” a protective president warned a nervous nation during a July 4th  speech.

The Communists are coming, people. They are living among us. This is no time to duck and cover. Get out from under your desks and fight this evil force.

But that president was not Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956.

It was Donald J. Trump, in 2026, echoing the anti communist zeal from mid 20th century.

I did not have communism on my bingo card for fear-stoking buzzwords in 2026.

Trump bashing Democrats as Godless communists is straight out of the Cold War fear factor playbook of my mid-century childhood.

It is a familiar Cold War doomsday scenario brought into the 21st century.

Red Menace

The fear of Communist infiltration, not only militarily but politically, was a common thread throughout my childhood. Americans were convinced hidden communists were lurking everywhere, secretly infiltrating our government, including our very own State Department.

Like those two scheming cartoon villains, Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale, those no-goodnik spies carrying out Fearless Leader’s secret evil plots, communists were sinister, sneaky plotters carrying out covert actions just waiting to overthrow a government…including our own.

Is This Tomorrow?

“Is This Tomorrow,” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society, 1947

One famous 1947 comic book entitled “Is This Tomorrow – America Under Communism” was an over-the-top tale typical of the time, alerting us to the dangers of a Russian Communist takeover. Over 48 colorful pages, it illustrated just how easy it would be for the Reds to take over the U.S.

It Can’t Happen Here:

The comic opens with a dire warning to the young reader:

IS THIS TOMORROW is published for one purpose – TO MAKE YOU THINK! To make you more alert to the menace of Communism. “Is This Tomorrow,” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society, 1947

“Is This Tomorrow,” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

Taking their orders directly from Moscow, the story revolves around a group of American Communists led by a man named “Jones” and his propaganda advisor “Brown,” a sinister Stevn Miller character who explains how they will manipulate the American media as a precursor to their Kremlin-approved takeover of the U.S.

“Is This Tomorrow,” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

“Is This Tomorrow,” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

“Is This Tomorrow,” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

They manipulate strike leaders and stoke racial, class, and religious hatred to help weaken America for the communists’ eventual takeover.

“Is This Tomorrow” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

“Is This Tomorrow,” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

“Is This Tomorrow,” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

“Is This Tomorrow” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

Race baiting and taking advantage of the things that divided this country worked to their advantage.

“Is This Tomorrow,” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

After the plot to assassinate the president and vice president is successful, the party operatives have successfully infiltrated the government, and Jones controls the Speaker of the House (who is now the new president ). Behind the scenes, Jones becomes the”Chief Advisor” and expands the Executive Powers.

“Is This Tomorrow,” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

“Is This Tomorrow” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

Destabilizing journalism as a check on the power of government is quickly implemented. Anyone critical is swiftly punished, and unfavorable newspapers are denied newsprint until they agree with the party line. The telephone system and radio network are now nationalized.

“Is This Tomorrow” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

“Is This Tomorrow” published by Catechetical Guild Educational Society 1947

INCREDIBLE?

“Did our story seem incredible? It is unbelievable—that such a small group could ever dream of enforcing its will upon the majority. But remember that a group for smaller than the number of Communists living and working in America today seized control of Russia in 1917.

No one can refuse to believe what he knows to be true. And we do know that every method shown in this presentation has been used by the Communists in their rise to power in other countries. Starvation, murder, slavery, force—those are the tools the Communists use to carry out the doctrine of Communism.

The Communists are preparing to seize control of America in any crisis. This crisis, real or contrived—will be there signal to move in… and make their bid for power.

This crisis might begin with a flood in Pennsylvania—a drought in the Middle West. Or it might begin with a general strike in some of our large industrial cities—New York—Detroit—Chicago—San Francisco.

It happened in Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and country after country, the world over.

WHERE DO YOU COME IN?

You are the one with whom the Communist is struggling right now. His aim is to make you hate your fellow man and keep you blind to the important things in life. He wants to make you forget the importance of your right to vote as you please—to say what you please—to go where you please—to worship as you please. The Communist really wants you to forget all your rights to individual freedom and liberty.

But you cannot assume your individual rights without assuming individual responsibility.

If you want to keep on living, you must know who the Communists are—and their methods of working. You must recognize the Communist Party line in action and separate Communist propaganda from the factual news of the day.

You are on the defensive in this battle. You owe it to yourself to know all about the invader. He knows more about you than you suspect.

Laughable for its implausibility, it’s Trump and the Republicans have made it their campaign strategy to maintain control.

© Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream, 2026. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.