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Scattergood in the Public Eye

Once Gassed by the Doughboys - Nazi Refugee Befriended Here

A Des Moines Register article on Karl Liebman

Many Americans were wary about refugees coming into their communities. They believed that the refugees would compete for jobs and were not to be trusted. Iowa newspapers tried to humanize the refugees and portray their story in a way that could sway the local populace. In the beginning, they did this by publishing articles dedicated to telling the life stories of some of the Scattergood guests.

These articles showed why the refugees were fleeing Europe. They described the hardships that they had faced under Hitler's rule. There was also an emphasis on the refugees' integration into American society. The newspapers were always quick to point out that the refugees would soon be productive members of the community