The paper questions whether educational and cultural activities sponsored by the United States government should be aimed at foreign policy objectives or should be treated as ends in themselves. Arguments are presented by political leaders, educators, and government officials in favor of and against cultural exchange as a form of foreign policy propaganda. Exchanges between the United States and pluralistic, industrialized societies are compared with exchanges with less developed countries and with societies where an adversary political climate exists. The most effective type of exchange with industrialized nations such as Great Britain are Selected Leader Grants, which allow foreign political leaders to visit the United States. In developing nations, exchanges which strengthen the educational and cultural infrastructure of the recipient country have been most successful. Exchanges with adversary countries are the most difficult to organize, classify, and evaluate. Most exchanges with a totalitarian society are on a government-to-government basis, but there have been private exchanges of art treasures and sporting events between the United States and communist countries. The conclusion is that academic, artistic, and athletic exchanges should be directed by the same governmental agency, be part of a total foreign policy, and exhibit long range rather than immediate political, tactical purposes. (Author/DB)