In the article, the specific influence of the USSR official rhetoric on the worldview of the Soviet society in the conditions of the global Cold War is elicited in a case study of the propagandistic campaign devoted to the events in the Republic of Congo in early 1960s. For this aim the reconstruction of the perception of the Congo Crisis was made in two interrelated dimensions. On the one hand, ideologemes, slogans and images from printed means of propaganda such as newspapers, posters and caricatures are analyzed. On the other hand, common citizens' responses are considered, which were sent to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in regard to the arrest and assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the leader of the Congo's National Liberation Movement. The increase of the number of posters and caricatures on the "African" anti-colonial theme in 1960-61 visibly demonstrates the influence of the Congo Crisis on the content of the Soviet propaganda. The ideological task of the Cold War to unmask the predatory nature of the Western capitalism and, at the same time, to cultivate internationalist feelings received an additional context. Assuredly, sharp caricatures, frequently followed by columns about the development of the crisis, significantly personalized and concretized the perception of the events, creating a sustainable image of an anti-hero, which clearly appeared in the letters. The discredit of the UN activities achieved an almost unprecedented scale, and, according to the responses, the authority of this organization was undermined in the Soviet people's point of view. Meanwhile, the positive image of the fighter against colonial oppression, formed by agitational posters, was generalized and did not refer directly to Congo or personally to Lumumba. The slogan style of certain opinions about the Congo events showed influence of poster calls. And most exact characteristics from the letters even foresaw some of the steps in the ideological field. In terms of the worldview, the Soviet citizens, sending the letters directly to the supreme power, are considered as people who, firstly, trusted this power and, secondly, wished to somehow influence the current situation. They belonged to the most active citizens who reflected about global processes, including events in Congo. P. Lumumba's arrest and death, perceived as a personal tragedy, encouraged the authors of responses not only to bring their opinion to the central authority, but also to find the ways of their own participation in the destiny of the far African country. Official slogans and images influenced much on the argumentation of these representatives of the Soviet society.
