I'm researching the growth of propaganda and PR surrounding the Einstein publicity campaign and came across a gem. John T. Flynn wrote "Edward L. Bernays: The Science of Ballyhoo," The Atlantic Monthly, May 1932, pp. 562-571
Some quotes:

"He [Bernays] creates ‘events and circumstances’ which newspapers are compelled to notice as news."

"Bernays’s field, it will be seen, is the psychology of the crowd. He is fond of quoting Le Bon. The French writer popularized the theory that the crowd mind is less intelligent than the minds of the individuals who compose it, and that emotional states are contagious."

"But Bernays fell to analyzing philosophically what he was doing, and when the war ended he felt himself to be in possession of a powerful instrument which could be used with rich results for business. His success has been extraordinary... It is obvious that the monetary rewards for the kind of work he does are very large."

"One cannot talk long to Bernays without learning that the most direct way to reach the mind of the herd is through its leaders — its group leaders. Bernays, of course, deals with mental groups — groups arranged according to intelligence, tastes, prejudices, ambitions, emotions."

"I expressed some apprehension about all this propaganda to Mr. Bernays. The producing and selling groups in society are all highly organized and effectively implemented to operate against the consumer. The consumer, on his side, is utterly disorganized and helpless. He must depend solely upon his reason, weak and fallible as it is. Now comes Propaganda pouring down upon him noiselessly and subtly its countless powerful impressions to rob him even of his reason.

"‘You are full of terrors,’ replied Mr. Bernays, ‘about the multitude of influences which propagandists shoot at the Mass Mind. I think you overlook the fact that if there were no such manipulators of public opinion the Mass Mind would still be at the mercy of quite as many influences; would be pulled about by quite as many forces — the fortuitous and whimsical forces of life and chance."

"The invention, however, is like dynamite. It can be used to excavate a subway or to destroy a town. There is a grave social danger lurking in the discovery which Mr. Bernays has
made, that the Mass Mind is to be controlled through its group leaders."

"We have but to put a label on a thing and see that it is set loose in the proper place, and our great, interesting, and interested country will do the rest."

"The manner in which he has exploited this field makes one wonder, however, what defensive mechanism society can erect to protect itself against such powerful and subtle forces. Mr. Bernays has written extensively on the subject •— two books and many magazine articles — and he has laid stress on the necessity of developing an ethical standard with reference to propaganda. Even after that has been effected, if it can be effected, much will still remain to be done for the public itself. I do not pretend to know what it may be. But I throw the problem out as one well worth the attention of the thoughtful student of our complex society."

https://cdn.theatlantic.com/media/archives/1932/05/149-5/132442681.pdf

At least they got to virtue signal before all those lives and homes were lost