In 1965, the pilot episode of “I Spy” was about a black U.S. track star who was defecting to Red China. Bill Cosby’s character had to try to persuade him to come back. The script made it quite clear what the Chicoms are about. The athlete was paid off to make the move and quickly had buyer’s remorse after finding out about the strings that were attached.
Even though television was far from “conservative” then, I could not imagine a popular network show having such a plot line.