October 20, 2003

THAT FREEDOM SHALL NOT PERISH V ol. 19, No. 21 • $2.95

Visit www.thenewamerican.com Vol. 19, No. 21 October 20, 2003

3 From the Editor

THE FREEDOM FIGHT 4 Life-and-Death Struggle ▲ by G. Vance Smith — The John Birch Society is courageously holding the front lines in the fight to preserve freedom and our constitutional republic against a powerful, entrenched Conspiracy.

ON THE MOVE 11 The JBS Leads the Way by Gary Benoit — The organization created by Robert Welch is still in capable hands, accomplishing the seemingly impossible and providing hope that America can be saved.

TRACK RECORD 15 Projecting the Lines by John F. McManus — JBS founder Robert Welch was adept at predicting what the Insiders would do next. The Society has since used his method of “projecting the lines” to stay ahead of the curve. Kelly Rich; design: Joseph W. Eagle photo: Jeffrey

ENEMY ATTACKS 19 The Big Smear by William Norman Grigg — Knowing that The John Birch MEMBERS TODAY Society could foil their plans, the architects of America’s 37 Americanism in Action engineered decline have long targeted this patriotic group for by William F. Jasper — JBS members come from a variety of defamatory smears. backgrounds, but they all share a zeal to preserve freedom through responsible activism. THE FOUNDER 25 Americanism’s Standard-bearer MEMBERS YESTERDAY by William F. Jasper — Robert Welch launched an 45 Heroes of the JBS unprecedented movement to expose and rout the worldwide by Dennis Behreandt — Throughout the Society’s history, collectivist conspiracy. patriotic members have staunchly warned of threats to America’s freedom and heroically defended the rights and THE INSPIRATION lives of their fellow citizens. 31 Soldier-Missionary by Steve Bonta — John Birch, fortified by Christian virtue, HOPE FOR THE FUTURE fought and died in an effort to liberate, in body and soul, 51 A Better World China’s oppressed masses. by William Norman Grigg — Founder Robert Welch believed the combination of less government and more responsibility would bring about a better world — materially, politically, and spiritually.

COVER Eagle photo: Jeffrey Rich; design: Joseph W. Kelly FROM THE EDITOR Publisher John F. McManus Associate Publisher Thomas G. Gow A Call to Action Editor Gary Benoit egular readers of THE NEW AMERICAN Birchers as tilting at windmills. “Commu- are well aware that this is a magazine nism is dead,” they might claim, “so why Managing Editor R Paul N. Smith like no other. It is no ordinary publication is the anti-Communist John Birch Society of news and opinion. It provides facts and still around?” They overlook that the Total Senior Editors perspective, of course, but it does much State can advance under any number of William F. Jasper William Norman Grigg more than that. It fearlessly blazes a trail flags — and collectivism is on the march, to arm America’s patriots with the truth despite Communism’s apparent demise. To Contributing Editor they need to expose the enemies of free- learn more about America’s present, dan- Steve Bonta dom and to preserve Americanist princi- gerous trajectory, we encourage these and Editorial Assistant ples. Those principles include limited gov- other Americans to read the opening arti- Jennifer A. Gritt ernment under the U.S. Constitution, the cle in this issue, by JBS Chief Executive Contributors God-given rights that the Constitution Officer G. Vance Smith (see next page). Dennis J. Behreandt safeguards, and the moral bedrock that Samuel L. Blumenfeld makes freedom possible. The Weapon of Truth Thomas R. Eddlem G. Edward Griffin The motto below the masthead that ap- THE NEW AMERICAN is published by Amer- William P.Hoar pears on the cover of every issue of THE ican Opinion Publishing, a John Birch So- Jane H. Ingraham NEW AMERICAN,“That freedom shall not ciety affiliate. As such, it is fitting that the Robert W. Lee perish,” expresses the noble goal toward magazine devotes an entire issue to the Charles E. Rice which all Americans worthy of the name JBS. The magazine is, in fact, a tool of the Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr. Fr.James Thornton aspire. JBS. Specifically, members use the maga- zine to become better informed so that they Art Director Safeguarding Freedom for 45 Years may more effectively carry out the Soci- Scott J. Alberts Forty-five years ago this December, Amer- ety’s agenda projects. They also use the Graphic Artist ican businessman and patriot Robert Welch magazine to inform others. Joseph W. Kelly founded The John Birch Society to ensure Many thousands of non-JBS members Desktop Publishing Specialist that freedom shall not perish. In my esti- also benefit from the magazine, and we are Steven J. DuBord mation, based on 35 years as a member and grateful to have every one of them as a sub- Web Manager 26 years on the staff, the JBS is the only scriber. But the bottom line is that a heavy Brian Witt organization with the potential for saving dose of information about the collectivist our freedoms. conspiracy ravaging our nation, absent any Advertising/Circulation Julie DuFrane, Mgr. There are, of course, many good Amer- antidote to counter that advancing cancer, Joy Huttenburg, Asst. Mgr. icans who would scoff at this assessment, will likely lead to frustration and de- despite recognizing the danger. They would featism. The information regularly pub- Research Larry Greenley, Dir. point out that the JBS, after 45 years of ex- lished in these pages is most effective Brian T. Farmer istence, has failed to reverse the collec- when it is put to use in the freedom fight. tivist, internationalist tide. After all, they Robert Welch repeatedly said of The would argue, America is still moving along John Birch Society: “We are an army fight- a planned trajectory from limited govern- ing with facts, and to be better informed is ment to total government, from morality to to be better armed.” We encourage all read- amorality, from abundance to scarcity, and ers — JBS members and non-JBS members Printed in the U.S.A. ¥ ISSN 0885-6540 P. O. Box 8040 ¥ Appleton, WI 54912 from nationhood to being a mere province alike — to put to use the information ap- 920-749-3784 ¥ 920-749-3785 (fax) in a despotic new world order. pearing in these pages every two weeks. www.thenewamerican.com But those Americans do not consider how Moreover, we encourage readers who are Rates are $39 per year (Hawaii and Canada, much worse conditions would be without not JBS members to consider joining. add $9; foreign, add $27) or $22 for six months (Hawaii and Canada, add $4.50; foreign, add the last 45 years of Birch activism. They Freedom is not only every person’s $13.50). Copyright ©2003 by American Opin- do not understand what a relatively small birthright, it is also every person’s respon- ion Publishing, Inc. Periodicals postage paid at number of patriots have already accom- sibility. If America is saved, it will only be Appleton, WI and additional mailing offices. Post- master: Send any address changes to THE NEW plished by being informed, involved, com- because enough good citizens got in- AMERICAN, P.O. Box 8040, Appleton, WI 54912. mitted, focused — and organized! Without formed and involved. ■ The John Birch Society, freedom would — GARY BENOIT THE NEW AMERICAN is published biweekly by American Opinion Publishing Inc., a wholly have likely already perished. owned subsidiary of The John Birch Society. There are also many good Americans To order additional copies of this special issue of TNA For more information about The John Birch who do not detect any conspiratorial threat at quantity-discount prices, see the insert card be- Society, see www.jbs.org. against American liberty, who perceive John tween pages 46 and 47.

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 3 THE FREEDOM FIGHT Life-and-Death Struggle The John Birch Society is courageously holding the front lines in the fight to preserve freedom and our constitutional republic against a powerful, entrenched Conspiracy.

by G. Vance Smith change dramatically. We have lost our pri- ing fall. Yes, we have dared to use the for- macy in many fields and depend on foreign bidden “C” word: Conspiracy. And, yes, merica is locked in a life-and- sources — including our avowed enemies we know that it is terribly unfashionable to death titanic struggle. No, we are — for many products and crucial re- do so. It is unforgivably “politically incor- A not referring to the war in Iraq, or sources. In the past few years, we have lost rect.” However, no one can accuse us ever even the larger War on Terror of which of having been terribly concerned the Iraq operation is supposedly a part. with being fashionable or “PC.” We The war to which we refer has been are far too concerned with saving our going on for a much longer time and is nation and our freedom to be fashion- now reaching a climactic stage. conscious. We are talking about a war being When two or more people plot in waged by organized evil on a global secret to accomplish an evil purpose, scale — a conspiracy of evil men lead- they are engaged, by definition, in a ing the World Revolution that seeks to conspiracy. For our many newer sub- overthrow everything that you and I scribers, and for those who may be and every decent American hold dear. reading THE NEW AMERICAN for the They intend to sweep away totally our first time, let us assure one and all present system of sovereign nation what we most definitely are not talk- states, with their individual constitu- ing about when we use the “C” word. tions, legal codes, traditions, and cus- We are not talking about an X-Files toms, to be replaced by a new world conspiracy of space aliens for world order, a global, collectivist, Orwellian control. We are not talking about con- police state. Impossible? We wish that spiracy theory at all, but conspiracy it were! It is taking place before our fact. very eyes. Tragically, too few Ameri- The Conspiracy we are talking cans have even a clue that this war is about is a coterie of Insiders including raging or realize how rapidly it is bear- many of the world’s wealthiest and ing down on them. most powerful men. It includes top Not too long ago, Americans could Communists (yes, they are still accurately claim to be “number one” in around) as well as some of the world’s G. Vance Smith has been chief executive officer of The just about every area: military power, top capitalists. This fact stumps a great John Birch Society since 1991. economic output, manufacturing, re- many people because it seems so com- search, science, technology, medicine, pletely illogical that obvious mortal energy production, transportation, com- millions of high-tech jobs. We frequently enemies — Communists and capitalists — munications, agriculture, mining — you are told that the United States is the “last would have any possible mutual goal to name it. In one lifetime, we’ve seen that remaining superpower.” But our military provide an incentive for collusion. After forces have been stretched to the all, the Communists want to confiscate all breaking point in dozens of con- the wealth and kill the capitalists, right? America, once the undisputed world flicts throughout the world. And knowing this, capitalists oppose the Meanwhile, the putrid sewage Communists, right? Theoretically, yes. But leader in virtually every field, has been fraudulently marketed as “pop- reality turns out to be somewhat different. set up for a crushing fall. Yes, we have ular culture” is aggressively cor- Most capitalists are indeed anti-Com- roding our country’s moral fab- munist. They want to preserve the free-en- dared to use the forbidden “C” word: ric, which is the essential basis terprise system, allowing them to operate Conspiracy. And, yes, we know that it is for lasting military and econom- their businesses with as little government ic strength. involvement as necessary. Monopoly cap- terribly unfashionable to do so. It is America, once the undisputed italists, however, are more than willing to unforgivably “politically incorrect.” world leader in virtually every use the power of government to wipe out field, has been set up for a crush- competition and concentrate wealth and

4 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 power in their own hands. Remember the recently depart- ed billionaire Armand Hammer? That fabulously wealthy oil mag- Perpetual war: Top military authorities warn that U.S. nate turned out to be a Commu- military forces are already nist agent for Soviet dictators strained to the limit, with from Lenin to Gorbachev. He is major War on Terror not the only one. Most of the cap- operations in Afghanistan (left) italist Insiders of this Conspiracy and Iraq (below). Insider for global control are not actual voices in the Bush Communists in the Armand administration and the media Hammer mold. Nevertheless, are calling for expanding the they do collaborate with the most war to many more countries. ruthless of Communist dictators for the mutual objective of creat-

ing a world government with to- U.S. Marine Corps tally unfettered power. been President Franklin Delano The Convergence Plot Roosevelt’s top State Department The fact of this Conspiracy for global con- adviser and the chief U.S. archi- trol became apparent to investigators in- tect of the UN. But these Insiders side and outside of government many had powerful enough confeder- decades ago. It was precisely 50 years ago, ates to stifle the Reece Commit- in 1953, that Congress created a Special tee investigation and to scuttle Committee to Investigate Tax-exempt any further congressional probes Foundations. The need for the investiga- of their grand scheme of “com- tion was strikingly obvious: Some of the fortable merger.” largest foundations — Ford, Rockefeller, This Conspiracy has grown in and Carnegie, for instance — had been power and influence since that providing enormous funding to Commu- time, penetrating ever more per- nist, socialist, and subversive organizations vasively throughout our federal and individuals. government, our political parties, The Special Committee was headed by the major news media, and our Representative Carroll Reece, whose chief major business, financial, and ed- investigator was a brilliant, courageous, ucational institutions. and tenacious man named Norman Dodd. During his investigation of the Ford Foun- Following the Trail dation, Mr. Dodd was understandably When Robert Welch founded The stunned by the candid admission of sub- John Birch Society in 1958, he version by the foundation’s president, H. made it very clear that this new Rowan Gaither. Mr. Gaither calmly told organization would not be just

Dodd that the Ford Foundation was oper- another debating society. It AP/Wide World ating under directives that it use its mas- would not concern itself princi- sive grant-making power “to so alter life in pally with exposing and opposing the much of the crisis and turmoil propelling the United States as to make possible a philosophical fallacies and phony argu- the world toward global tyranny was not comfortable merger with the Soviet ments of socialism, Communism, and one- the result of blind chance or inevitable his- Union.” worldism; rather, it would expose the Con- toric forces, but the result of conscious The Committee found plenty of evi- spiracy working insidiously to so weaken planning by evil men. He also knew that dence that Mr. Gaither and his counterparts and level down our economy and our soci- those who recognize this fact have a great at Rockefeller, Carnegie, and other major ety that it could be merged with other advantage over those who do not. Just as foundations were doing precisely that. At countries into a socialist new world order. the investigator who recognizes that there the Carnegie Endowment, for example, Mr. Welch was literally a genius who is a drug cartel behind the heroin epidem- foundation president Alger Hiss was shov- had become an outstanding scholar and a ic that has just hit a city’s streets has an ad- eling money to Marxists and one-worlders successful businessman. He was a brilliant vantage over the one who doesn’t see it. of every stripe, especially to those pro- historian and careful observer and analyst The smart investigator goes after the king- moting the United Nations. This was the of contemporary world events who read pins running the criminal action behind the same Soviet agent Alger Hiss who had and traveled widely. He recognized that scenes; the other contents himself with

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 5 THE FREEDOM FIGHT

cupy Palestine. Mean- pand. And, increasingly, legitimate oppo- We are talking about a war being waged while, U.S. forces have nents of the UN will be equated with those also been dispatched on attacking UN facilities with bullets and by organized evil on a global scale — counter-terrorism missions bombs. Globalists in the media and politi- a conspiracy of evil men leading the World to the Philippines, Africa, cal office will accuse those who support ef- and the central Asian states forts to cut off UN funding or advocate get- Revolution that seeks to overthrow everything of what was formerly ting out of the UN of being in league with that Americans hold dear. They intend to called the Soviet Union. the terrorists. Some of our top military In 1999, the FBI, under the Clinton/Reno replace it with a new world order, a global, brass have stated publicly Justice Department, issued Project Megid- collectivist, Orwellian police state. that these ventures already do,a “strategic assessment” of so-called are stretching our military right-wing terror threats. According to this forces to the breaking report, people concerned about loss of sov- pursuing the low-level agents making the point. The tens of billions of dollars spent ereignty to the UN are dangerously para- individual drug deals on the street. on these efforts are also straining our econ- noid. The Megiddo strategy is back in force. Criminals leave trails. They leave evi- omy to the breaking point. But the global- ¥ Destroying security and imposing dence. Criminal conspiracies have defec- ists want more. more controls:The Bush White House and tors from their ranks who reveal secrets. One of the Insiders’new star visionaries members of Congress are promoting Robert Welch studied the individual Insid- is Thomas P.M. Barnett, a Pentagon spe- amnesty for millions of illegal aliens. The ers and the Conspiracy in excruciating de- cialist who openly calls for global U.S. Bush administration also has dropped its tail. Because he understood them and their military intervention. He has devised a opposition to Mexico’s “matricula con- plans and methods so well, he could so ac- world map that identifies countries in sular” I.D.s, which will encourage millions curately predict their schemes and pro- Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin more foreign nationals — including ter- grams years in advance. As he repeatedly America where the U.S. supposedly must rorists — to enter the U.S. and take up pointed out, this involved no clairvoyance exercise its “strategic security in the age of residence. or extra-sensory perception; it was simply globalization.” With this program, a mili- This incredible leniency for illegal aliens a matter of studying the facts on the ground tary draft is on the horizon, with hundreds contrasts sharply with the draconian con- and then “projecting the lines.” of thousands of American troops spread trols descending on American citizens. Like Mr. Welch, the Society’s researchers, across the globe and our homeland left un- Since the 9-11 terror attacks, Americans analysts, and writers continue to track the protected. have been subjected to increasing police Conspiracy’s plans and operations. By fol- In June, legislation entitled “Winning controls and an avalanche of legislation lowing the publications, speeches, and the Peace Act of 2003” was introduced in and proposals that have moved us vastly meetings of such Insider fronts as the both houses of Congress that would au- closer to the Big Brother surveillance so- Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilat- thorize the president to designate a direc- ciety of Orwell’s 1984. This is especially eral Commission, the World Economic tor of reconstruction for each country or re- noticeable at airports, where already pas- Forum, the United Nations, the Federal gion where the U.S. military has engaged sengers are virtually strip searched, and Reserve, the International Monetary Fund, in armed conflict or where the U.S. gov- where X-ray “virtual” strip searches may the Socialist International, and many oth- ernment has committed to rebuilding. This soon be commonplace. ers, we too can project the lines. bipartisan legislation is an open-ended in- After a few more terrorist incidents, vitation for squandering untold billions of these surveillance and search practices Projecting the Lines taxpayer dollars in every imaginable cor- likely will be instituted at train, subway, We have selected below only a few of the ner of the earth. and bus stations, as well as many more alarming pictures that emerge from these ¥ Promoting the UN and criminalizing government buildings, shopping malls, lines. We do not present them as a litany of opposition:The invasion of Iraq, initially sports complexes, and corporate business woe. They show where America is headed sold to the American people as an act of centers. New calls also are sounding from if many more Americans do not awaken defiance against the UN, has now turned Insider circles for national I.D. cards with and join the fight against this satanically into a major promotion of the UN. The UN embedded biometric data, or even mi- evil Conspiracy. is assuming more functions and authority crochip implants in the body. ¥ Perpetuating war for perpetual in the country — and is receiving vast new ¥ Erasing our borders and merging the “peace”:The Bush administration’s War funding, as well. nations:This November President Bush on Terrorism, which began with Afghani- When Iraqi opposition bombed UN fa- will host the Free Trade Area of the Amer- stan and has since expanded to Iraq, is on cilities and killed UN personnel in Iraq, icas (FTAA) summit in Miami. The FTAA track to expand further in the Middle East, Western media accounts turned the inci- is being promoted merely as a trade agree- with calls for invading and occupying Iran, dents into propaganda opportunities to cre- ment to promote prosperity by facilitating Saudi Arabia, Syria, and other countries. ate support and sympathy for the UN. Such the movement of goods and services. But Advocates of U.S. interventionism are also incidents can be expected to increase as it is an agreement to create an entity like calling for a U.S.-led “peace force” to oc- UN operations in the War on Terror ex- the European Union that will merge the

6 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 boost to the Left and a huge demoralizing blow to the Right. It has been reported that her campaign organization has conducted polls on how the public would react if she divorced Bill Clinton. In the same way that the lurid Clinton-Lewinsky affair was used to de- base the presidency and publicly drag America further into the gutter, a Bill and Hillary divorce would be used to set still more new lows in political discourse and encourage the accelerated decline of the family and marriage. Moreover, our na- tion’s mounting economic crisis and grow- ing problems with the war in Iraq most likely indicate that the Insiders once again will be replacing a President Bush with a liberal Democrat — very possibly Hillary Rodham. ¥ Criminalizing virtue, exalting vice: The incredible advance of the organized, militant homosexual lobby over the past decade has been one of the Conspiracy’s great triumphs. If Americans do not arouse in themselves a sense of outrage and re- vulsion sufficient to roll back the rising tide of depravity, this is what we will soon face: legalized homosexual “unions,” fol- lowed by homosexual marriages legally on Photo-illustration by Scott J. Alberts par with heterosexual marriages; increased Bordering on treason: President Bush is continuing President Clinton’s push to create the Free Trade Area of the America’s (FTAA), modeled after the European Union (EU). The FTAA would merge persecution and prosecution of individuals the U.S. with the countries of North and South America, effectively abolish our Constitution, and and groups (Boys Scouts, Christian schools, allow millions of Latin Americans to migrate to the U.S. churches, religious organizations) for “dis- crimination,” “intolerance,” and “hate crimes”; abolition of age-of-consent and political and economic systems of all the tion. She has put together a formidable pederasty laws; mandatory pro-homosex- nations of the Western Hemisphere. Its campaign organization and has raised tons ual classes and curricula in all schools. principal advocates admit this. of money. The CFR-dominated Big Media ¥ Destroying beauty, perverting the cul- A fully-realized FTAA would be the have given her an invaluable boost with ture: Although it might seem impossible death knell for America. Millions of Latin glowing, free publicity that dwarfs that that the “entertainment” fare on television Americans could legally migrate to the given to the other candidates. or the radio could get more degenerate than U.S., the same as people in the EU migrate Why would the one-worlders get behind it is now, that is not so. The masters of de- from one country to the other, and we Hillary? Here are several reasons out of pravity intend to destroy all remaining would not be able to stop them. Among the many that could be cited: She polarizes the taboos and turn the media that permeate countries that would be new states with us American public along all major lines — the American home into non-stop channels in the FTAA suprastate are the new mili- male/female, black/white, conservative/lib- of profanity, decadence, and the horrible tant Marxist regimes of Lula da Silva in eral, Democrat/Republican — even more addictive influence of hardcore pornogra- Brazil, and Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, viscerally and stridently than does Bill phy. both closely allied with Fidel Castro’s Clinton. As First Lady she participated in ¥ Banishing God, worshipping Gaia: Communist regime in Cuba. many UN and international conferences The ACLU and its subversive allies in the ¥ Backing Hillary, polarizing the nation: throughout the world. Thus, she is already media, the courts, and the legislative halls During her 2000 senate race, Hillary Rod- well known and has a sort of international are pressing their militant, anti-Christian ham Clinton repeatedly pledged to New constituency that would be very useful in campaign with a new vengeance. If they York voters that she would not run for promoting many of the Insiders’ key UN have their way, the Ten Commandments, president in 2004. Although she still de- agenda items. As the first radical woman public prayer, “In God We Trust,” “one na- nies that she is doing so, she is running full feminist president of the United States, she tion under God,” Nativity scenes, crosses blast now to win the Democratic nomina- would provide an enormous psychological and crucifixes, Biblical quotations — all of

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 7 THE FREEDOM FIGHT

Such a gloomy future does not have to be ours, but it certainly will be unless action is taken to prevent the disaster. Please do not sit on the sidelines any longer. Come join us in this epic undertaking. Help us bring about “Less government, more responsibility, and — with God’s help — a better world.” these will be expunged from public build- ings, our currency, and all public events. Even private expressions of belief or pri- vate displays of religious symbols in the public arena will be prohibited as “divi- sive.” To fill this vacuum, the new UN Earth Charter would be taught in all schools and posted in all public institu- tions. Mother Earth, or Gaia, would be-

come the new deity and object of worship. Kelly Rich; design: Joseph W. Eagle photo: Jeffrey

Take Action Now! John Birch Society has been doing, and have descended on all of mankind years Such a gloomy future does not have to be must continue to do in the future.” He ago.” ours, but it certainly will be unless the noted further that the Society’s leadership It is my great honor to be a member of proper, resolute action is taken to prevent “serves as an indispensable anchor keep- this superb organization and be able to the oncoming disaster. These dire threats ing tens of thousands of individualists from work together with the most magnificent cannot be wished away. In his stirring being swept away by the tide of planned patriots in our sacred cause. The organiza- “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, confusion and divisiveness. The discipline tion that Robert Welch founded is still Patrick Henry noted that “it is natural to of the Society has done much to unify the here, still pointing to true North, still com- man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We Americanist forces and to guide them mitted to the same constitutional princi- are apt to shut our eyes against a painful down the line of concerted action.” ples, still dedicated to the same unswerv- truth, and listen to the song of that siren till Anyone familiar with the Society’s ing purpose. she transforms us into beasts. Is this the tremendous contributions to preserving our To all of those wonderful members who part of wise men, engaged in a great and constitutional republic through many have been so faithfully and courageously arduous struggle for liberty? Are we dis- fierce battles over the past several decades carrying on the fight for America, I thank posed to be of the number of those who, would heartily agree that this organization you and urge you not to let up now in this having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear has been both a compass and an anchor. heroic effort. To you dear readers who have not, the things which so nearly concern Thomas N. Hill, a member of our national not yet joined the battle, we extend our their temporal salvation? For my part, Council and our Executive Committee, is hands in welcome. Please do not sit on the whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am probably better qualified than almost any- sidelines any longer. Everything you hold willing to know the whole truth; to know one else to offer a qualified evaluation on dear is at stake. Come join us in this epic the worst, and to provide for it.” that score. Having joined our staff back in undertaking. Help us bring about the Soci- We too believe in knowing the whole 1959, he was for many years Robert ety’s long-range objectives of “Less gov- truth, knowing the worst, and providing for Welch’s right-hand man and confidant. ernment, more responsibility, and — with it. The John Birch Society is an education- Tom has said of Mr. Welch’s enormous God’s help — a better world.” ■ al army fighting evil with the weapon of contribution: “Had truth. However, as Robert Welch wrote in he not accomplished April 1969, “simply publishing good the nearly impossible books, articles, and pamphlets, and even when he formed and EXTRA COPIES AVAILABLE getting them distributed, is not, by itself, led the Society ➧ Additional copies of this issue of enough to win this battle. This literature through those early THE NEW AMERICAN are available at must be read, it must be put to use, and it years the dark night quantity-discount prices. To order, visit must be a part of an overall, concerted plan of conspiracy-led www.thenewamerican.com/marketplace/ of action. And this is exactly what The tyranny may well or see the card between pages 46-47.

8 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 ON THE MOVE The JBS Leads the Way The organization created by Robert Welch is still in capable hands, accomplishing the seemingly impossible and providing hope that America can be saved.

by Gary Benoit present several examples in the following al Washington Post — no friend of the JBS pages. — pointed out shortly before the House t is not unusual for an organization cre- impeachment vote, “[The success of] lead- ated and led by a strong leader to JBS Accomplishments ers of the John Birch Society … is a I flounder and die after the leader’s ¥ Impeaching President Clinton: In No- demonstration of how a determined and death. But that did not happen to The John vember 1997, two months before the Mon- ideologically committed group can change Birch Society when its founder, Robert ica Lewinsky scandal broke, the JBS the course of history....” Welch, passed away in 1985. Why? Be- launched its campaign to “Impeach Clin- Of course, naysayers are quick to point cause Mr. Welch had created a principle- ton Now!” through a nationwide network out that although the House impeached based organization designed to withstand of A.C.T.I.O.N. (Activate Congress to Im- Bill Clinton, the Senate failed to remove the test of time. prove Our Nation) ad hoc committees. The him from office. They ignore that President The JBS has had the same leadership campaign focused on Clinton’s compro- Clinton was only the second president (and team since 1991, with Chief Executive Of- mise of national security in exchange for the first elected president) to be impeached ficer G. Vance Smith at the helm. That Chinese cash as the principal reason for in U.S. history. Just as they ignore the pow- team has stayed the course, adhering to the impeachment. Although Clinton was even- erful signal that Clinton’s impeachment same fundamental principles that Mr. tually impeached for transgressions relat- sent to Clinton or any other president who Welch had established for the organization. ed to the Lewinsky scandal, he probably abuses or usurps power. It is now crystal Consequently, the organization has ac- would not have been impeached at all if the clear that Congress will move to put the quired new strength, and JBS members Society had not gotten the impeachment brakes on presidential transgressions if have won some significant victories. We ball rolling in the first place. As the liber- they are pressured to do so by informed

Getting results: In November 1997, The John Birch Society launched an ad hoc committee, A.C.T.I.O.N., to impeach President Clinton, focusing primarily on the solid evidence of his acceptance of bribes from Communist China. The campaign’s billboards, bumper stickers, petitions, and in-depth articles put impetus behind the effort that resulted in his impeachment by the House of Representatives.

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 11 ON THE MOVE

Sensing an opportunity posed errors. The John Birch Society has had the same to stop this Clinton out- ¥ Preserving the Constitution:Over the rage, THE NEW AMERICAN last two decades, the JBS has led the fight leadership team since 1991. That team has published a cover story ex- to block the call for a modern-day consti- adhered to the fundamental principles that posing Lake’s background, tutional convention. Such a convention and JBS members used could not be limited to a specific purpose, Mr. Welch established for the organization. both the article and docu- but could propose wholesale constitution- Consequently, the Society has acquired new mentation packets to alert al changes including an entirely new Con- key representatives and stitution. In 1983, 32 (of the required 34) strength, and JBS members have won some senators. The nomination states had called on Congress to convene a significant victories. was soon scuttled. But not constitutional convention, ostensibly to before an op-ed by Dou- draft a balanced budget amendment. But glas Brinkley in the New because of the Birch campaign launched voters. York Times complained: “[T]he John Birch the following year, seven states have since ¥ Torpedoing Clinton’s nomination of Society and other anti-government fringe withdrawn their convention applications, Anthony Lake:President Clinton’s 1996 groups launched a smear campaign.... In an reducing the number to 25. nomination of Anthony Lake for director error-ridden article in The New American The JBS also blocked a back-door ap- of the Central Intelligence Agency was a … William F. Jasper … found a pattern of proach to a constitutional convention particularly shocking and audacious step. anti-Americanism.... The diatribe would through a proposed “Conference of the Lake, after all, has an extensive subversive not be worth mentioning except that its lu- States” (COS). This project was proposed background, including longtime connec- dicrous charges have been picked up, in in 1994 by then-Utah Governor Mike tions to the Soviet-linked Institute for Pol- slightly milder fashion, by mainstream Leavitt, after it became obvious that the icy Studies. Putting him in charge of the conservative publications like The Wash- open approach to a constitutional conven- CIA is like having the fox guard the chick- ington Times....” Not surprisingly, Brink- tion was floundering. The Birch campaign en coop. ley did not bother citing any of the sup- to derail the COS by presenting the game plan to state legislators was so successful that the Salt Lake Tri- bune reported that in “a span of just weeks, the John Birch Soci- ety has heaved the conference lo- comotive off-track.” ¥ Exposing the OKC bombing: During the months and years fol- lowing the 1995 Oklahoma City terrorist attack, THE NEW AMER- ICAN published a series of articles

Ahead of its time: From its beginnings in 1958, The John Birch Society worked to expose the subversive nature and activities of the United Nations. In January 1962, the Society launched its ongoing campaign to Get US out! of the UN.

12 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 Patriots in action: Local Birch Society members take the freedom message to their fellow citizens in a variety of ways, including sponsoring booths and literature tables at fairs and conventions, and personal literature distribution.

committees, making it easier for JBS tremendous. In 1996 a University of Vir- members and nonmembers alike to ginia poll conducted by Gallup detected this work together on the specific objec- cumulative effect when it found, without tive of getting the U.S. out of the sov- mentioning the Birch Society, that “three ereignty-destroying UN. out of four Americans (77 percent) agree The massive, grass-roots cam- with the statement that ‘the government is paign is having a positive effect on pretty much run by a few big interests look- Congress. On July 15th of this year, ing out for themselves.’” Moreover: “[O]ne pointing to compelling evidence of gov- 74 congressmen voted for Ron Paul’s quarter of the population do repeatedly ex- ernment prior knowledge, multiple bombs amendment to prohibit using any funds in press the conviction that the government is inside the Murrah Building, other conspir- the State Department authorization bill for run by a conspiracy; and one in ten Ameri- ators in addition to Tim McVeigh and Terry the United Nations. cans strongly subscribes to this view.” Nichols, and a Mideast connection. JBS ¥ Calling it conspiracy: JBS members members widely distributed these articles. continue to expose conspiracy, recogniz- Member-based Organization In 1998, then-Oklahoma state Repre- ing that informed Americans will oppose The success of these and future efforts de- sentative Charles Key complimented this what the would-be rulers of the world have pends on a member-based organization. magazine’s investigative effort when he planned for them. Reader-activists have Birchers recognize that freedom is every- noted: “THE NEW AMERICAN magazine pushed the total distribution of this maga- body’s business, and that a majority of has, and continues to be, the best source for zine’s special “Conspiracy for Global Con- congressmen will only do what is needed accurate reporting about the bombing.... trol” issue to over 600,000 copies. In ad- to restore constitutional government if they Most of the credit for keeping the public dition, members have distributed large receive sufficient pressure to do the right informed, in the midst of a mainstream quantities of other magazines, books, arti- thing from informed voters in their dis- media blackout, goes to THE NEW AMERI- cles, pamphlets, videotapes, etc. Of course, tricts. The most fundamental unit of The CAN and investigative reporter William members do not merely purchase these John Birch Society is the local chapter, and Jasper. Your dedication to this story has be- materials for themselves; they also place it is through local chapters in towns, ham- come a part of history. I believe history them in the hands of fellow citizens, re- lets, and cities across the country that the will show that a relatively small group of quest that they read (or view) them, and fight for America must be won. Those conscientious citizens can succeed, against then follow up for a reaction. They also chapters receive direction from both a pro- seemingly insurmountable odds, in bring- regularly invite fellow citizens to group fessional field staff and headquarters, but ing the truth to light.” video presentations, where the important it is the organized, concerted action of in- ¥ Getting the U.S. out of the UN:The message of the video, including the solu- formed Americans from all walks of life JBS has campaigned to “Get US out!” of tion to the problem, may be discussed. that ultimately will make the difference. the United Nations for decades — erecting Because all of these materials are dis- Put simply, if America is to be saved, it is billboards, informing the public, and (dur- tributed, read, and used as part of a con- informed and involved citizens who will ing the 1970s and ’80s) collecting over 11 certed action program to awaken Americans do the saving. million signatures on petitions to Congress to the conspiratorial threat to their freedoms, The organization for saving America al- to terminate our UN membership. But the and then to mobilize them in a program of ready exists; all that is needed for it to ac- campaign entered a new phase in 2001, concerted action, the cumulative effect of complish that Herculean task is more will- when the JBS launched its Get US out! many years of Birch activism has been ing hands. ■

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 13 TRACK RECORD Projecting the Lines JBS founder Robert Welch was adept at predicting what the Insiders would do next. The Society has since used his method of “projecting the lines” to stay ahead of the curve.

by John F. McManus

n the midst of all the weighty topics regularly consuming his hours, John I Birch Society founder Robert Welch always maintained a sense of humor. He could at one point deliver a lengthy disser- tation explaining that “the increasing quan- tity of government, in all nations, has con- stituted the greatest tragedy of the twentieth century.” Then in the next breath, he would smile broadly and insist, “I hap- pen to be 30 days older than this century and, therefore, it should listen to me.” Had more Americans listened to Robert Welch, the U.S. and its media would never have aided Fidel Castro in seizing control of Cuba. Lionized during 1957 and 1958 as the virtual reincarnation of St. Francis of Assisi and George Washington, Castro could not have survived any airing of the truth about his past. But it was avail- able. Four months before Castro came to power in Cuba, and 39 months before Cas- United Nations tro admitted that he was a Communist, Supported by Washington — unmasked by Welch: “Only a genius and a prophet” could have recognized Fidel Castro as a Communist in the 1950s, claimed former President Eisenhower in Welch wrote in the September 1958 issue 1963. JBS founder Robert Welch performed that prophetic feat five years earlier, in defiance of of his small-circulation magazine Ameri- respectable opinion. can Opinion: “Now the evidence from Castro’s whole past, that he is a Commu- nist agent carrying out Communist orders ing the past and present. He concluded that by itself, prevent tragedies like Castro and plans, is overwhelming.” In subse- America’s foreign policy blunders were coming to power in Cuba — or the contin- quent issues of American Opinion,Welch not the result of happenstance or stupidity ued erosion of our own freedoms here in devoted page after page to important facts but design and betrayal. By detecting the America. The published materials also to back up his charge. conspiratorial design, he was able to pre- needed to be widely distributed and used But the 20th century wasn’t listening to dict with uncanny accuracy what the In- as part of a concerted action program. Welch. It listened instead to the mass siders would do next. When questioned Robert Welch passed away in 1985, but media and political leaders, especially about his predictions being out-of-step his legacy, The John Birch Society, con- President Dwight David Eisenhower, who, with the popular opinions of the day, he tinues to “project the lines” regarding In- in response to a 1963 inquiry two years would calmly but firmly say that “all one sider plans. Those plans ultimately call for after he’d left the White House, continued has to do is project the lines.” Projecting making America a mere province in a to claim that he had been fooled by Castro. the lines did not require clairvoyance. global, despotic new world order. Whether The former president unintentionally paid Welch could anticipate what would hap- those plans come to fruition depends on Welch a high compliment when he stated: pen because he had studied what had hap- what patriotic Americans do to expose “Only a genius and a prophet could have pened earlier. the Conspiracy and change the course of known for sure that Cuban Premier Fidel Three months after first sounding the history. Castro was a Communist in the 1950s.” alarm about Fidel Castro in the pages of In the following pages, we present a Welch was not a prophet, but he was a American Opinion,Welch founded The number of other projections made by The genius. (For a profile of Welch, see page John Birch Society, recognizing that mere- John Birch Society, both during and after 25.) He had done his homework, by study- ly publishing good information would not, Robert Welch’s tenure.

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 15 TRACK RECORD

spected by their fellow citizens. That, of course, was before the civil turmoil that rocked the country during the Vietnam War era. But Welch understood even then that the “thin blue line” would have to be vili- fied as a stepping stone to supplanting in- dependent, local police forces accountable to the communities they served with a na- tional police state accountable to a central government in Washington. In 1967, he added “And Keep Them Independent!” to the already famous slogan he had coined. ¥ Betrayal in Vietnam: In the August 1965 JBS Bulletin, Robert Welch warned that the plan for the incipient Vietnam War was to turn it “into a larger and longer and more in- famous Korea.” “Does anybody think that there has been any lessening of the power or ruthlessness of the Communist influ- AP/Wide World ences in Washington since 1953?” he asked. The Wall comes down: In November 1989 the Berlin Wall came down, leaving tens of millions of Americans delighted — and astonished. This supposedly unforeseeable development had been “Or that the Communists do not use so suc- predicted in the JBS Bulletin. cessful a formula again and again? Or that any war carried on against the Communists by [Secretary of Defense] Robert Strange Welch Predictions operation of our economy and every activ- McNamara or [Secretary of State] Dean ¥ World government threat: At the found- ity of our daily lives. This is to be accom- Rusk is going to be any different from the ing meeting of The John Birch Society in panied, naturally and automatically, by a one they sponsored in the Congo — or more December 1958, Welch warned against correspondingly huge increase in the size recently in the Dominican Republic — “the gradual surrender of American sover- of our bureaucracy, and in both the cost where the net result was the destruction or eignty, piece by piece and step by step, to and reach of our domestic government.” demoralization of as much as possible of various international organizations — of ¥ Judicial usurpation: Pointing to al- the native anti-Communist strength?” which the United Nations is the outstand- ready rampant judicial activism, Welch ini- Regarding the planned debacle by our ing but far from the only example.” He also tiated the “Impeach Earl Warren” cam- own policymakers, Welch also asked, explained that “internationalism, as it is paign in 1961. He did so while citing the “What on earth would you expect? For conceived and promoted today, is an at- opinion of a respected contemporary that twenty years we have been taken steadily tempt to impose more government and a the “easiest place to destroy the Constitu- down the road to Communism by steps more centralized one-world government tion is in the United States Supreme supposedly designed, and always sold to on all of us everywhere. For that reason it Court.” He pointed to the Warren court’s the American people, as a means of oppos- is automatically contrary to everything we precedent-setting decisions that under- ing Communism. Will we never learn any- stand for, and one of the movements we mined states’ rights and favored domestic thing from experience?” “There is nothing shall oppose with all the strength we can.” Communists and their subversive activity. at all new in history about the government Soon after organizing The John Birch He understood that unless judicial usurpa- of any nation deliberately fomenting war Society, Welch launched the “Get US out! tion was curtailed the problem would with another nation, primarily to serve var- of the United Nations” campaign. When he worsen and would ultimately lead to the ious purposes at home,” he added. Those did so, there was little public understand- destruction of the U.S. Constitution. purposes included, of course, the increase ing that the UN was intended from the be- In the years since Welch launched the in government that wars always justify. ginning to provide the framework for a de- “Impeach Earl Warren” campaign, more As our involvement in Southeast Asia veloping one-world government. There is recent Supreme Court decisions — ban- increased, Welch argued that we should not of course much more awareness today. ning prayer in the public schools, “legaliz- cut and run as the Left was demanding, or ¥ Big government threat: At the found- ing” abortion, striking down state anti- continue fighting a limited war with ing meeting, Welch warned against “the sodomy laws — have made the threat of mounting casualties, but to win the war conversion of the United States into a so- judicial usurpation much more obvious. and then get out. But our fighting men cialist nation, quite similar to Russia itself ¥ Police state threat: In 1963, Welch were betrayed, and the war worked to the in its economy and political outlook, be- launched the “Support Your Local Police” benefit of the Communists, just as Welch fore police state enforcement is ever intro- campaign. At the time, many Americans had feared. duced.” He also forecast: “Greatly in- wondered why such a project was needed, ¥ New world order:Welch warned re- creased socialistic controls over every since policemen were already highly re- peatedly that the Insiders of a global con-

16 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 munist nations appear to be moving people, including those who considered toward the West.... The gap between themselves well informed, as silly. These the Communist and non-Communist days, of course, the emerging regional gov- worlds is being significantly nar- ernment now known as the European rowed in preparation for the merger. Union — possessing its own central bank Presumably, East and West will meet and currency, and increasingly imposing on a “socialist” middle ground. its regulations on European states — is too As part of the game plan, Commu- obvious to be denied. nist nations that have always operat- ¥ Overblown Y2K threat:During the ed under the name of Communism months leading up to the year 2000, many might even give up, or at least de- of the financial newsletter writers, and emphasize, that name. Should they even some voices in the major media, do so, however, they would in effect claimed against evidence and reason that be giving up nothing since they have the Y2K computer bug was an unsolvable always been and would still remain problem and that the consequences on Jan- totalitarian socialists. The Commu- uary 1st would be catastrophic. Some even Dispelling the Y2K Scare: In the years leading nists might even tear down the Berlin claimed that a collapse of our computer- up to the new millennium, many supposed Wall and lift the Iron Curtain for the driven society would provide then-Presi- experts predicted that the event would trigger a cyber-debacle as computer networks crashed purpose of reuniting Western and dent Clinton with the pretext for declaring worldwide, leading to chaos and martial law. In Eastern Europe. Such a significant martial law and imposing dictatorship. 1998 the JBS demonstrated that the Y2K event would win the Communists The John Birch Society, however, threat was largely hype. much Western support. Yet, if West- viewed the computer bug problem as solv- ern Europe continues its progression able and did not believe the American peo- toward socialism and interdepen- ple were ready to accept martial law. More spiracy intended to establish a “new world dence, the only real winners would be than a year before the supposed catastro- order.” In September 1972, for instance, the leaders of the supranational world phe, the September 14, 1998 issue of THE Welch wrote in the JBS Bulletin:“This government. NEW AMERICAN published a cover story by plan is to establish — very soon — the first Dennis Behreandt warning: “While the stages of a ‘new world order.’ This will be The November 1989 Bulletin was already Millennium Bug is a real problem, fear of the very novus ordo seclorum for which a in the hands of JBS members when, on the it is a much greater problem. True conser- self-perpetuating inner circle of Conspira- ninth of that month, East Germany tors has been working and scheming re- shocked the world by announcing the lentlessly during some six generations....” opening of the Berlin Wall. Informed At the time very few Americans were fa- Birchers were not shocked, since they un- miliar with the phrase — though the ar- derstood that the Communist threat would chitects of world order had long used the have to be abated for the planned merger phrase as a euphemism for world govern- of nations in a new world order to proceed. ment. But public recognition of the phrase ¥ European government:The cover story made a quantum jump on September 11, articles in the April 10, 1989 issue of THE 1990, when President George H.W. Bush NEW AMERICAN warned that the European repeatedly referred to a “new world order” Community, or Common Market, was in- as a reason for sending American troops to tended by its architects to become a Euro- the Persian Gulf. On that date, Bush (the pean government, eventually controlling elder) stated: “Out of these troubled times, the political and economic fates of the our fifth objective — a new world order — once-independent nations can emerge.... We are now in sight of a of Europe. United Nations that performs as envi- At the time this warning sioned by its founders.” was sounded, both Euro- peans and Americans mis- Post-Welch Projections takenly believed the propa- ¥ Fall of Communism:Prior to the appar- ganda line that the Three years before 9-11, ent demise of Communism, the November Common Market’s purpose Birchers and other readers of 1989 JBS Bulletin,written and released in was to facilitate the free THE NEW AMERICAN recognized October, warned: flow of goods and services both Osama bin Laden’s grim among European countries. visage and the deadly threat he Just as the West is moving toward A regional government? posed to America. Communism and socialism, the Com- The notion struck many

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 17 TRACK RECORD

a running head start to pursue their anti-constitutional agenda.

¥ Iraq and UN empowerment:The JBS has warned that our Iraqi deployment would work to the benefit of, not to the detriment of, the United Nations. Although President Bush’s stated reason for going to war against Iraq was to enforce UN Security Council resolutions (a fact we pointed out time and again), the public perceived Bush as operating contrary to the UN and in sup- port of U.S. interests. Consequently, a U.S. “failure” in Iraq would provide impetus for the internationalist argument that the U.S. must not try to police the world alone and must not act unilaterally. Never mind that U.S. Marine Corps the U.S. should not be policing the world Our overextended military: In September, President Bush, a supposed opponent of the UN, meekly asked for the world body’s help with the military and economic costs of occupying Iraq. in the first place! Who could have seen this coming? The JBS — which predicted this very development in June. In our June 30, 2003 issue, THE NEW AMERICAN’S William Norman Grigg pre- dicted that our Iraqi deployment would re- vative Americans must not allow them- rent JBS Chief Executive Officer G. Vance sult in “a steady and worsening hemor- selves to fall prey to the hyperbole and dire Smith warned: rhage of national power, wealth, and predictions of fearmongers and doomsay- prestige.... Ultimately, those costs will ers lest they be neutralized in the quest to It does not take a prophet or a genius prove too much for our nation to bear preserve the Republic.” to predict the course of the incoming alone. In such fashion does swaggering im- ¥ Terrorist threat:Years prior to the 9-11 administration, any more than it re- perialism set the stage for compelled in- tragedy, the JBS and THE NEW AMERICAN quires a gifted individual to predict terdependence.... It’s reasonable to imag- offered specific warnings of the impending that dogs will bark or ducks will ine a not-too-distant time when American terrorist assault, many of which have been quack. That is the nature of the crea- servicemen and their families, weary of the tragically vindicated. A March 3, 1997 tures. Candidate Bush did not receive burden of empire, would eagerly embrace cover story on the 1993 World Trade Cen- severe treatment from the Insider- transferring that burden to the UN.” ter bombing observed: “The leaders of the controlled media or the “liberal” wing *** radical Islamic network responsible for the of the Republican party anywhere Major Pedro Diaz Lanz, former chief of bombing … were given financial aid and near as caustic as that meted out to Castro’s air force, paid the JBS a great training by the CIA. Furthermore, at sev- Barry Goldwater or even Dan Quayle. compliment when he said: “If there had eral critical junctures where the conspira- If the Insiders had perceived him as a been even one chapter of the John Birch cy could have been exposed and its lead- real threat, rather than a fully cooper- Society in Havana prior to 1959, working ers arrested, federal law enforcement either ating employee, they could have em- to expose Castro as Robert Welch was at ignored that network or actually provided ployed any number of means to derail the time, Cuba would not have fallen to crucial help to it.... American citizens will his candidacy. And with CFR mem- Communism.” Major Diaz was very famil- pay the price for evils nurtured by a gov- bers Richard Cheney as Vice Presi- iar with both Castro and the JBS; he had ernment that poses as their protector.” dent, Colin Powell as Secretary of been chief of Castro’s air force prior to flee- Osama bin Laden, a key player in the nur- State, Christie Todd Whitman head- ing Cuba in mid-1959, and after defecting tured terrorist threat, appeared on the cover ing the EPA, and Condoleezza Rice he had spoken nationally for the JBS. of THE NEW AMERICAN for October 12, as National Security Adviser, we can The new world order the JBS has warned 1998, almost three years before 9-11. peruse the administration’s blueprints against is not inevitable. All that is needed George W. Bush:The JBS and THE NEW each quarter in Foreign Affairs [the to expose the architects of world order and AMERICAN magazine repeatedly warned, journal of the Council on Foreign Re- to change the course of history is for more both before and after the 2002 presidential lations], right along with the Insiders. patriots to get involved in the freedom fight election, that George W. Bush was no con- Let us not kid ourselves: If we were through The John Birch Society. The 20th servative, and that he was beholden to the to waste valuable time waiting for the century may not have listened to Robert same Insider cabal that had pulled the new administration to “prove” itself, Welch, but that is only because the organi- strings behind previous presidents, both all we would accomplish would be to zation he created to magnify his and other Democrat and Republican. In the JBS Bul- give the promoters of big government like-minded voices was not yet large letin for February 2001, for instance, cur- at home and internationalism abroad enough to get the job done. ■

18 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 ENEMY ATTACKS The Big Smear Knowing that The John Birch Society could foil their plans, the architects of America’s engineered decline have long targeted this patriotic group for defamatory smears.

by William Norman Grigg From Marxists to the mainstream: In 1961, acting on orders from the Kremlin, American n the parlance of the Internet age, the Communists launched a campaign to defame word “meme” refers to a self-replicat- The John Birch Society as fascist, racist, and I ing idea, phrase, or concept that anti-Semitic. Typical of this vicious outpouring spreads through a population like a virus. was a 1961 monograph by Mike Newberry of Memes can be playful pieces of trivial the Weekly Worker (left), which set the tone slang, advertising slogans as indelible as for more “respectable” libels offered by they are annoying, or innovative expres- mainstream publishers. sions that usefully add to our common vocabulary. However, memes can also transmit mis- information or disinformation — that is, falsehoods deliberately planted and care- fully cultivated. They can also be used to defame, discredit, or dehumanize individ- uals or groups of people. Once seeded in the public mind, the defamatory meme can propagate itself almost endlessly, infecting the population at large with an artfully dis- torted perception of the targeted person or people. The Communists perfected the use of activity is perfectly legal.” memes, including those intended to dehu- Hunter informed the Senate Committee manize their enemies, long before the In- that a new “anti-anti-Communist drive has ternet. An official Communist Party direc- been ordered by the Soviet Communist hi- tive issued in 1943 decreed: “When certain erarchy, speaking through and by the voice obstructionists become too irritating, label of the Communist parties of the world, them, after suitable build-ups, as Fascist or gathered in a rare conclave.” The campaign Nazi or anti-Semitic … to discredit them. would also produce “a seemingly sponta- In the public mind constantly associate neous outpouring of articles and persua- those who oppose us with those names sions of every character, that will arise all Communist-party affiliates from around which already have a bad smell. The asso- along the fringes of the communications the world issued a manifesto calling for a ciation will, after enough repetition, be- field where the Reds have influence … “resolute struggle against anti-Commu- come ‘fact’ in the public mind.” penetrating all channels of the press and all nism....” The Communist Party of the Unit- “This lumping together opponents of attitude-changing segments of our society, ed States published that manifesto a month every description — mild or tough — such as schools and churches.” This smear later, thereby setting the stage for the anti- branding them with some predominantly campaign targeted, as the central enemy, JBS smear. objectionable label, is an old Red tactic,” The John Birch Society. “So far as the American Communists observed Edward Hunter, a scholar of were concerned, this was an order — plain Communist propaganda and psychological Destroy the JBS! and incontrovertible,” commented the sub- warfare, in testimony before the Senate Ju- A 1963 report compiled by the California committee report. “It was an implementa- diciary Committee in 1961. “It produces State Senate’s Fact-finding Subcommittee tion of orders from the highest source of some of the more obvious of the patent on Un-American Activities concluded that the world Communist movement, and it falsehoods that come out of Red logic … the Kremlin-organized campaign to de- was therefore imperative that the party and reaches such perversions of Socratic stroy the anti-Communist Right — and the here do everything in its power to render thinking as the teaching that war is peace, JBS specifically — was a direct response the Birch Society, the anti-Communist black is white, and opposition to commu- to “Birch actions to throttle Communist ac- schools, and other rising anti-Communist nism is illegal, whereas pro-Communist tivities” in the U.S. In December 1960, 81 organizations ineffective.”

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 19 ENEMY ATTACKS

“Overnight, the activities of the anti- Communist groups became the subject of long articles,” Hunter testified. “Anti-Com- munism only became news when the pil- lorying of the Birch Society gave [Com- munists and their allies] the opportunity to refer to all anti-Communism as the work of ‘the Birchites,’ and to smear it all indis- criminately as ‘right extremist.’ Without exception, each of the articles purporting to summarize the anti-Communist move- ment followed this propaganda line. Each time, too, with a similarity that was un- mistakable … there is a backhanded effort to brand the whole thing as Nazi.”

Publications put out by the Communist Kennedy Library John F. Party — the polluted headwaters of this “Camelot” piles on: In late 1961, less than a year after the Kremlin-directed assault on the JBS propaganda campaign — presented the began, the “anti-Communist” Kennedy administration joined the fray — on the Communists’ side. Denouncing the Society for leading the “discordant voices of extremism,” the Kennedy administration “Nazi” smear in undisguised form. Typical deployed the Internal Revenue Service to harass the JBS and intimidate its supporters. of such screeds was a 1961 booklet enti- tled The Fascist Revival: The Inside Story of the John Birch Society. Written by Mike spearheading a fascist plot to overthrow rect action is what disturbs [Ameri- Newberry of the Weekly Worker, the Com- American “democracy.” can Communist leader] Gus Hall and munist Party newspaper, the pamphlet de- This assault on the JBS was part of a his followers. picted the JBS as a paramilitary fascist or- larger effort to create what we might now ganization whose underground cadres call an anti-Birch “meme.” “The virulent The California Senate Subcommittee’s in- (composed of seedy, drunken, dissolute tone of the booklet … indicates that the vestigation of the JBS was actually insti- bigots) were plotting to assassinate feder- Communist Party would like to create a gated by Mr. Welch. As the Communist-in- al government officials. In his frenzied ren- new, Pavlovian trigger word for this peri- spired campaign to smear the Society took dering, Newberry claimed that the JBS was od in its psychological warfare, and be- root in California, abetted by statements lieves ‘Birchite’ might be put into the from high-placed state officials (such as language this way, replacing ‘Mc- Attorney General Stanley Mosk), journal- Carthyite,’” Hunter explained. ists and politicians began to clamor for an The smear of the JBS tacitly ac- official investigation of the JBS as an un- knowledged the Society as the most American or subversive organization. Mr. significant, and potentially the most ef- Welch responded by sending a telegram to fective, means of defeating Communist Governor Edmund G. Brown “urgently de- subversion. This fact was noted by the mand[ing] the proposed investigation of California Senate Subcommittee: The John Birch Society by the California State Senate on Un-American Activities The feature that distinguishes the Committee.” “A dozen or a hundred or a Birch Society from other anti-Com- thousand of our members in California will munist groups is its combination of gladly testify and we can assure you that study and direct action. This pro- unlike our Communist enemies none of vides an outlet for the members, who our members will take the Fifth Amend- thus can feel that they are participat- ment,” wrote Mr. Welch. “We will gladly ing in a coordinated campaign. As cooperate with the Committee in every Professor Alan F. Westin put it: “Un- way that we can.” like those right-fundamentalist The resulting report documented the groups which have energetic leaders Kremlin-line origins of the anti-JBS smear but passive memberships, the and was later republished by the Society. Leftist labor leader Walter Reuther, in a 1934 Birchers are decidedly activist. ‘Get Although the subcommittee was often very letter from the Soviet Union, urged American to work or learn to talk Russian,’ is a critical of opinions expressed by Mr. Communists to “carry on the fight for a Soviet slogan [JBS founder Robert] Welch Welch and by the Society, its dispassion- America.” In 1961, as part of that struggle, recommends to his followers, and ate, even-handed examination of the facts Reuther composed a blueprint for a federal they are certainly hard at work.” This established beyond dispute that the JBS assault on The John Birch Society. sort of implementing of study by di- was an effective, principled organization

20 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 composed of public-minded citizens con- voices of extremism.” cerned for the future of our republic. This In his book Power to De- Since the anti-JBS smear reached its was why the Kremlin and its American ad- stroy, historian John A. An- herents undertook to defame and dehu- drew III notes that in late high-water mark in 1965, the Establishment manize the JBS. 1961, Attorney General has followed a different approach to the But the Communist smear campaign Robert F. Kennedy “turned represented only one prong of the attack on to Walter Reuther of the Society — contemptuous silence, the Society. United Auto Workers union occasionally punctuated with slander. and liberal attorney Joseph The Establishment Joins In Rauh, Jr., asking them to for- The initial Communist sortie against the mulate concrete suggestions for a counter- atives, led by William F. Buckley Jr. Society came in a February 25, 1961 arti- attack” against the JBS-led “Radical As a student at Yale, Buckley was a pro- cle in People’s World (the official newspa- Right.” In December of that year, RFK re- tégé of CIA operative Willmoore Kendall, per of the Communist Party on the West ceived a 24-page battle plan entitled the a onetime disciple of Communist Leon Coast) headlined: “Enter (from stage right) “Reuther Memorandum,” which “formed Trotsky. Buckley was also “tapped” to be the John Birch Society.” That article re- the basis of a broad assault on the right a member of Skull & Bones, the campus gurgitated libels against the Society previ- wing by the Kennedy administration,” con- branch of a notorious international secret ously carried in Pravda, Izvestia, Trud, society. After Buckley graduated, Literraturnaya Gazeta, and other Sovi- Kendall introduced Buckley to James et publications. Little would have come Burnham, another “ex”-Trotskyite with of the charges made in the Communist CIA connections. Eventually Buckley press had they not been recycled by the joined the CIA and (by his own admis- mainstream American media. sion) received training in “deep cover” Time magazine’s March 10, 1961 work. It was around that time that the issue published a hit piece on the JBS future conservative leader penned an that repeated, almost verbatim, many essay for America magazine opining key points in the People’s World article. that the Cold War would require “a to- Even as the Communists and their talitarian bureaucracy within our ideological siblings in the mainstream shores” and its “attendant centralization press caricatured the JBS as a pack of of power in Washington.” In 1955, fascists, a whispering campaign was Buckley — surrounding himself with started among conservative activists to “ex”-Communists and CIA-connected denigrate the JBS as a Communist or- figures — inaugurated National Review ganization. “In the Chicago area right magazine, which the Establishment im- now,” observed Mr. Welch in the March mediately embraced as the flagship 1961 John Birch Society Bulletin, conservative journal. “good patriots are not only being in- Shortly after the combined Commu- R. photo formed by written report that The John P. nist/Kennedy administration attack on Birch Society is Communist, but two of Totalitarian “conservative”: In 1952, CIA apprentice the JBS began, National Review joined Chicago’s leading citizens are being William F. Buckley endorsed creating a “totalitarian the assault. A lengthy editorial pub- specifically named as Communists on bureaucracy within our shores.” As the Establishment- lished in the February 13, 1962 issue the basis of their membership in the So- anointed “conservative leader” years later, Buckley insisted that “Robert Welch is damag- targeted the JBS, confiding to close friends: “I am ciety — and one of them is not even a going to destroy The John Birch Society.” ing the cause of anti-Communism” by member and never has been. In Texas “distorting reality.” Abetted by Buckley the rumor has been widely and effi- and other “responsible conservatives” ciently spread that The John Birch Society tinues Professor Andrew. “It was the first (a label Buckley devised), the Republican is trying to get [then-FBI Director] J. step toward the utilization of the Internal establishment waged an escalating cam- Edgar Hoover out of the government.” Revenue Service in what became a covert paign against the JBS. The attacks reached Another vector of attack came from the effort to discredit the right and undercut its a crescendo during the 1964 Republican Kennedy administration, which the JBS sources of support.” National Convention. At that gathering had severely criticized. Coinciding with Despite enduring persistent — and often New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, the Communist anti-Birch campaign that illegal — harassment by the IRS, The John addressing a national television audience, began in early 1961, the Kennedy admin- Birch Society continued to expand its in- denounced the forces of “extremism,” in- istration began to explore ways of using fluence. Having survived Communist-in- cluding “the Nazis, the Klan, the Commu- the Internal Revenue Service to shut down stigated smears and a White House-direct- nists, and the John Birch Society.” the JBS and other conservative organiza- ed assault from the IRS, the Society was In this fashion, Rockefeller employed tions described by JFK as “discordant targeted by so-called mainstream conserv- what has come to be known as the “sand-

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 21 ENEMY ATTACKS

nist regimes abroad would Since the anti-JBS smear reached its The assaults on the Society began shortly collapse without the mate- high-water mark in 1965, the Establish- rial aid that our supposed- ment has followed a different approach to after its birth; they persist to this day, and ly anti-Communist govern- the Society — contemptuous silence, oc- will continue for as long as the JBS endures. ment was providing to casionally punctuated with slander. When them. He also warned that a suitable occasion arises — such as the This is because the JBS combines sound our interventionist foreign 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, or the 9-11 education and concerted action to offer a policy would not only im- attacks — various organs of the establish- poverish our nation, but ment opinion cartel will emit warnings uniquely effective way to combat and reverse would also bind our nation about the dangers of “extremism” that in- our nation’s decline into collectivist tyranny. in a web of interdepen- variably invoke the Communist Party line dence, ultimately leading circa 1961. to the total surrender of our A museum-quality example of this ap- wich smear” — inserting a reference to sovereignty. proach appeared in a May 13, 1996 Chris- The John Birch Society in a list that in- “The JBS was inveighing against the tian Science Monitor op-ed column by Ira cluded certifiable hate groups or subver- New World Order years before George Straus, then the chairman of the Commit- sive movements. Bush popularized that sinister phrase,” re- tee for the U.S. in NATO. Although Timo- In 1965, Buckley reportedly confided thy McVeigh and “others unknown” to close friends, “I am going to destroy carried out the OKC bombing, Straus The John Birch Society.” That year, his contended, Birchers were actually to magazine published a lengthy diatribe in- blame for the atrocity. tended to excommunicate the JBS from “For decades,” Straus wrote, “the the conservative movement. Twenty- John Birch Society has spread word of five years later, when Buckley stepped the Conspiracy: The international down as National Review’s editor, he bankers who pull all the strings. The told the Washington Post that the “ab- ones who really control both the Com- solute exclusion” of the JBS and other munist conspiracy and the United so-called extremists from the conserv- States government. The Trilateral Com- ative movement was “the magazine’s mission. The Federal Reserve, which is most important accomplishment....” ruining our money. The Council on Foreign Relations — psst, they’re out Battered but Unbowed to destroy the Constitution, take away “Not since the furious campaign of our guns, and enslave us in a United calumny directed against the [pre-World Nations One-World Communist gov- War II] America First Committee has a ernment. Their code words: ‘New group on the Right had to endure such World Order.’” a barrage of negative publicity — and Straus didn’t demonstrate how the with little if any justification,” summa- JBS viewpoint was in error, nor did he

rized historian Justin Raimondo in Re- Reuters demonstrate that McVeigh was affiliat- claiming the American Right. Neo-Nazi murderer Benjamin Smith belonged to the ed or sympathized with the Society. In- The reason why Buckley and the “World Church of the Creator,” whose founder Ben stead he scrupulously followed the tem- conservative wing of the Establishment Klassen took the Communist-inspired smear of the plate for creating an anti-Birch “meme” joined “with the liberals in a smear JBS at face value. Shortly after joining the JBS, laid out by the Communists decades campaign of massive proportions was Klassen — disgusted that the Society abhorred his earlier: tirelessly associate the Society racist and anti-Semitic views — angrily resigned, that the Birchers refused to fall in line with criminals, terrorists, and subver- complaining that promoting bigotry was grounds for behind the Cold War foreign policy of expulsion from the Birch Society. sive elements. the New Right,” continued Raimondo. “What is the milieu in which crimi- Rather than supporting the Establish- nal groups of ‘freemen’ and Oklahoma ment Right’s agenda — global interven- calls Raimondo. “For more than thirty City bombers grow?” asked Straus. “It is tionism, committing our nation in a series years, the smear brigade derided these con- the underworld of conspiracy theory, a of UN-affiliated alliances, shoveling out cerns as the perfervid fantasies of discred- subculture in which people share fantasies billions in foreign aid, and building the “to- ited ‘conspiracy theorists.’When the plans of fighting heroically against a huge Con- talitarian bureaucracy” at home endorsed of the internationalists for a world govern- spiracy that is taking over the world.... by Buckley — the JBS prescribed radical- ment backed by U.S. troops and tax dollars Conspiracy theory is doing America real ly reducing the central government’s size, unfolded on the front pages of our news- harm. Long incubating underground, it has cost, and invasiveness. papers, the Society crowed: ‘JBS — Ahead grown into the greatest enslaver of human Robert Welch understood that Commu- of its time!’ — and justifiably so.” minds since Communism. It irrationalizes

22 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 thinking on every issue. It kills. It turns never even get a hint of the real culprits,” many as 25 hate groups in Wisconsin” and millions of Americans against their own wrote Klassen in his letter of resignation, that “such groups [are] … pounding on im- country. It undermines foreign policy by referring to his demented assumption that migration, civil liberties and anti-Israel vilifying our government’s every effort.” “the Jews” are the real “enemy.” “In fact, themes....” A chart accompanying the Jour- Another opportunity to resurrect the the members are led to believe that no Jew- nal-Sentinel article, entitled “A Geography Communist-coined anti-JBS smear came ish conspiracy exists, and [to blame Jews of Hate,” displayed a map of Wisconsin on in July 1999, when Benjamin Smith, an ad- for our problems] is the cardinal sin and which were marked the locations of vari- herent of an anti-Semitic group called the grounds for expulsion from the Birch So- ous “hate groups.” Included in that catego- World Church of the Creator (WCOC) ciety,” whined the hateful Klassen. ry were various Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazi, went on a shooting rampage, killing and Echoes of the anti-JBS “meme” were and skinhead groups, several self-styled wounding several people in the Chicago found in Project Megiddo,a 1999 FBI re- “militia” units, a handful of “Christian pa- area before taking his own life. A profile port warning that “right-wing extremists” triot” associations, the Wisconsin branch of the WCOC published by the Philadel- — the JBS in particular — posed a terror- of the U.S. Constitution Party, and the phia Inquirer claimed that the group’s ist threat at the turn of the millennium. The home office of The John Birch Society. founder, Ben Klassen, was a “lifetime John FBI document was produced by a network The assaults on the Society began short- Birch Society member....” of radical “watchdog” organizations and ly after its birth; they persist to this day, In fact, Klassen — like a handful of activists, many connected to the hard-core and will continue for as long as the JBS en- other anti-Semitic miscreants — joined the Marxist revolutionary Left. And following dures. This is because — as the California JBS subsequent to the high-profile smear the horrific 9-11 attacks, the same “watch- Senate Fact-finding Subcommittee point- campaign, because he took at face value dogs” took up the cudgels once again, in- ed out four decades ago — the JBS com- the defamatory depiction of the organiza- sisting that the attack on our nation by rad- bines sound education and concerted ac- tion as a neo-Nazi cabal. When he became ical Islamic terrorists justified a federal tion to offer a uniquely effective way to aware that the JBS is welcome to honor- crackdown on domestic “extremist groups” combat and reverse our nation’s decline able Americans of all faiths and back- such as the JBS. into collectivist tyranny. As long as it ex- grounds, Klassen resigned in disgust — in The November 19, 2001 Milwaukee ists, the JBS will remain the target of 1969, decades before taking his own life. Journal-Sentinel,for instance, cited re- defamatory smears generated by the archi- “[T]o read the Birch literature, one would ports from “watchdogs” that “there are as tects of our engineered decline. ■

Congratulations on the 45th Anniversary Institutional Footwear 7877 Raytheon Road • San Diego, CA 92111 For Prisons and Jails PROPERTY MANAGEMENT RENTALS (858) 278-1030

JC HONDA AMERICAN MUFFLER Independent Service SAN DIEGO (858) 292-8042 (858) 277-0276277-0276

Shoe ZOOM IMPORT AUTO PHOTO LAB SPECIALISTS Corporation (858) 541-2100 (858) 576-7186 of Birmingham Sound Check Toyota/Lexus 1415 First Avenue South (858) 560-5455 Care Birmingham, Alabama 35233 PGR (858) 424-0997 (858) 541-0852 (205) 326-2800 THE FOUNDER Americanism’s Standard-bearer Robert Welch launched an unprecedented movement to expose and rout the worldwide collectivist conspiracy.

by William F. Jasper Renaissance Man love of knowledge, but also instilled in him Robert Welch was a true genius, a child good habits and strong moral convictions. How often has public calamity been prodigy who began reading at two, tackled Honesty, a strong work ethic, good man- arrested on the very brink of ruin by algebra at age six, read all nine volumes of ners, respect for one’s elders, responsibil- the seasonable energy of a single John Clark Ridpath’s formidable History of ity, generosity — these and other virtues man?... One vigorous mind without of- the World at age seven, and entered the Uni- were fused into the character of Robert fice, without situation, without pub- Welch at an early age. When he en- lic functions of any kind … I say one tered high school at 10, he was al- such man confiding in the aid of ready far advanced, academically, be- God, and full of just reliance in his yond the level of his older classmates. own fortitude, vigor, enterprise, and Robert Welch entered the Univer- perseverance, would first draw to sity of North Carolina at age 12, and him some few like himself, and then graduated at age 16 in the top third of that multitudes hardly thought to be his class — despite a couple years in existence, would appear and when his grades fared poorly due to troop about him. his frequent skipping of classes to — Edmund Burke pursue his interests in poetry, French literature, and chess. Meanwhile, the o those familiar with the life, United States had entered World War words, and works of Robert I and so, at 17, he enrolled at the U.S. T Welch, it must seem that Mr. Naval Academy, probably the only Burke’s lines above, though penned in plebe ever to start at Annapolis with 18th-century England, were written a college degree already in hand. In precisely and prophetically with this 1919, with the war over and other in- great 20th-century American patriot in terests beckoning, Robert Welch re- mind. In that calamitous century, a signed from the academy. After two great many heroic men arose in every years, he ranked fourth in a class of land to fight the good fight — and to nearly one thousand cadets. rally others in the fight — against or- It was off to Cambridge, Massa- ganized evil, against totalitarian tyran- chussetts, then, and Harvard Law ny. Many of these valiant heroes per- School for the young scholar. There ished in the brutal fray, their noble Welch would clash repeatedly with deeds known only to God, and their Marxist law professor Felix Frank- selfless sacrifices unremembered and furter, whom Franklin D. Roosevelt unsung by their countrymen. would later appoint to the Supreme Robert Welch recognized, as an Court. After two and a half years at “heir to the ages,” and as a debtor to these versity of North Carolina at age 12. He was Harvard Law School, Welch determined to courageous souls, a sacred obligation to a genuine “Renaissance Man,” a world launch out into the business world. With a carry on their fight. It was with a profound traveler, conversant in several languages, recipe for fudge and less than a hundred sense of duty to God, family, and country, and an avid, lifelong student of history, lan- dollars capitalization, he launched his and with a firm determination to stop, re- guage, philosophy, economics, mathemat- candy manufacturing enterprise. Later, he verse, and rout the global advance of Com- ics, science, geography, chess, poetry, clas- joined his younger brother James’ candy munism, specifically, and collectivism, sical literature, politics, and other subjects. firm, the James O. Welch Company, as its generally, that, in 1958, he founded The The life of this remarkable man began vice president. Over the years, he became John Birch Society and dedicated the re- at the turn of the century, on December 1, a recognized leader in the business com- mainder of his life to this purpose. 1899, on a farm in Chowan County, North munity, serving as vice president of the Na- Carolina. He was schooled at home by his tional Confectioners Association and chair- This article (abridged) originally appeared in the mother, Lina Welch, who not only nurtured man of the Education Committee of the December 6, 1999 issue of THE NEW AMERICAN. young Robert’s precocious intellect and National Association of Manufacturers.

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 25 THE FOUNDER

Birch, see page 31.) title of his publication in 1958 from One Robert Welch was a true genius. He began Welch intensified his Man’s Opinion to American Opinion to ac- study of global political de- commodate the contributions of other au- reading at two, tackled algebra at age six, velopments, including trips thors. American Opinion (the immediate and entered the University of North Carolina to many foreign lands to predecessor to THE NEW AMERICAN) quick- see firsthand what was hap- ly became the premier forum of analysis at age 12. He was a genuine “Renaissance pening. He became friends and commentary for America’s top anti- Man,” a world traveler, conversant in several with some of the leading Communist, free market thinkers and anti-Communist leaders of writers. languages, and a lifelong student of history, the world and developed mathematics, literature, and other subjects. contacts that would prove Founding the JBS vitally important in years But Welch knew that much, much more to come. In 1955, he visit- must be done to stop and reverse the dead- In 1946, Welch journeyed to England to ed President Syngman Rhee of South ly course on which America was heading. study the destructive impact on that coun- Korea, who later wrote to him: “I must Following Edmund Burke’s counsel, this try of its socialist Labor Government. He confess I did not know we had such a “one vigorous mind without office, with- was alarmed and distressed by the pur- out situation, without public functions suit of similarly destructive policies by of any kind,” determined to “first draw our own federal government. He was to him some few like himself.” even more alarmed by the foreign poli- Late in 1958, Robert Welch ex- cies of the Truman State Department, tended invitations to 17 influential which were betraying our allies and as- and respected men to meet him for a sisting the establishment of Commu- two-day presentation on an urgent nist regimes in Europe and Asia. matter. Eleven of the 17 accepted and In 1951, following President Tru- joined him in Indianapolis on De- man’s unjust firing of General Douglas cember 8th and 9th. This group was MacArthur, Welch penned his first heavily represented by former officers major political work, entitled May God of the National Association of Manu- Forgive Us. It had begun as a lengthy facturers who, through their associa- letter to a friend outlining the calami- tion with Welch, had gained a great tous results of America’s post-World deal of respect for his knowledge of War II policies and the global Com- contemporary affairs. His in-depth, munist advance. Welch sent copies to two-day survey of the state of the several friends and was soon besieged world was a brilliant but grim exam- with requests for additional copies. He ination of the current Communist/col- had several hundred copies printed up, lectivist threat to America and the which resulted in requests for tens of Free World. He did not pull any thousands more. We were at war with punches about the total inadequacy of the Communists in Korea, and Welch’s the myriad of anti-Communist orga- incisive analysis of America’s defeats nizations opposing the Communist and retreats so soon after our victories juggernaut. “At present,” said Welch, over Germany and Japan struck a re- “we are in the position of trying to de- sponsive chord with the American feat a disciplined, well-armed, ex- public. In 1952, conservative book Child prodigy: Welch (in front) entered the University of pertly commanded army with a col- publisher Henry Regnery began print- North Carolina at age 12. lection of debating societies. And it ing May God Forgive Us in book form, can’t be done.” and before year’s end had sold 200,000 staunch ally and champion as you in The constantly changing, elected lead- copies. Virtually overnight, Robert Welch America.” He also met with Generalis- ership, parliamentary structure, and dem- had become one of America’s top-selling simo Chiang Kai-shek in 1955, and again ocratic methods of most voluntary organ- anti-Communist writers. 10 years later. izations could not possibly provide the In 1954, Robert Welch’s second explo- By 1956, Welch knew he must do more kind of efficiency, effectiveness, and stead- sive book, The Life of John Birch,ap- in the fight to save America, and so he left fastness of purpose that would be essential peared. He had stumbled across the amaz- the candy business to publish a “now-and- to succeed in this fight. Only completely ing story of this American military hero then magazine” called One Man’s Opin- determined, solid, monolithic, principle- and Christian martyr while conducting re- ion. As the circulation to his journal sky- based leadership could provide an organi- search in the congressional committee files rocketed and demands for coverage of zation protection internally against infil- in Washington, D.C. (For a profile of John more issues increased, Welch changed the tration, splintering, and inside fighting. At

26 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 the conclusion of this presentation, Welch announced his plan to begin building a na- tional, grassroots, education/action organi- zation that would be capable of defeating the enemy arrayed against us. He intended to name it, he said, after John Birch, whose heroic qualities exemplified everything that was good about America and mirrored exactly the noble character traits that would be necessary for victory in this epic struggle. And so began The John Birch So- ciety, an organization Welch led for the next quarter of a century. World events soon vindicated many of the predictions and warnings presented by Welch at that founding meeting (the tran- script of which became The Blue Book of The John Birch Society). He had told the Indianapolis attendees, for instance: “If you have any slightest doubt that Castro is a Communist, don’t. If he is successful, Romance with education: Welch, with wife Marian and a portion of his personal library, was an time will clearly reveal that he is an agent avid, lifelong student of history, language, philosophy, economics, mathematics, science, of the Kremlin.” geography, chess, poetry, classical literature, politics, and other subjects. But Welch did not wait for “time” to re- veal what was already obvious. In the Feb- ruary 1959 issue of American Opinion,he raged and were demanding to know how it ments of Hell!” published a concise but withering exposé could be that our government had made yet Those torments were not long in com- of Castro’s Red bona fides. That was fol- another terrible mistake, this time in- ing. The Communist attack was launched lowed in April with the entire issue of stalling a Communist dictator on our very on February 25, 1961, with a lead smear in American Opinion devoted to fully docu- doorstep. People’s World, an official newspaper of menting “the fact that Castro was, and all In its first months of existence, the the Communist Party, under the headline of his adult life had been, a vicious, lying, Society scored a major victory by organiz- “Enter (from stage right) the John Birch brutal, murdering Communist.” If such a ing a nationwide protest against the 1959 Society.” The Society found itself falsely statement seems self-evident today, please Eisenhower-Khrushchev Summit and the accused of racism, anti-Semitism, fascism, be informed that at the time Comrade Fidel exchange visits in Moscow and Washing- Nazism, Ku Kluxism, and the entire litany was being celebrated as an anti-Commu- ton planned for the two leaders as a send- of defamatory labels. Birchers were called nist. According to the Eisenhower admin- up before the summit. The JBS hastily or- paranoids, extremists, radicals, super-pa- istration, the New York Times, the U.S. ganized the Committee Against Summit triots, hatemongers, bigots, subversives, State Department, Harvard University, Entanglements, with Robert Welch serving lunatics, and fanatics. Reader’s Digest, and virtually the entire as chairman. The committee ran full-page Like the defamatory attacks against the Establishment media chorus, Castro was ads in the New York Times, Chicago Tri- JBS carried in Pravda and other Soviet the “George Washington” of Cuba. bune, Detroit Free Press, Dallas News, publications, the People’s World article The same chorus heaped scorn and Cincinnati Enquirer, Arizona Republic, would have had little effect on its own, ridicule on the Birch Society founder for and scores of other newspapers throughout since few Americans read it, and fewer still daring to besmirch their darling Fidel, and the country. placed any credibility in an openly Com- for two years kept bleating their unal- Public reaction was so favorable to the munist publication. However, when Time loyedpraises of the new Cuban “liberator.” Birch ad campaign, and so unfavorable to magazine, and then much of the rest of the Some of these self-anointed “experts” con- President Eisenhower’s overtures toward mainstream media, quickly followed with tinued their adulation even after Castro, the “Butcher of Budapest,” that Khrush- a sustained torrent of screeching tirades having consolidated his power, himself chev’s anticipated propaganda coup was a echoing the same charges as the People’s came forward to boast that he was indeed crashing failure and the Eisenhower return World, it was evident to all knowledgeable a Communist and had been one all along. visit to Moscow was called off. Once back anti-Communists that the Society was in All of which went a long way toward es- in Moscow, a furious Khrushchev deliv- for a smear the likes of which had not been tablishing the credibility of Robert Welch ered a scathing speech reporting on his seen since Senator Joseph McCarthy had and the Birch Society with all who had visit. “There are forces in the United States been singled out for similar treatment a eyes to see. Moreover, the American peo- working against us,” he said. “They must decade earlier. (See “The Big Smear” on ple were becoming more and more out- be publicly whipped, subjected to the tor- page 19.)

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 27 THE FOUNDER

ideas.” What they can’t tol- ucation is our total strategy and truth is our “Every day we see confirmation of the wisdom erate is individuals and only weapon,” Robert Welch repeatedly re- groups who expose the minded members of the Society. He had the and warnings of Robert Welch,” says Communists and the Insid- wisdom to recognize that the prerequisite G. Vance Smith, the current CEO of The John ers behind and above the for any positive, long-lasting political Communists. progress was the creation of an informed Birch Society. “I am especially impressed The Insiders realized al- electorate. And that could only be created with his extraordinary foresight in creating most immediately that the through a core base of activists who are JBS was not just another committed to constitutional principles a principle-centered organization that could “debating society.” They above political personalities and party agen- withstand … the test of time.” were facing a monolithic das. Welch soon established a nationwide organization of highly ed- network of local chapters guided by a full- ucated, highly motivated time, paid field staff, a book publishing arm, Insider Reaction constitutionalist activists carrying out a bookstores, audio and film production, a Joining in the vicious attacks on the Soci- concerted, coordinated action agenda speakers bureau, specialized ad hoc com- ety were many of the Establishment politi- under the direction of a very capable and mittees, and a host of other weapons of truth cians, industrialists, and financiers who for this educational army. had been longtime apostles of appease- ment of and cooperation with Commu- Lasting Legacy nism. But they were not, as far as any- In 1983, just days before the Soviets one knew, members of the Communist shot down the airliner that was taking Party. What exactly was their relation- him to Korea, Congressman Larry Mc- ship to the Communists and how could Donald — who had become chairman they be properly designated? Through of The John Birch Society earlier that his own intensive historical research, year, the same year Welch (then 83) and that of many others, Welch came to transferred the reins of leadership — understand that the Communist Con- stated of his mentor: “As a true pioneer, spiracy was but the overt, militant arm Mr. Welch has cleared the land, re- of a much larger and older conspiracy. moved the stumps, and helped to push In fact, the bloodline of the Commu- out of the way the boulders that were nist Conspiracy ran directly back to the before us. It is now time for us to de- French Revolution of 1789 and to the velop the field, enrich the soil, and secret group that orchestrated the prosper for the benefit of future gener- bloody events of that period, the Order ations of Americans and other heirs of of the Illuminati. Founded in Bavaria in our once great civilization.” Welch suf- 1776, this occult, criminal cabal was fered a stroke by year’s end — just days dedicated to the destruction of Chris- after the Society’s 25th anniversary cel- tendom and the establishment of a ebration at which, in poor health, he “new world order” under the global do- mustered the strength to bid his minion of its secret brotherhood. Founder and namesake: Welch saw in missionary- farewell. He passed away in January soldier John Birch (portrait) those heroic qualities In his famous 1964 speech, “More that exemplified the goodness of America and 1985. Stately Mansions,” Robert Welch out- mirrored the noble character traits that would be “Every day we see confirmation of lined the history of this incredibly ruth- necessary for victory. the wisdom and warnings of Robert less “Master Conspiracy,” of which the Welch,” says G. Vance Smith, the cur- Communists are only the most visible rent CEO of The John Birch Society. “I and openly militant arm. This was devel- determined leader who could not be am especially impressed with his extraor- oped further in his brilliant 1966 essay, bribed, corrupted, intimidated, or diverted. dinary foresight in creating a principle-cen- “The Truth In Time,” and in subsequent es- They understood that Robert Welch was tered organization that could withstand in- says in The John Birch Society Bulletin and not bluffing when he said, “We do not in- credible smears as well as the test of time. American Opinion. In his 1966 essay he in- tend to devolve into any loose organiza- Mr. Welch recognized, even if others did troduced the term “Insiders” to identify the tion, but to become a more tightly knit and not, that the mere publication of truth was inner, ruling clique of this satanic more effective brotherhood with every not sufficient to rout the Conspiracy. The conspiracy. passing month. We know what we want dissemination of truth will have its desired The Insiders and Communists were (and and where we are going, and we mean effect only when it is put to use as part of are) not much perturbed by the many anti- business every step of the way.” an organized concerted action program, Communist and patriotic groups that re- Moreover, this organization did not get with thousands of dedicated members strict their opposition to the “field of diverted and bogged down in politics. “Ed- pulling together.” ■

28 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 THE INSPIRATION Soldier-Missionary John Birch, fortified by Christian virtue, fought and died in an effort to liberate, in body and soul, China’s oppressed masses.

by Steve Bonta sionary to follow him outside. After mak- Raiders” to safety, and accompanied them ing sure they were unobserved, he led as far as Lanchi. From there, he saw that n April 1942, America had been at war Birch to a sampan moored inconspicuous- they had proper directions, told Colonel more than four months. The long, ly on the riverbank nearby. Indicating the Doolittle where he could be reached, and I bloody campaign across the islands of boat, the anonymous Chinese simply said, left. the Pacific lay ahead. Imperial Japan had “Americans,” and left the scene. Partly because of this encounter — wrested Singapore from the British, which brought to the attention of the and had expanded her dominions American military Birch’s unusual across the Philippines, southeast Asia, talents with the language and culture the East Indies, New Guinea, and — the young missionary soon be- deep into the Chinese mainland. Yet, came a soldier, spy, saboteur, and li- late in April of that momentous year, aison with Chinese rebel forces. In a squadron of American bombers, led this capacity, Birch worked primari- by Jimmy Doolittle, flew into the ly behind enemy lines and lived off heart of this vast empire to conduct an the land under conditions that most unexpected raid on Tokyo. common soldiers would have found Doolittle and his men were well unendurable. Yet John Birch bore it aware of the risks of what was po- without protest, confident that, in tentially a suicide mission. After some small way, he was aiding the dropping their payloads they would cause of righteousness among the op- simply have nowhere to go, except pressed Chinese, a people he had inland over occupied China. They come to love and respect. therefore planned to fly westward until their fuel ran out and then bail Background to Greatness out, hoping not to fall into enemy John Birch, despite being a red- hands. blooded American boy, seemed to be For several crews, the mission linked by destiny to Asia. He was turned out badly. Some were cap- born in India in 1918, the oldest son tured by the Japanese, and a few per- of George and Ethel Birch who, like ished. Colonel Doolittle and his crew their son two decades later, were mis- were more fortunate; after bailing sionaries. When John was only two out, they were rescued by sympa- and a half years old, though, his fa- thetic Chinese and smuggled by river ther’s health forced them to return to into Chekiang Province. the milder climate of the United Several days after the raid, at a tiny vil- Birch boarded the sampan and knocked States. Young John Birch grew up a devout lage somewhere in Chekiang, a curious on the door, calling, “Anybody in there? Southern Baptist, like his parents. By all figure was eating dinner. Tall, spare, and Anybody who can speak English?” The accounts a sober, responsible youth, John dressed in coolie clothes, he ate native fare group of Americans hiding inside the boat was remembered by his younger siblings uncomplainingly. He spoke Mandarin Chi- hesitated. Was this a ruse? At length, con- for his generosity and kindness. “In our nese with near-native fluency, and was vinced by Birch’s authentic southern family, we didn’t have much money,” his known to the locals as Pai Shang-wei. Yet drawl that he could not be Japanese, they sister Betty recalled to a reporter many he was an American, a young Baptist mis- invited him in. Once inside the cramped years later, “so John used to buy us sionary named John Birch. boat, Birch found Colonel Doolittle and younger children candy and gifts at the While Birch was eating, he was ap- four crew members. Exhausted from their dime store with money he earned selling proached by a Chinese man, who, at ordeal, but otherwise uninjured, Doolittle newspapers.” Once, John even donated his length, quietly asked the American mis- and his crew needed a guide and transla- entire savings to his parents to help defray tor to help them get to American head- Betty’s medical bills. This article (abridged) originally appeared in the quarters in Chungking. Birch agreed to A studious young man, Birch attended April 24, 2000 issue of THE NEW AMERICAN. personally guide Doolittle and his “Tokyo Mercer College in Macon, Georgia, where

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 31 THE INSPIRATION

quickly overran the base. American air support for Chinese forces John Birch was, in the words of friend Captain Under orders to report to engaging the Japanese. Equipped with a headquarters at Chung- field radio and a growing network of Chi- Bill Drummond, “absolutely fearless, king, Birch made a har- nese infiltrators and informants, Birch ef- completely unselfish, never thinking of his rowing overland journey ficiently located enemy ammunition by truck and train to dumps, airfields, howitzers, and other ob- personal discomfort or danger.” Another Kweilin, where he had the jects of strategic importance, and, using a friend, Captain James Hart, testified that astounding good luck to portable radio, directed American planes run into General Claire to these targets from the ground. “where brave men were common, John was Chennault. The general, Birch’s network of Chinese guerrillas the bravest man I knew.” who was at the time in and saboteurs set up posts along the charge of the famed “Fly- Yangtse to monitor the movements of ing Tigers” of the Ameri- Japanese naval forces and the shipping of he graduated at the top of his class. While can Volunteer Group (A.V.G.), gave John supplies. General Chennault, in his auto- at Mercer, he decided to become a mis- Birch a lift in an Army transport plane to biography, Way of a Fighter, lauded Birch sionary, and enrolled in the Bible Baptist Chungking. There, Birch was first as- as “the pioneer of our field intelligence Seminary at Fort Worth, Texas. After signed to serve as translator for Colonel net.” But Birch’s contribution to the war ef- completing a two-year curriculum in a sin- Doolittle. fort in China went beyond the collection of gle year, John Birch sailed for China in Soon, because of his unique language accurate and reliable intelligence. The 1940. skills and adaptability, Birch became in- brave young missionary also set up a net- Arriving in Shanghai, Birch began in- volved in intelligence work, both in work for rescuing American fliers shot tensive study of Mandarin Chinese, for Chungking proper and in the interior, down behind enemy lines. About 90 per- which he displayed an uncommon apti- working very closely with General Chen- cent of Chennault’s downed fliers were tude. After six months of training, he was nault himself. A natural leader, Birch drew rescued by Birch’s system. According to assigned to Hangchow, where he pros- up maps, organized intelligence networks, General Chennault, this incredible success elytized tirelessly. Hangchow at the time and, in general, seems to have nearly sin- rate was “the highest percentage of any was outside the Japanese occupation zone, glehandedly set up the Intelligence Head- war theater.” so Birch was left alone by the Japanese quarters for the A.V.G.’s replacement, the Birch spent much of his time in the field, until the attack on Pearl Harbor. On the China Air Task Force (C.A.T.F.). usually disguised as a Chinese coolie. His very first day of U.S. involvement in the In 1943 Birch was sent to Changsha as command of the language had by then im- war, however, the Japanese sent a delega- a liaison and intelligence officer. He not proved to the point where he was usually tion to Hangchow to arrest him, forcing only established an unending flow of in- taken for a Chinese from another province. Birch to flee into the interior. telligence on Japanese troop movements, Often his missions involved grueling treks Unfortunately, he now found himself cut but also developed a system to coordinate of hundreds of miles through the subtrop- off from contact with the outside world, his funds rapidly dwindling. Finding that no bank would cash his travelers checks, Birch lived on his meager savings until April 1942, when, against all odds, he fi- nally managed to cash his travelers checks at Chinese Army Headquarters at Hang- chow. It was while traveling from Hang- chow, after receiving the money, that John Birch encountered Colonel Doolittle and his crew. Prior to the meeting, Birch had already volunteered to enlist in the U.S. forces in China, preferably as a chaplain. Just days after he helped guide Doolittle and his men to safety, Birch was ordered to report immediately to Chu Chou airbase for duty, undoubtedly because of the glow- ing report Doolittle gave of him to headquarters. After a scant four and a half weeks at NARA Chu Chou, where John served as chaplain, Doolittle strikes: Colonel Jimmy Doolittle led an unprecedented attack on Tokyo in April 1942 he evacuated with several other preachers from the flight deck of the USS Hornet. For the crews of Doolittle’s B-25 bombers, it was a one- just ahead of the advancing Japanese, who way trip ending in China. Doolittle himself was met in China by John Birch and led to safety.

32 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 ical heat and humidity of China, living on little more than boiled water or tea with red rice, and enduring occasional bouts of malaria. Birch the man apparently changed little during all these activities. He remained dedicated to spreading the Gospel, and looked forward to the war’s end when he could return to his proselytizing work full- time. To most of his comrades-at-arms, he was a bit of an oddity: He neither drank nor smoked; and he never used profanity. Yet he was never perceived as self-righteous, even by those who emphatically disagreed with his religious convictions. More importantly, as far as his military work was concerned, Birch was, in the words of friend Captain Bill Drummond, High praise: Birch was decorated by General Chennault with the Legion of Merit for “meritorious “absolutely fearless, completely unselfish, conduct in performance of outstanding service.” Birch’s “devotion to duty was beyond anything never thinking of his personal discomfort that was expected of him. I cannot praise his work sufficiently,” said Chennault. or danger.” Another friend, Captain James Hart, testified that “where brave men were common, John was the bravest man I Birch and his party encountered a second This Communist then angrily com- knew.” band of Communists. This group was more manded: “Load your guns and disarm Birch’s qualities endeared him to Gen- hostile, but a member of Birch’s party, him first,” pointing to Capt. Birch. eral Chennault, who lavished praise and Lieutenant Tung of the Nationalist Chinese Realizing how seriously acute the sit- commendations on the young soldier- army, still attempted to negotiate an agree- uation was, I spoke up in desperation missionary. A case in point came on July ment with the Communists allowing Birch saying: “Wait a minute please, if you 17, 1944, when Birch was awarded the and his small team to pass. The negotia- must disarm him I will get the gun for Legion of Merit “for exceptionally meri- tions failed, leading to the murder of Cap- you lest a grave misunderstanding de- torious conduct in performance of out- tain Birch, the attempted murder of Lt. velop.” standing service.” Tung, and the capture of the remainder of At this moment the Communist Like most lovers of freedom and reli- Birch’s party. commander turned and pointed to me gion, Birch was acutely aware of the On what was thought to be his deathbed, ordering, “shoot him first.” In an in- Communist menace. Before the war had an ailing Lt. Tung recounted to Lt. William stant I felt a terrible shock and fell to ended, he already saw Communism as a T. Miller — a friend of Birch and a fellow the ground, shot through the right potentially worse enemy than either the intelligence agent in China — the tale of thigh.... Japanese Imperialists or the German the Communist attack. After the Commu- Though lying there on the street in Nazis. In a 1942 letter to an aunt, he nists stated their intention to disarm the a semi-faint, I heard another shot fired presciently remarked, “I believe this war Americans, Birch refused, stating, “well so and a voice command, “bring him and the ensuing federations will set the you want to disarm us. Presently the whole along.” world stage, as never before, for the rise world has been liberated from the enemy To this I heard Capt. Birch’s an- of the anti-Christ!” and you people want to stop and disarm guished reply, “I can’t walk.” us.” Birch then demanded to see the Com- Martyr’s Death munist leader responsible for the order to Tung passed out and never saw Captain On August 25, 1945, just 10 days after V-J disarm the Americans and the Communist Birch alive again. Later he was thrown into day, a small group of American and Chi- soldiers agreed, taking Tung and Birch a ditch along with the dead body of John nese soldiers under the command of John with them. After repeatedly failing to be Birch and left to die. He was severely beat- Birch, who had been promoted to captain, brought to the Communist commander, en, suffering from a broken nose and rup- left a surrendered Japanese garrison and Birch, exasperated, grabbed a Communist tured right eye, as well as from the severe proceeded by railroad handcar toward the soldier by the back of his collar and said: bullet wound in his leg. Gruesome photos city of Hsuchow. About noon, they reached “you are worse than bandits.” The Com- taken by Lt. William Miller show the mu- a section of track being torn up by Com- munist soldier did not respond and the tilated body of John Birch, his hands bound munist guerrillas. After a tense confronta- group walked a little way further. Then behind his back as if he had been execut- tion, Birch persuaded the Communists to someone called out: “Come over here, this ed, his face destroyed by multiple bayonet allow his party to pass. is our responsible man.” thrusts. A second bullet may have passed After another hour’s travel, though, Lt. Tung recalls: through his skull from back to front.

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 33 THE INSPIRATION

foreign policy, the murder of an of John Birch’s death become public. On John Birch belonged to that most heroic innocent American at the hands September 5, 1950, California Senator of Communist thugs would be William Knowland angrily announced on of all classes of human beings — the disastrous for America’s media- the Senate floor that the circumstances of and State Department-sponsored John Birch’s death had been deliberately so-called common men and women who, Mao love-fest. covered up by pro-Communists in the in order to preserve our civilization, Accordingly, the Insiders em- United States government. Had the facts of barked upon a cover-up of the the Birch incident been known at the time, have fought, suffered, and died by the circumstances of John Birch’s he charged, Congress and the American countless millions. death. A 1948 letter from Major people would never have permitted the be- General Edward Witsell to John trayal of Chiang Kai-shek and the Chinese Birch’s mother claimed that people. But by then the Communist Cover-up John Birch was killed “as the result of takeover in China was a fait accompli. The death of John Birch, the first Ameri- stray bullets fired by Communist forces.” can casualty of the Cold War, sent ripples Consequently, the letter stated, he was not “Common” Hero through an American Establishment entitled to the Purple Heart “as he was not John Birch’s life was tragically short. His swooning over Mao Tse-tung and his killed in action against an enemy of the death, nasty and brutish, came precisely as Communist band of “agrarian reformers.” United States or as a direct result of an act millions of other servicemen were enjoy- Mao’s forces could never have defeated of such enemy.” Mrs. Birch was not in- ing reunions with loved ones and laying Chiang Kai-shek and his Nationalists, the formed of the findings of a report com- plans for a brighter future. He was for a greatest force for civilization and liberal- piled under the aegis of General Albert C. time consigned to oblivion to serve the ization that China had ever seen, if the Na- Wedemeyer that contained the testimony twisted interests of diabolically cynical po- tionalists had not already been slated for of Lt. Tung. litical manipulators. Only the freedom-lov- extinction by socialist elites in the West. General Wedemeyer had also confront- ing organization that Robert Welch named With the collusion of State Department ed Communist leaders Mao Tse-tung and in his honor brought John Birch to public subversives, Communists in East Asia had Chou En-lai during a meeting on August attention, kept alive the memory of his ex- been able to consolidate their gains at 30, 1945, expressing extreme displeasure traordinary courage and quiet heroism. war’s end. Communist Russia, which had at the murder of Birch and the capture of In many respects, John Birch is a far opportunistically declared war on Japan his party. Mao and Chou, feigning concern, more typical hero than statesmen, gener- scant days before the Japanese surrender, promised to investigate the matter and als, and other famous men in powerful turned over huge caches of seized Japan- punish the guilty parties. However, the positions who have left their mark on his- ese weapons to the Chinese and Korean U.S. pressed the matter no further. The in- tory. He led a modest, self-sacrificing ex- Communists. American military aid in- cident was not mentioned again, the rele- istence and died a martyr’s death without tended for Chiang Kai-shek was blocked vant documents were classified, and the public acclaim. It never occurred to him to by treasonous Leftists in Washington bent official Washington campaign of deception do other than what was right; he was un- on hastening the Communist apocalypse in on behalf of the Chinese Communists encumbered by the moral ambiguities as- the Far East. In the context of such cynical continued. sociated with power politics. He defined deceit and viciously duplicitous American Not until the early 1950s did the details all of his hopes and ambitions in terms of serving his God, his family, and his fellow men. John Birch, in a word, belonged to that most heroic of all classes of human be- ings — the so-called common men and women who, in order to preserve our civi- lization, have fought, suffered, and died by the countless millions. Their bones lie in- terred at Normandy, in Treblinka, in the Soviet gulags, in the Cambodian killing fields, in the waters of the Florida Strait. Like John Birch, they all died in the hope that generations unborn would benefit from their sufferings and sacrifices, even if their names were lost to posterity. Captains and kings depart this fallen world lavished with acclaim, but we must suppose that the Elements of success: Birch (second from left) succeeded in China due to his fine Christian millions of common heroes like John Birch character, his language skills, and his affection for the Chinese people. “I will say that he was the will, in some future, better time, receive most brilliant, finest, most able, bravest officer I ever met,” said Lt. Arthur Hopkins. the higher honor. ■

34 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 MEMBERS TODAY Americanism in Action JBS members come from a variety of backgrounds, but they all share a zeal to preserve freedom through responsible activism.

by William F. Jasper age and focused statewide attention on the many important reasons for severing our na- he John Birch Society set out early tion’s relationship with the UN. It also es- to build up a properly staffed edu- tablished good relations between Birch So- T cational army that would have na- ciety members and many legislators. tional direction but be organized and active Several legislators even wrote letters of en- on the local level. It is not a mailing list but dorsement for the Society’s video on the a truly grass-roots organization represent- UN, which was distributed to all members ing a beautiful cross-section of America. of the legislature. The Society’s members come from all walks of life and backgrounds. They rec- Experience Pays Off ognize that defending freedom is their re- Mrs. Katherine Frazier notes that 40 years sponsibility; they cannot merely send in Ann Turner as a wife, mother, and grandmother pre- dues to some national headquarters and pared her for her current “job” as volunteer delegate that task to lobbyists in Washing- into the practice of medicine. chapter leader and “Get US out!” commit- ton, D.C. The battle for America must be “As a doctor, I was always busy,” he tee chairman in Boise, Idaho. Although she fought and won in living rooms and local says. “I received tons of mail, but when my joined the Society in 1978, she was inac- communities. Here are some of the Soci- JBS Bulletin came I always dropped every- tive for many years because of family re- ety’s distinguished patriots doing just that. thing to read it. Robert Welch had such a sponsibilities. In 2000 she got active again. wonderful way of writing and was so in- In 2002, Katherine played a key role at the JBS Prescription credibly knowledgeable about history and Idaho Republican State Convention in get- Dr. Paul Leithart attended his first meeting all the vital issues of the day. I learned over of The John Birch Society in 1960. He the years that the Society was the place to would have joined that very night, he says, go for reliable, credible information.” And, except that he was called away to deliver a he notes, they are usually “years ahead” of baby. He joined the next week, however, others in projecting the lines concerning and has been active ever since, serving 43 where the crucial battles will be fought. years as a chapter leader. Dr. Leithart has also been a longtime leader in the Associ- Aggressive Birching ation of American Physicians and Sur- “I may be the one in the limelight,” says geons, opposing socialized medicine and Mrs. Ann Turner with characteristic mod- other efforts to inject federal interference esty, “but without God’s help and all of the hard work and active support of so many good Birch members, I would not be able to get the message out, as we’ve done on some very key issues.” As a section leader and Northern Utah Get US out! committee chairman, Ann has succeeded greatly in get- ting the message out. In 2001, she helped spearhead the effort to rescind Utah’s peti- tion for a constitutional convention. It was Katherine Frazier a tremendous victory against what were said to be impossible odds. In 2003, Ann led the ting the Idaho GOP to adopt a resolution effort in the state legislature to pass House to withdraw U.S. membership from the UN. Resolution 7 urging Congress to withdraw “It’s easy for me to be enthusiastic be- the United States from the United Nations. cause I have such confidence in the Birch Although the resolution died in the closing Society,” she says. “I have complete con- moments of a hectic legislative session, the fidence in the accuracy of our publications, Dr. Paul Leithart effort garnered considerable media cover- I know that our speakers will always be

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 37 MEMBERS TODAY

Coast-to-coast Leader pay for the education of their 12 kids, four “In 1961 I was enjoying life, very happily of whom were adopted, Ginny began a sec- playing bridge and teaching bridge, obliv- ond career as a realtor. She has excelled in ious to what was happening politically,” that endeavor as well. She was also hon- Mrs. Virginia Lavan recalls. “When my ored as the “Woman of the Year” for the husband went to a Birch Society meeting, California Assembly in 1993. This past I was upset. I thought the Birchers were summer, amongst all her other activities, Communists,” she now laughs. Before Ginny served as a camp counselor and long, both she and her husband were very speaker at the California Robert Welch actively involved. University summer camp. During the battle over the Equal Rights Amendment, Ginny became president of Solid on the Constitution the “Stop the ERA” in New York State, Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and soon found herself debating Bella Jim Lightner graduated from the Universi- Abzug, Gloria Steinem, and similar radi- ty of Iowa in 1944 with a degree in me- cal feminist icons. “Their side had all the chanical engineering. After working for money and the media,” she notes. “Nor- Goodyear Rubber & Tire and Collins man Lear and others poured millions of Radio Co., he launched his own company, dollars into their campaign. We had only Electrospace Systems, Inc. Based in Dal- Andy Dlinn $5,000. But we also had the moms, the las, Texas, Electrospace soon became an dads, and the churches. And thanks to the important contractor in military electron- first rate, and our members exhibit an in- JBS, we had organization. Everyone pre- ics, working with all branches of the armed tegrity and responsibility that is a credit to dicted we would lose.” But they didn’t services and NASA. In 1988, Jim sold the organization and to our country.” lose; they sent the ERA down to a crash- Electrospace to Chrysler Corporation. “I ing defeat that stunned everyone. Camera was always conservative,” says Jim, “Sen- Proactive Patriot crews and reporters from across the na- ator Joe McCarthy was one of my heroes. For Andrew Dlinn, being a Bircher means tion and around the world beat a path to My parents were good citizens, patriotic being proactive, especially as it concerns Ginny Lavan’s door. “That battle proved people, who tried to be informed on im- widespread exposure of the Birch Soci- to me and many others that with faith, portant issues.” ety’s freedom message. As a financial ad- preparation, hard work, and proper orga- Jim was introduced to The John Birch viser with a strong public relations back- nization, David really can defeat Goliath,” Society in the early 1960s by fellow Dal- ground, Andy knows the importance of she says. las businessman Nelson Bunker Hunt. “I public image. “I urge all of our members In the 1970s, the Lavans moved to Or- know a lot of politicians and have helped to be as proactive as possible,” he says. ange County, California, where Ginny has a few of them,” Jim says. “Most of them “I’m so proud of the record and accom- served as a chapter leader, section leader, talk about the Constitution, but then they plishments of the Society, the beliefs and and speaker committee chairman. To help go to Washington and vote unconstitution- principles it stands for, and what we are ally. The Birch Society is solid on the Con- trying to do — save our country and pre- stitution. You can depend on them, and serve freedom — that I want everyone to they’ve had a good impact on some mem- know about it.” He does that in myriad bers of Congress. We obviously need to ex- ways: letters to congressmen, letters to the pand that impact.” Jim is an active mem- editor, manning JBS booths at fairs, plac- ber of the Society’s Dallas business chapter ing billboards, handing out literature, con- and was a major financial sponsor of THE tacting local opinion molders, handing out NEW AMERICAN’S extensive investigation TRIM Bulletins, appearing on local radio, into the Oklahoma City bombing. and many other activities. As an Orthodox Jew, Andy is particular- The Independent Elector ly exercised whenever false accusations are Dr. Lloyd Bailey, a practicing ophthalmol- made that the Society is anti-Semitic. “It’s ogist since 1960, holds a distinctive place such a baseless charge,” he says, “It is sim- in American history as “the independent ply a smear to keep people from listening elector.” In the 1968 presidential election, to our message.” Andy joined the Society Dr. Bailey served as a North Carolina elec- in 1985 in Columbia, South Carolina, where tor. As a Republican it was expected that he became a volunteer chapter leader. In he would vote in the Electoral College for 1993 he relocated to Pittsburgh, Pa., bring- Richard Nixon. He cast his vote, however, ing new, dynamic leadership to the Key- for Alabama Governor George Wallace, stone State. Virginia Lavan continued on page 40

38 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 Men of Honor Among the elite fellowship of those who have earned our nation’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, The John Birch Society is well represented.

by William F. Jasper boldly continued on, throwing grenades, clubbing and bayoneting the enemy, while he Medal of Honor has been called urging his men forward by shouting encour- Model hero: Col. Mitchell Paige, who our nation’s rarest gem. Of the mil- agement. Despite vicious opposing fire, the was awarded the Medal lions of men who have served in our whirlwind hand-to-hand assault carried to the T of Honor for his heroics Armed Forces from Pearl Harbor to Soma- crest of the hill. His dauntless leadership and at Guadalcanal in 1942, lia, only 842 have received this decoration for personal courage so inspired his men that was a model for the heroism above and beyond the call of duty. they stormed into the hostile position and G.I. Joe doll. As of April 13, 2003 there were 137 living used their bayonets with such lethal effect Medal of Honor recipients. that the enemy fled in wild disorder.” Col. Millett retired from the Army in 1973, One Man Saved the Day Hero at Pearl Harbor but never stopped fighting. “When I came When he was 17 years old, Mitch Paige and When Japanese war planes home, I found that the Communists and their a young friend walked and hitchhiked to the attacked Pearl Harbor on sympathizers and fellow travelers in our gov- nearest Marine recruiting station — 200 December 7, 1941, John ernment, the universities, the media, and Hol- miles away, in Baltimore. The year was 1936. Finn was stationed at near- lywood were far more dangerous than the A few years later he was on the other side of by Kaneohe Bay Naval Air ones I was fighting in the jungles of Vietnam, the world, defending Hanneken’s Ridge in a Station. According to his Laos, and Cambodia,” he says. “I was also heroic stand against overwhelming Japanese Medal of Honor citation, especially alarmed by the efforts to disarm forces during the fierce battle for Guadal- he manned a .50 caliber the American people and to compromise our canal. His Medal of Honor citation notes:

U.S. Naval Historical Center machine gun in an ex- sovereignty through UN treaties.” Col. Mil- “When the enemy broke through the line di- John Finn posed area under heavy lett joined The John Birch Society and trav- rectly in front of his position, P/Sgt. Paige, strafing fire. “Although eled the country speaking on the Society’s commanding a machinegun section with painfully wounded many times,” it reads, speakers bureau. fearless determination, continued to direct “he continued to man this gun and to re- the fire of his gunners until all his men were turn the enemy’s fire vigorously and with either killed or wounded. Alone, against the telling effect throughout the enemy straf- deadly hail of Japanese shells, he fought with ing and bombing attacks and with com- his gun and when it was destroyed, took over plete disregard for his own personal another, moving from gun to gun, never ceas- safety.” ing his withering fire against the advancing John and his wife Alice joined The John hordes.” He held throughout the night, until Birch Society in the 1960s. At age 94, John reinforcements finally arrived the next morn- Finn is the oldest living Medal of Honor ing. Then, forming a new line, he led a bay- recipient and is also the last surviving re- onet charge, driving the enemy back and pre- cipient from Pearl Harbor. venting a breakthrough in the American lines. The Daily News of McKeesport, Pa., A Courageous Leader noted of Paige’s exploits that “one man, Col. Lewis Millett served in World War II, alone on a blood-stained field, saved the day Korea, and Vietnam. His medal of Honor ci- on Guadalcanal.” tation records that in Korea he “distinguished Col. Paige was introduced to the Birch himself by conspicuous gallantry and intre- Society by fellow Medal of Honor recipi- pidity above and beyond the call of duty,” in ent Col. Lewis Millett. “The Birchers fight a charge to free a platoon pinned down by with courage for truth and liberty, God, heavy enemy fire. According to the citation: family, and country — that’s what I like,” “Capt. Millett ordered the 3d Platoon for- he told this reporter last year. “The motto ward, placed himself at the head of the 2 pla- of THE NEW AMERICAN,‘That freedom shall toons, and, with fixed bayonet, led the assault not perish,’ says it all. It’s the greatest mag- up the fire-swept hill. In the fierce charge azine in the world. I look forward to every Capt. Millett bayoneted 2 enemy soldiers and Lewis Millett issue.” ■

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 39 MEMBERS TODAY

continued from page 38 my dad left my mom with seven kids,” says the American Independent Party candi- Rep. Coan. “Jack Brown gave me a job and date. “It was the right thing to do,” legally, launched my love of reading. I was 14 constitutionally, and morally, he says. Al- years old. He gave me a copy of the Dec- though Wallace did not carry North Car- laration of Independence and said he’d olina, he did carry Dr. Bailey’s congres- pay me a dollar if I’d read it. Then he paid sional district. me to read the Constitution, Frederic Bas- Dr. Bailey’s vote focused national at- tiat’s The Law, Hazlitt’s Economics in One tention on the Electoral College, which Lesson, Gary Allen’s None Dare Call It Bailey says is too little appreciated. “The Conspiracy, and many other conservative Electoral College is the last vestige of state classics. After a while, I didn’t want the sovereignty over the federal government,” money anymore, I just wanted more books. he notes. “State electors elect the president I read everything he’d give me: books, THE of the United States.” That is an important NEW AMERICAN,The John Birch Society state check on the central government that Bulletin.” our Founders put in the Constitution for an CSM Fred Marshall Mike’s rapidly growing interest in pol- important reason. When the controversy itics, economics, and the freedom fight over the Bush-Gore 2000 elections put the Command Sergeant Major Fred D. Mar- was bolstered by his attendance at the So- Electoral College in the spotlight, Dr. Bai- shall Jr. has been there, done that — and ciety’s summer camp in Georgia. “It was more. His service in the U.S. Army from such a fantastic experience,” he recalls. “I 1955 to 1976 included nearly three tours met kids there who had fled the Commu- in Vietnam between 1967 and 1972. He nist Sandinista regime in Nicaragua, and I participated in eight of the war’s 15 cam- learned so much about our American her- paigns. His military awards include two Legions of Merit, four Bronze Star Medals, Master Parachutist Badge with 714 certified parachute jumps, and three Presidential Unit Citations. In December, 2001, CSM Marshall became the 248th re- cipient of the Primicerius Degree of the In- fantry’s coveted Order of Saint Maurice. From 1978 until his final retirement in 1997, he was owner and principal broker of a successful real estate brokerage firm in Columbus, Georgia.

AP/Wide World “Throughout most of my active duty Dr. Lloyd Bailey military career,” says Marshall, “I had been led to believe that the John Birch Society ley was sought by CNN, NBC, and ABC was considered a subversive and racist or- for commentary. ganization, although I didn’t look into it Dr. Bailey joined The John Birch Soci- until after I left the service. What I found, ety in 1961, at the first JBS meeting he at- to my surprise, was almost exactly the op- Mike Coan & family tended. “I was already a Bircher before the posite. The JBS, in fact, is one of the very Society was founded,” he says. “Robert few forces which is dedicated to restoring itage, constitutional principles, history, Welch provided the leadership, the organi- the Constitution and the American way of and contemporary issues — both foreign zation and the plan that was needed by life to United States citizens. Membership and domestic. It was so exciting and in- concerned citizens like myself to be effec- is open to people, from all walks of life, teresting. It was so amazing to me that I tive.” More than four decades later, Dr. who want to live in a society free of gov- had never heard these things in school — Bailey is still active in the local Birch So- ernment interference in their daily lives. I fundamental principles, such as the fact ciety chapter, which recently placed a Get urge every red-blooded American to join that our rights come from God, not gov- US out! of the United Nations sign on a us in the fight to save America — before it ernment. That rights cannot exist without large, commercial billboard on the I-95 gets too late to save it.” morality, without responsibility. It was in- freeway near Rocky Mount, North Carolina. spiring to have the camp start and end From JBS Camper to Legislator each day with prayer and a devotional Soldier, Businessman, Bircher Mike Coan’s passion for liberty was reading and to be with people of all dif- Professional soldier, decorated combat vet- sparked by Birch Society Chapter Leader ferent backgrounds who take their free- eran, businessman, researcher, writer. Jack Brown. “I came from a broken home; continued on page 42

40 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 Youth Respond to Truth Robert Welch University youth camps use the spark of truth to ignite patriotism’s fire in the hearts of young people nationwide. These profiled youth are shining examples.

by William F. Jasper James has volunteered to lead a RWU Youth Chapter and frequently logs onto the RWU very summer hundreds of high school chat sessions. students attend week-long camps E sponsored by Robert Welch Univer- He Values America sity. (These camps were formerly sponsored Known as the “Voice of Windsor High by The John Birch Society.) School,” for the last four years Spencer Wells has opened the school day for students in Americanism Begins at Home Windsor, Colorado, with official announce- Homeschoolers Jennifer Swanson and ments and clean jokes over the public address Danielle Morgan, both 16, are neighbors and system. The 17-year-old senior is also stu- the best of friends. Jennifer loves reading and dent body president and has maintained an horseback riding, and for the past six years enviable 3.98 grade point average while tak- has worked as a volunteer teaching handi- ing a difficult honors curriculum. A vora- AP/Wide World capped children to ride. Danielle is an ac- James Williams cious reader, Spencer has plowed through an complished singer and Hawaiian dancer. Her impressive stack of tomes on history and phi- mother, a native Hawaiian, is a descendant of derstanding of our heritage and constitution- losophy that would intimidate most adults. Queen Liliuokalani. Danielle’s favorite sub- al principles.” After attending their first camp An Eagle Scout, as well as an accomplished jects are history and religion. in 2001, Jennifer and Danielle recruited six pianist and mountain climber, he also enjoys Jennifer and Danielle attended their first of their friends to attend camp with them in RWU camp together three years ago. “I was 2002 and 2003. so surprised,” says Jennifer. “I never liked history, government, or politics before, but Spelling C-o-n-s-t-i-t-u-t-i-o-n the instructors made it so interesting. I en- At age 14, James is already something of a joyed all the recreation and the friends I national celebrity. After winning the Nation- made at camp, but the classes were the best al Geographic Bee in May of this year, James part. I learned so much.” “I was so impressed was featured on the Today Show, the Early with both the staff and the students,” says Show, CNN, and other news programs. He Danielle. “They set high standards for moral also received a $25,000 scholarship from Na- behavior. I learned so much about our coun- tional Geographic to attend the college of his try, the Constitution, the threats to freedom choice. This past summer he also qualified — so many things. I had never been interest- for and competed in the National Science ed in history or political science before, but Olympiad. But neither fame nor fortune pro- my experience at camp really made me want vide the primary motivation for James’ stud- to know the truth and to have a deeper un- ies. “I enjoy learning, I enjoy the challenge,” says James, who, along with his five siblings, is homeschooled by his parents, Ann and Craig Williams. James is also involved in Boy Scouts, plays piano, and is a developing Spencer Wells computer wiz. In August, James attended the RWU Wash- drama and has played the leading role in sev- ington State youth camp. His parents, long- eral school and community productions. He time members of The John Birch Society, attended his first RWU camp in Colorado last saw this as an important component of his year, and this year went to the RWU camp in overall education. James agrees. “I had read Washington state. His camp experiences have the Constitution before but didn’t really un- intensified his already passionate interest in derstand it,” he says. “They explained it and America’s heritage. On October 18th he will made it very interesting. Now I’m reading address the 45th Anniversary Council Dinner The Federalist Papers and looking at other of The John Birch Society in Appleton, Wis- books in my dad’s library that hadn’t inter- consin. The title of his speech is “The Value Jennifer Swanson & Danielle Morgan ested me before.” Since attending camp, of America.” ■

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 41 MEMBERS TODAY continued from page 40 anyone else,” says Len McIrvin, “cattle dom and their religious faith seriously. I’d ranchers are probably the most indepen- get goose bumps when the bugle played dent Americans left. There are still some ‘Taps’ each night when we lowered the independent farmers left, but the federal flag.” government has turned so many farmers Mike received his degree in business into welfare farmers with federal subsidies, from West Georgia College and started his set-asides, and other programs. The cattle- own company in commercial and residen- men — those of us who actually raise the tial construction. In 1996, at age 27, Mike cattle — are not subsidized, and don’t want ran for the state legislature against an en- to be.” trenched 22-year incumbent. “The press Cattle ranching and Birching are a nat- said I had no chance,” Mike told THE NEW ural fit, says Len, who, along with his wife AMERICAN. “But I went door-to-door with Pat and other members of the family, the Birch message of ‘lower taxes through joined the Society in the 1960s. They later less government.’ And I won with 58 per- became Life Members, and Clive and Len Cedric Crawley cent of the vote.” He is now serving his became chapter leaders. “We could see forth term representing the people of personally that government regulation and tions and heads the Society’s Business and Gwinnett County, outside of Atlanta. He is taxation were driving family farms and Professional Chapter in Elkhart. Over the assistant minority whip. ranches out of business, while subsidies past four decades, he has had over 400 let- were corrupting those that remained,” Len ters and op-eds printed in area daily news- told THE NEW AMERICAN. “Of course, we papers. “Birching is not only one of the want to preserve the ranching way of life,” most important things anyone can do,” he says, noting that continuing government says Al, “if you’re doing it right, it’s also policies are making it increasingly less fun and tremendously rewarding.” likely that his five children and 12 grand- children will be able to continue the ranch- Getting to the Heart of It ing tradition. Born in Alabama, Cedric Crawley grew up primarily in Texas. While attending Sam Birching Is Fun Houston State University in Huntsville, he Over the past 38 years, Al Foreman has became active in the Republican Party and held virtually every volunteer leadership in conservative, pro-life, pro-family cam- position in The John Birch Society. When paigns. He also was introduced to The he retired as vice president and general John Birch Society and THE NEW AMERI- manager of the Elkhart, Indiana, division CAN. Upon graduating, he moved to Col- Len McIrvin of National Corporation in 1995, Al orado, where he joined the Society. “I stepped up his already very active sched- found that many of the best informed, most Cattle Ranching and Birching ule of Birch activities. Al speaks regularly committed activists in the causes I believed The western rancher is an American icon at schools, churches, and civic organiza- in were Birchers,” says Cedric. “The more embodying the virtues of self-reliance, I read and became involved, the more I ap- strength, thrift, and hard work. The preciated the fact that on all the important McIrvin clan and the Diamond “M” Ranch issues the Society had been calling the of Laurier, Washington, provide proof that shots right for decades, both about the those virtues still endure on family ranch- causes of our problems and the solutions. es that continue to provide quality meat to They recognized the deadly seriousness of the American consumer. The Diamond our situation and were going to the heart “M” is a family partnership started by of the problem in a very principle-based, Harry and Edith McIrvin during World organized, moral, intelligent way, with a War II. Their sons Clive and Robert joined long-term vision and commitment, not the them in the ranching business when they shallow, media-driven hoopla so typical of returned home from the war, after serving political campaigns.” in Europe. Clive’s son, Len, now runs the Cedric became a volunteer chapter leader ranch, along with his wife, Pat, and son and section leader in Colorado. In January Bill. The McIrvin ranch is home to many of this year, he joined the Society’s field trophies for award-winning Hereford cat- staff as a full-time Coordinator for the state tle. It is also home to staunch patriots and of Michigan, where he has been enthusi- longtime, proud members of The John astically recruiting new leaders and orga- Birch Society. “Meaning no disrespect to Al Foreman nizing new chapters. ■

42 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 MEMBERS YESTERDAY Heroes of the JBS Throughout the Society’s history, patriotic members have staunchly warned of threats to America’s freedom and heroically defended the rights and lives of their fellow citizens.

by Dennis Behreandt Schwerner to warn him of the danger, but Bureau of Investigation, Dennis offered to Schwerner wouldn’t listen. Several weeks infiltrate the White Knights branch of the n the Foreword to the October 1962 later, Schwerner and two other civil rights KKK to bring to justice the men who had issue of The John Birch Society Bul- activists — James Chaney and Andrew murdered Schwerner, Goodman, and I letin, Robert Welch proudly noted that Goodman — disappeared. The Klan, it Chaney. the Society had “welded together what I turned out, had murdered them. Delmar Dennis reactivated his Klan honestly believe to be the finest body of Disgusted by the Klan’s criminal and membership and for nearly three years re- men and women ever gathered into ported on the group’s activities to the one voluntary body of a non-religious FBI. During that time he rose in re- nature (that is, where each member sponsibility in the organization, has his own religion) in all human eventually earning the position of history.” Time after time JBS mem- “Province Titan” and right-hand man bers have proven Mr. Welch right. No to White Knights leader Sam Bow- matter the situation, the men and ers. From this privileged position women of the Society have staunch- within the White Knights’ “secret ly defended their rights and liberties empire,” Dennis collected damning and those of their fellow citizens, all evidence of the Klan’s role in the the while distinguishing themselves murders. by their patriotism and their honor. In In February 1967, a federal grand the pages to come we remember a jury indicted Bowers and 17 other few of these heroes (now deceased) men for violating civil rights laws. of The John Birch Society. The indictments came, in part, due to Dennis’ testimony. The case went Klan Hunter to trial in October. FBI historian Don In the August 1972 issue of the JBS Whitehead, writing in his book At- Bulletin Robert Welch noted the tack on Terror: The FBI Against the availability of an audio tape of an im- Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi, noted portant new speech, entitled The Will that “the greatest surprise [of the and Way to Win. The speech, Mr. trial] came on the fourth day, when Welch noted, was given “by a man the Rev. Delmar Dennis, Province who has already and literally faced Titan of the White Knights of the Ku death and suffered disaster in this Klux Klan, stepped through the struggle for doing what he knows to courtroom and walked to the witness be right. And he has thus earned the Delmar Dennis stand. No one — least of all Bowers, ability to tell others about the will and who had said of his close aide, way to win.” The man who gave the speech terrorist activities and disillusioned by its ‘There is no one I trust more’ — ever was Baptist preacher and JBS Major Co- overt use of Communist tactics and pursuit faintly suspected that Dennis had been an ordinator Delmar Dennis. of Communist goals, Dennis had stopped FBI informant for three years. The shock In 1964, Dennis was serving as a minis- attending the organization’s meetings early that ran through the courtroom was al- ter of a Methodist church in Mississippi. in the summer of 1964, not long after the most visible, and Dennis’ testimony was Out of curiosity, Dennis attended a public disappearance of the three civil rights ac- devastating.” meeting sponsored by the White Knights tivists. Meanwhile, the FBI had stepped up The verdicts in the case were handed of the Ku Klux Klan — only to be decep- its investigation of the Klan, an investiga- down on October 20, 1967. In all, seven tively entrapped into joining the group. He tion that in November 1964 brought Spe- men, including Sam Bowers, were con- quickly found that the racist and despica- cial Agents John L. Martin and Tom van victed of conspiracy to obstruct the civil ble Klan was dangerously criminal and Riper to Dennis’doorstep. After ascertain- rights of the three slain activists. More sub- violent. In particular, he learned of the ing that the two men were really from the stantial charges for murder could not be Klan’s plan to kill left-wing civil rights ac- FBI and not from the Klan’s dangerous brought in federal court since the crimes tivist Michael Schwerner. Dennis called counter-insurgency operation, the Klan hadn’t happened on federal property. Still,

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 45 MEMBERS YESTERDAY

White kept the plane under a semblance of control. Still, it would be impossible to keep the plane in the air long, and they had no hope of reaching an airport. Seeing an empty field, Captain White and copilot Holt agreed it was their best chance. Over the intercom, Captain White had time to make one last announcement to the pas- sengers: “Brace yourselves. Here it comes.” With consummate skill, and despite hav- ing only the most rudimentary control over his aircraft, Captain White put the plane on the ground. Gary Holt, brother of copilot Richard Holt and himself a Constellation pilot, marveled at White’s flying. “Just that

AFP final maneuver alone,” in getting the plane Selfless heroism: Piloting a Lockheed Constellation aircraft similar to the one shown above, JBS on the ground, “has got to be called one of member Captain Charles J. White maneuvered a miraculous crash landing on December 4, 1965, the most magnificent feats of airmanship saving the lives of nearly all of the plane’s passengers. in the history of flying.” Captain White’s heroism was not at an end, though. As pas- largely due to the self-sacrifice, courage, collision. It was too late. In the Constella- sengers and crew struggled to exit the and heroism of Delmar Dennis, the perpe- tion’s cockpit, Captain White and his crew burning plane, Captain White made his trators of the violent killings were brought felt a seemingly gentle thud as the left way through the wrecked craft to help to justice, with “Imperial Wizard” Sam wing of the big jet tore into the tail section those who couldn’t escape on their own. Bowers sentenced to 10 years in prison. of the Constellation, ripping off most of His last effort it seems was to help Army that plane’s elegant triple tail. Private Dennis Flucker free himself from Freefall Despite losing some 25 feet of its left a jammed seatbelt. “In my personal opin- The date was December 4, 1965. Captain wing, the Boeing’s pilots managed to re- ion,” said Civil Aeronautics Board crash Charles J. White, in command of Eastern cover and coax their crippled craft to a safe investigator Jack Carroll, “there is little Airlines Flight 853, glanced at the console landing. The Constellation, though, was doubt that the captain had deliberately of his Lockheed Constellation airliner. The mortally wounded. As Captain White gone back to the cabin to help the young altimeter told him that the plane was cruis- calmly announced over the plane’s loud- soldier.” Sadly, neither made it out of the ing some two miles above the state of New speakers that “we’ve had a mid-air colli- wreckage alive. Amazingly, though, due in York. Outside, in the roar of the slip stream, sion, please fasten your seat belts,” the large part to Captain White’s skill and the plane’s four massive piston engines plane’s nose tilted into a downward angle heroism, 50 people survived the crash. drove the sleek plane forward. Inside the and the craft began a headlong descent to- The January 1966 issue of the JBS Bul- passenger compartment, insulated from the ward the ground nearly 11,000 feet below. letin noted with pride Captain White’s noise and violence of the plane’s rapid ad- The crash had ruptured the stricken membership in The John Birch Society. vance through the atmosphere, 49 passen- plane’s hydraulic control mechanisms. “While we agree that both his skill and gers looked forward to reaching their Both Captain White and copilot Holt un- bravery were greatly to be admired,” says destination. successfully attempted to manually actu- the text of that issue, “it was his sense of An alarmed shout from the plane’s co- ate the remaining control surfaces on the responsibility which makes him [Captain pilot alerted Captain White that the previ- wings. The connecting cables too had been White] stand out so clearly as having been ously uneventful flight was in danger. disrupted. There seemed to be no hope for a worthy member of the finest body of men Looking up from the console and through the passengers and crew of Flight 853. and women in the world. We extend our the cockpit window he could see a terrify- Just then, Holt, the copilot, shouted, deepest sympathy to Mrs. White, who can ing sight. Streaking toward them was a “How about power!” Captain White knew always be proud in the knowledge that she huge red-and-white Boeing 707 jetliner. it was their only hope. As he answered, was married to a man! As we are also Instantly, both Captain White and copilot “Why not,” his hand pushed the four throt- proud to have had him with us in The John Richard Holt pulled back on their control tle levers all the way forward. This was not Birch Society.” yokes, bringing their big propeller-driven an attempt to hasten their demise. By throt- craft into an abrupt climb. In the other tling up the plane’s powerful piston en- Businessman and Patriot plane, the pilot of the big Boeing initiated gines, the pilots hoped to bring up the “For nearly forty years, I’ve been fighting the same maneuver. But the Constellation plane’s nose. Slowly, the desperate ma- Communism in this country,” businessman was climbing faster than the Boeing. So neuver worked, and with only 3,000 feet to A.G. Heinsohn wrote in his book, Cousin the Boeing’s pilots threw their craft into a spare the plane achieved level flight. By Mercedes and the White Russian (1974). dive, hoping at the last moment to avoid a further manipulating the throttles, Captain Much of his work as an anti-Communist

46 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 sohn refused to give in to this unpatriotic asked, be willing to become active in the and absurd demand, despite coming under Party again and report back to the Bureau a great deal of pressure from Pitney- on its activities and intentions? Brown, a Bowes. Eventually, Heinsohn gave copies proud American and a patriot, agreed, be- of his correspondence with Pitney-Bowes ginning what would become nine long officials to the press and the mail-metering years of dangerous undercover work with- company found itself with a severe public in the Communist Party. In 1962, her work relations problem. “Since I had Pitney- at an end, she testified before the House Bowes on the defensive,” Heinsohn re- Committee on Un-American Activities. counts in his book, “I had the vice-presi- The committee’s report for that year noted dent of our Spindale Mills order a plate for that Brown had given valuable information their postage meters with this slogan: on “the activities of more than 100 current We pledge allegiance to the flag of and former individuals … she had known the United States of America and to to be members of the Communist Party.” the Republic for which it stands. But Brown’s important anti-Communist Spindale Mills, Inc.” efforts were far from over. Joining The Unbelievably, Pitney-Bowes re- John Birch Society she became a popular fused to supply the requested plate. speaker, telling her story to enthralled au- Apparently, the Pledge of Allegiance diences around the country. So effective was too controversial as well. “When was she in exposing the Communist agen- Pitney-Bowes refused to furnish da that Martin Luther King Jr. often can- Spindale this plate, the roof fell in on celed announced speaking engagements in A.G. Heinsohn them,” Heinsohn recalled. “The cities where Brown had recently spoken. Knoxville Journal played it up in a Throughout her long career with The was done as a Council member of The first page story, headed: ‘U.S. Allegiance John Birch Society, Julia Brown was an in- John Birch Society. Pledge Called Controversial.’” Newspa- spiring speaker, urging Americans not to Mr. Heinsohn had a long career serving pers nationwide carried the story, and Pit- fall for the Communist ploy to create divi- his country, beginning as a pilot in the ney-Bowes, faced with ridicule from every sions between black and white Americans. fledgling Army Air Corps in the First corner, relented. The Spindale Mill got its “I don’t refer to Negro-Americans, or World War. After the war he took a job in plate, and Heinsohn’s other mill was able white-Americans, or any kind of Ameri- the textile industry in sales. Pulling him- to keep using the Birch slogan. In this and can,” she said, “except red-white-and-blue self up by the bootstraps, he rose up the the many other skirmishes in which he par- Americans.” corporate ladder, eventually becoming ticipated, Heinsohn repeatedly showed president of a corporation. In that position just how effective a determined JBS he found himself on the forefront of the member can be in opposing the pre- battle against President Franklin Roo- vailing collectivist atmosphere. sevelt’s New Deal collectivism, opposing the depredations of such alphabet soup Anti-Communist Heroine federal agencies as the OPA (Office of In 1947, Julia Brown, a young black Price Administration) and NLRB (Nation- woman living in Cleveland, Ohio, al Labor Relations Board). joined what she believed to be a civil Though unable to attend the founding rights organization. Very soon, how- meeting of The John Birch Society in ever, she realized that she had actual- 1958, Heinsohn nevertheless became an ly joined a local branch of the Com- early and proud member of the JBS Na- munist Party. Brown initially knew tional Council. As a Council member he next to nothing about Communism, was very active in promoting and defend- but she was a quick study and soon ing the Society. In one case, envelopes discovered the Party’s true intentions. bearing correspondence from Heinsohn’s She resolved immediately to stay textile mill were stamped by a Pitney- away from the Communists from that Bowes mail metering machine with the point forward. She even took her con- JBS rallying cry “This is a Republic, not a cerns about the Communists to the Democracy. Let’s keep it that way!” De- FBI, but was surprised to learn that the claring this slogan to be controversial, Pit- Bureau knew all about the Commu- ney-Bowes sought to prevent Heinsohn’s nists’ intentions. firm from using the metering machine to In 1951, however, the FBI came print it on the company’s envelopes. Hein- back to Mrs. Brown. Would she, they Julia Brown

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 47 MEMBERS YESTERDAY

Constitutionalist Congressman Congressman McDonald, the In 1975, Dr. Lawrence Patton McDonald most ardent and effective Soviet was sent to the U.S. Congress by the peo- opponent and critic in the U.S. ple of his district in Georgia. During his Congress. tenure as a congressman, Dr. McDonald proved to be one of the country’s most in- A Great Novelist fluential statesmen. An implacable foe of Her name was recognized world- Communism, he opposed at every turn So- wide. A vast readership ensured viet initiatives calculated to weaken the that each of her novels topped the United States. He also frequently remind- best-seller lists. Her staunch and ed voters fixated on presidential politics of principled conservatism made her the central importance of Congress. Due to a natural fit for The John Birch his important position in Congress and his Society. And for many years nov- unflagging conservatism, Larry McDonald elist Taylor Caldwell supported was named to the advisory boards of sev- and advanced the program of the eral conservative organizations. His heart, Society by, among other things, though, was with The John Birch Society. writing numerous, compelling ar- Long before being elected to Congress, ticles for the JBS-affiliated publi- Dr. McDonald worked tirelessly as a vol- cations American Opinion and unteer for the Society. As chapter leader The Review of the News (prede- and section leader he worked to move the cessors of THE NEW AMERICAN). Society’s campaigns forward. In 1967 he As a novelist, her brilliance Taylor Caldwell was appointed to the Society’s National was unsurpassed. Choosing as her Council. Throughout his time with the So- subjects important people and periods the best-seller A Pillar of Iron,a stunning ciety he believed there was a chance and from history, she transported her vast au- re-creation of Rome and the life of its an obligation to build “an informed elec- dience to the crucial events of the past and greatest statesman, Marcus Tullius Cicero. torate and understanding at the grass-roots thereby provided her readers with the vital This novel is “the greatest historical novel level” that could have an impact in Con- historical awareness and perspective that in American literature,” said the incompa- gress. “In my opinion,” he told fellow con- our anemic public education system fails rable poet and scholar E. Merrill Root. “To servatives, “the best way to discharge that to provide. Among her greatest works was read this amazing re-creation of Rome, this obligation is by being an active tremendous novel of Cicero,” Root re- member of the John Birch Soci- marked, “is an experience never to be for- ety.” It was his effective work at gotten. It is a masterpiece of comprehen- the grass-roots level, building un- sive scholarship and an art that is Vergilian. derstanding in the electorate And it reveals, without propaganda, the through the campaigns and pro- terrible parallels between the Republic of grams of The John Birch Society, Rome and our Republic.” that created the conditions that Despite the river of remarkable novels made it possible for a conserva- flowing from her pen, Caldwell neverthe- tive outsider to challenge a liber- less found time and energy to become one al incumbent congressman and of the world’s greatest essayists as well. In win a seat in the House. Dr. Mc- the pages of American Opinion and The Donald’s election proved that the Review of the News she pointedly skew- Birch program works. ered liberals, inculcated moral truths, On September 1, 1983, Con- taught important lessons, and did so with gressman McDonald was aboard a wit that never failed to amuse. KAL Flight 007 en route to Seoul Taylor Caldwell was long a member of where he was to speak at an anti- The John Birch Society, working actively, Communist conference. As the along with other Birch members, to pre- Korean Airlines Boeing 747 serve America and the natural rights and lib- crossed the southern tip of erties of man. In two of her later novels, Sakhalin Island, Soviet jet fight- Captains and the Kings and Ceremony of ers intercepted the flight. Firing the Innocent, she warned against a conspir- air-to-air missiles, they brought acy of powerful elitists seeking to destroy down the big plane. It is very America from within. Like Cicero so long possible that the attack was moti- before in Rome, Taylor Caldwell worked vated by the presence on board of Lawrence P. McDonald to the last to save a republic she loved. ■

48 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 HOPE FOR THE FUTURE A Better World Founder Robert Welch believed the combination of less government and more responsibility would bring about a better world — materially, politically, and spiritually.

by William Norman Grigg

s he inaugurated The John Birch Society during its two-day found- Aing meeting in 1958, Robert Welch sagely warned: “We can never win … un- less both leadership and following have a positive dream which is more important as a hope than the negative nightmare is as a fear; unless the promise of what we can build supplies more motivation than the terror of what we must destroy; and unless this faith in the future is based on a deep- er faith in eternal truths.” In the struggle to preserve freedom, graphic descriptions of past and ongoing atrocities committed by the Total State have their place, as a warning of what awaits if we lose. But the freedom fight is not merely an effort to prevent the worst that can happen; it must also be an active struggle to achieve the best that we can imagine. This is why, for those who truly The achievable dream: Since its founding, The John Birch Society has aspired not merely to understand and cherish freedom, hope is arrest our decline into tyranny, but to help build a better, freer world. an even stronger motivation than fear. John Adams displayed an understanding of this principle in a letter to his wife Abi- conspiracy of evil men lusting to control wrought by the British Crown, or to offer gail. Writing after the War for Indepen- government to enrich themselves at the ex- gruesome (and plausible) warnings of the dence, but before the constitutional foun- pense of human liberty. fate that would befall Americans were they dations of our republic had been firmly In his Pulitzer Prize-winning book The to lose their bid for independence. established, Adams observed: “I must Ideological Origins of the American Rev- Adams, Jefferson, Washington, Madi- study politics and war that my sons may olution, Harvard historian Bernard J. Bai- son, and others of their generation offered have liberty to study mathematics and phi- lyn wrote of the Founders: “They saw a vision of a better world. The Founders as- losophy. My sons must study mathematics about them, with increasing clarity, not pired to build a nation in which govern- and philosophy, geography, natural histo- merely mistaken, or even evil, policies vi- ment would be limited to its proper role of ry, naval architecture, navigation, com- olating the principles upon which freedom protecting rights and property, thereby cre- merce and agriculture, in order to give their rested, but what appeared to be evidence ating conditions in which freedom would children a right to study painting, poetry, of nothing less than a deliberate assault flourish, innovation and creativity would music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and launched surreptitiously by plotters against be unleashed, and human beings would be porcelain.” liberty both in England and America.” able to develop their God-given talents to In 1774, as the widespread sentiment fa- the benefit of all. Founders vs. Conspiracy voring American independence began to In terms of character, values, and ideals, The purpose of politics, Adams under- coalesce, Adams declared that “the con- Robert Welch was a blessed throwback to stood, was to keep government in its prop- spiracy was first regularly formed and our Founding era. “I want for our country erly subordinate role, thereby leaving peo- begun to be executed in 1763 or 4....” To enough laws to restrain me from injuring ple free to build a better and more civilized defeat that conspiracy, it was necessary for others, so that these laws will also restrain world. And, like the other leading Found- Americans to join in an organized, princi- others from injuring me,” he declared dur- ing Fathers, Adams recognized that the lib- pled effort to expose it and defeat it. But it ing a 1964 debate with socialist leader erties he cherished were threatened by a was not enough to tabulate the offenses Norman Thomas. “I want enough govern-

THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003 51 HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

moral purposes which are held presupposes the existence of these qualities in common by them all,” wrote in a higher degree than any other form.” The freedom fight is not merely an effort Mr. Welch in 1961. “We begin Preserving those divinely instilled qual- to prevent the worst that can happen; our cooperation with a belief in ities essential to freedom has always been, absolutes, and an eschewal of and always shall be, a central purpose of it must also be an active struggle to relativity, as the foundation for The John Birch Society. In the December achieve the best that we can imagine. morality.” 1970 issue of the JBS Bulletin,Mr. Welch If morality is “relative,” how summarized the Society’s moral perspec- can individual rights be consid- tive in a list of 20 key principles he called ment, with enough constitutional safe- ered as “self-evident,” God-given endow- “The John Birch Resolutions.” The list guards, so that this necessary minimum of ments? In the absence of absolutes, what began, appropriately, with the Golden laws will be applied equitably to every- can restrain human beings from injuring Rule, and other key tenets of the biblical body, and will be binding on the rulers as each other, moral worldview: well as those ruled.” • “I shall always do unto others as I Building a better world, Mr. Welch de- would have them do unto me.” clared at the Society’s founding meeting, • “I shall always be truthful.” inescapably means reducing the size and • “I will neither kill nor injure another power of government. From the Soci- human being, except in such circum- ety’s beginnings its motto has called stances that it is morally justifiable to do for “less government, more respon- so.” sibility, and a better world.” Be- • “I shall oppose, in every practi- ginning in 1966, this motto was cable way that I can, the widespread embellished by explicitly recog- use or legalization of abortion, or of nizing a point implicit therein: euthanasia.... For abortion, in plain “Less government, more respon- language, is simply murder....” sibility, and — with God’s help • “I shall be a good patriot of my — a better world.” As Mr. Welch country.” pointed out in 1961, the JBS • “I shall always participate in motto starkly contradicts the col- charity for the needy, to the full ex- lectivist Conspiracy’s vision of tent that my resources and my other “total government, an absence of responsibilities will permit....” all personal responsibility, and a • “I shall not yield to any of the completely amoral world....” specific forms of immorality which the enemies of God and man are now Morality and Liberty trying to get widely practiced and The effort to preserve traditional accepted....” morality has always been central to the Library of Were these principles generally prac- program of The John Birch Society, Congress ticed today, government would have rel- and from the beginning the Society atively little to do — and the amoral has earnestly sought — and abundant- Conspiracy for global control described Working for posterity: In a letter to his wife Abigail, ly received — the participation of pa- John Adams explained that he and his fellow by Mr. Welch would find little if any so- triotic individuals from many religious Founders “stud[ied] politics and war” so that their cial traction. backgrounds. The Society provides children and grandchildren could be free to expand Too many Americans, anesthetized them the organized means to work to- their knowledge and develop God-given talents. The by consumer comforts and the illusion gether in the freedom fight, in defense JBS pursues this same noble vision. of endless material prosperity, assess of all they hold dear including their re- their situation in terms of what they are ligious convictions, without in any allowed to keep, rather than by what has way compromising or diluting those con- apart from the brute force of the state? And been stealthily stolen from them — and by victions. “The whole key to our working with the state able to define its own role, what they and their children stand to lose together as one body, for those things what would limit its power? unless they organize to defeat those re- which we do all believe in, is not compro- “As there is a degree of depravity in sponsible for that larceny. The John Birch mise but tolerance,” Robert Welch noted in mankind which requires a certain degree Society understands the enemy and offers 1965. of circumspection and distrust, so there are a principle-based plan for defeating it. It “We seek no doctrinal union … [but other qualities in human nature which jus- is by no means an exaggeration to say that rather] simple cooperation and mutual sup- tify a certain portion of esteem and confi- mankind’s hope for a better world largely port, between men and women of good dence,” wrote James Madison in The Fed- depends on the success of this epic will and conscience, in forwarding those eralist, No. 55. “Republican government undertaking. ■

52 THE NEW AMERICAN • OCTOBER 20, 2003