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The '''John Birch Society''' is an American paleoconservative organization founded in 1958 by Massachusetts businessman [[Robert Welch]] (1900-1985).  Until the collapse of Soviet Communism in 1991, it focused on Communism as the enemy of American values, warning that Communism already exerted a powerful control on the United States federal government.  

The '''John Birch Society''' is an American [[paleoconservative]] organization founded in 1958 by Massachusetts businessman [[Robert Welch]] (1900-1985).  Until the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]] in 1991, it focused on [[Communism]] as the enemy of [[American values]], warning that Communism already exerted a powerful control on the [[United States government|United States federal government]].  

Originally based in [[Belmont, Massachusetts]], its headquarters are now in [[Appleton, Wisconsin]],<ref>{{Cite news|author = Dan Barry |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/us/26Land.html |title = Holding Firm Against Plots by Evildoers |work = [[The New York Times]] |date = June 25, 2009 |accessdate = January 1, 2017}}</ref> with local chapters throughout the United States. The organization owns American Opinion Publishing, which publishes ''[[The New American]]''.<ref name="newamerican">{{Cite web |url= http://www.thenewamerican.com/ |title = The New American }}</ref>

Originally based in [[Belmont, Massachusetts]], its headquarters are now in [[Appleton, Wisconsin]],<ref>{{Cite news|author = Dan Barry |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/us/26Land.html |title = Holding Firm Against Plots by Evildoers |work = [[The New York Times]] |date = June 25, 2009 |accessdate = January 1, 2017}}</ref> with local chapters throughout the United States. The organization owns American Opinion Publishing, which publishes ''[[The New American]]''.<ref name="newamerican">{{Cite web |url= http://www.thenewamerican.com/ |title = The New American }}</ref>

campaign which opposed civilian review boards to monitor police brutality.<ref>Some chapters without Welch's approval did organize opposition to fluoridation of local water supplies or pushed a slate for election to local school boards.</ref> The one notable national campaign was to demand the impeachment of Chief Justice [[Earl Warren]].  Not a single member of Congress was willing to present an impeachment resolution, and over the years only three Congressmen were members, most notably [[Larry McDonald]] (1935-1983), the Society president when his plane, [[Korean Airlines Flight 007]],was shot down by the Soviet Air Force on Sept. 1, 1983 in international air space in between Soviet [[Moneron Island]] and [[Sakhalin]] island.<ref>Since June of 2012, there is a petition drive, supported by Senator [[Scott Brown]], to be  presented to President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner, to reopen the investigation into the shooting down of KAL 007 and reports of the survival of Congressman McDonald [http://www.change.org/petitions/president-barack-obama-speaker-of-the-house-john-boehner-conduct-an-investigation-of-flight-kal-007].

campaign which opposed civilian review boards to monitor police brutality.<ref>Some chapters without Welch's approval did organize opposition to fluoridation of local water supplies or pushed a slate for election to local school boards.</ref> The one notable national campaign was to demand the impeachment of Chief Justice [[Earl Warren]].  Not a single member of Congress was willing to present an impeachment resolution, and over the years only three Congressmen were members, most notably [[Larry McDonald]] (1935-1983), the Society president when his plane, [[Korean Airlines Flight 007]],was shot down by the Soviet Air Force on Sept. 1, 1983 in international air space in between Soviet [[Moneron Island]] and [[Sakhalin]] island.<ref>Since June of 2012, there is a petition drive, supported by Senator [[Scott Brown]], to be  presented to President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner, to reopen the investigation into the shooting down of KAL 007 and reports of the survival of Congressman McDonald [http://www.change.org/petitions/president-barack-obama-speaker-of-the-house-john-boehner-conduct-an-investigation-of-flight-kal-007].

  One of the society's most popular spokesmen was John Rousselot, a former Republican congressman from southern California. Another was John Schmitz (1930-2001), briefly a Congressman from Southern California.</ref>   

  One of the society's most popular spokesmen was [[John Rousselot]], a former Republican congressman from southern [[California]]. Another was [[John Schmitz]] (1930-2001), briefly a Congressman from Southern California.</ref>   

==History==

==History==