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==Liberal target==

==Liberal target==

The John Birch Society was a favorite target of liberals--some of whom laughed and others pointed to it as a dangerous organization of the "radical right" that aimed to subvert democracy. In practice, the Society actually did little more than publish pamphlets and sponsor local discussion groups.

The John Birch Society was a favorite target of liberals--some of whom laughed and others pointed to it as a dangerous organization of the "radical right" that aimed to subvert democracy. In practice, the Society actually did little more than publish pamphlets and sponsor local discussion groups.

 

The organization was founded by [[Robert Welch]] in 1958 to aid America in fighting Communist infiltration of the [[United States]]. He targeted collectivist infiltration from communists, [[fascists]], the [[United Nations]], and various front groups. Welch said he named the Society after [[John Birch]], the first American to die in the [[Cold War]].

The organization was founded by [[Robert Welch]] in 1958 to fight Communist infiltration of the United States.<ref>Welch said he named the Society after [[John Birch]], the first American to die in the [[Cold War]]. </ref> He designed the Society like the Communist movement, with a strong leader at the top (himself), with each lower level following the orders they were given.  In practive the local shapters were discussion clubs and rarely engaged in much activism. Society literature denounced collectivist infiltration from Communists, the [[United Nations]], and various front groups. 

==Eisenhower==

==Eisenhower==

Welch wrote in a widely circulated statement, ''The Politician,''  "Could Eisenhower really be simply a smart politician, entirely without principles and hungry for glory, who is only the tool of the Communists? The answer is yes."  He went on. ""With regard to ... Eisenhower, it is difficult to avoid raising the question of deliberate treason."<ref> Quoted at [http://www.jbs.org/jbs-news-feed/1375-glenn-beck-talks-with-jbs-president-john-f-mcmanus "Glenn Beck talks with JBS President John F. McManus" Aug. 15, 2006]</ref>  

Welch wrote in a widely circulated statement, ''The Politician,''  "Could Eisenhower really be simply a smart politician, entirely without principles and hungry for glory, who is only the tool of the Communists? The answer is yes."  He went on. ""With regard to ... Eisenhower, it is difficult to avoid raising the question of deliberate treason."<ref> Quoted at [http://www.jbs.org/jbs-news-feed/1375-glenn-beck-talks-with-jbs-president-john-f-mcmanus "Glenn Beck talks with JBS President John F. McManus" Aug. 15, 2006]</ref>  

Although the JBS is considered to be "right-wing", the group has taken many positions contrary to neo-Conservatism. The group is a proponent of what many consider to be conspiracy theories, and the group freely confesses to this "charge".

Although the JBS is considered to be "right-wing", the group has taken many positions contrary to neo-Conservatism. The group is a proponent of what many consider to be conspiracy theories, and the group freely confesses to this "charge".

There are unofficial JBS chapters on many college campuses throughout the United States.

In the 1960s Welch insisted that the Johnson administration's fight against communism in Vietnam was part of a communist plot aimed at taking over the United States. Welch demanded that the United States get out of Vietnam, thus aligning the Society with the far left.<ref>Stephen Earl Bennett, "Modes of Resolution of a 'Belief Dilemma' in the Ideology of the John Birch Society," ''Journal of Politics'' 1971 33(3): 735-772,  </ref>

==Publications==

==Publications==

The official magazine of the John Birch Society is ''[[The New American]]''.

The official magazine of the John Birch Society is ''[[The New American]]''.

The Birch Society has an active publication and reprint program. Reflecting its distrust of national leadership over the last 70 years, many of the books blame the White House and national leaders for deliberately damaging the national interest--for example, by encouraging the Japanese to sink the American fleet at Pearl Harbor.

The Birch Society has an active publication and reprint program. Reflecting its distrust of national leadership over the last 70 years, many of the books blame the White House and national leaders for deliberately damaging the national interest--for example, by encouraging the Japanese to sink the American fleet at Pearl Harbor.

==Members==

==Members==

One survey in the early 1970s found the typical John Birch Society member was middle or upper-middle class, Republican and Protestant. He was also fairly young and well educated: the majority of the sample was under 40 at time of recruitment and had completed at least three years of college. A later survey in the mid 1980s found the membership then was disproportionately Southwesterners, young, urban, male, and Catholic. They were consistently conservative on secular issues, antigovernment, and negative toward communism.  The evidence does not support liberal notions that irrationality, social strains, or status anxiety explained their beliefs.<ref>Stone (1974); Wilcox (1988) </ref>

One survey in the early 1970s found the typical John Birch Society member was middle or upper-middle class, Republican and Protestant. He was also fairly young and well educated: the majority of the sample was under 40 at time of recruitment and had completed at least three years of college. A later survey in the mid 1980s found the membership then was disproportionately Southwesterners, young, urban, male, and Catholic. They were consistently conservative on secular issues, antigovernment, and negative toward communism.  The evidence does not support liberal notions that irrationality, social strains, or status anxiety explained their beliefs.<ref>Stone (1974); Wilcox (1988) </ref>

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

*[[Korean Airlines Flight 007]] - Congressman [[Larry McDonald]], the 2nd President of the JBS, was a passenger of this flight downed by the Soviets on Sept. 1, 1983 in international waters west of Sakhalin Island.

*[[Korean Airlines Flight 007]] - Congressman [[Larry McDonald]], the 2nd President of the JBS, was a passenger of this flight downed by the Soviets on Sept. 1, 1983 in international waters west of Sakhalin Island.

== Links ==

== External Links ==

[http://www.jbs.org/ The John Birch Society Website]

*[http://www.jbs.org/ The John Birch Society Website]

 

*[http://www.thenewamerican.com/ The New American]

[http://www.thenewamerican.com/ The New American]

*[http://www.thenewamerican.com/node/8694 "KAL Flight 007 Remembered" New American Magazine]

 

*[http://www.rescue007.org/ Website of the International Committee for the Rescue of KAL 007 Survivors]

[http://www.thenewamerican.com/node/8694 "KAL Flight 007 Remembered" New American Magazine]

*[http://ernie1241.googlepages.com/jbs-1] FBI files pertaining to the John Birch Society

 

[http://www.rescue007.org/ Website of the International Committee for the Rescue of KAL 007 Survivors]

 

[http://ernie1241.googlepages.com/jbs-1] = '''FBI files pertaining to the John Birch Society and its arguments.'''

====Reeferences====

====Reeferences====

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[[category:Political Organizations]]

[[category:Political Organizations]]

[[category:Conservatives]]

[[category:Conservatives]]

[[category:Conspiracy theorists]]

[[category:Conspiracy theorists]]