Changes

At its peak in 1964 the Society claimed to have hundreds of chapters throughout the country, 100,000 members, 400 American Opinion bookstores to distribute and sell its magazine and pamphlets, and an active cadre of speakers that crisscrossed the country.  Welch ruled with an iron hand,<ref> Schoenwald, (2001) pp. 83-88</ref> sending out his agents to make sure the local units never engaged in operations on their own, such as endorsing candidates or lobbying for legislation; they were to spend their energy discussing Welch's thesis that that Communists were already in power in Washington and were about to fully take over the country. All the dues went to national headquarters in Belmont, Massachusetts.<ref> Some chapters nevertheless did organize opposition to fluoridation of local water supplies or pushed a slate for election to local school boards..</ref>

At its peak in 1964 the Society claimed to have hundreds of chapters throughout the country, 100,000 members, 400 American Opinion bookstores to distribute and sell its magazine and pamphlets, and an active cadre of speakers that crisscrossed the country.  Welch ruled with an iron hand,<ref> Schoenwald, (2001) pp. 83-88</ref> sending out his agents to make sure the local units never engaged in operations on their own, such as endorsing candidates or lobbying for legislation; they were to spend their energy discussing Welch's thesis that that Communists were already in power in Washington and were about to fully take over the country. All the dues went to national headquarters in Belmont, Massachusetts.<ref> Some chapters nevertheless did organize opposition to fluoridation of local water supplies or pushed a slate for election to local school boards..</ref>

It never had a major impact on politics. It is still in operation, generating reports on new conspiracies from its base in Appleton, Wisconsin. However it main role in recent decades is a target of attack by liberals who use it to ridicule and smear conservatives in general.

It never had a major impact on politics. It is still in operation, generating reports on new conspiracies from its base in Appleton, Wisconsin. However its main role has always been as a target of attack by liberals who use it to ridicule and smear conservatives in general.

==Conspiracies==

==Conspiracies==