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The '''John Birch Society''' is a American anti-conspiracy organization founded in 1958 by Massachusetts businessman [[Robert Welch]] (1900-1985) with a largely conservative membership.  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 national government.  

The '''John Birch Society''' is a American anti-conspiracy organization founded in 1958 by Massachusetts businessman [[Robert Welch]] (1900-1985) with a largely conservative membership.  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 national government.  

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. 83-91</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. All the dues went to national headquarters in Belmont, Massachusetts and the members were to spend their energy writing letters that echoed Welch's thesis that that Communists were already in power in Washington and were about to fully take over the country. Welch sponsored "Support Your Local Police"

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 was shot down by the Soviet Air Force.<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>  

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.

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.

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

*[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

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

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