John Bevilaqua

John R. Rarick Dies September 15th, 2009 On September 14, former Congressman John R. Rarick died in St. Francisville, Louisiana, at the age of 85. He had been the American Independent Party’s presidential candidate in 1980. He had served in Congress as a Democrat from Louisiana between 1967 and 1975. He endorsed George Wallace for President in 1968, and the Democrats in Congress, in retaliation, removed his seniority. The American Independent Party had nominated Rarick for president on August 30, 1980, in Sacramento, California. Because Rarick was nominated so late in 1980, he only appeared on the ballot in the states in which the American Independent Party already enjoyed status as a qualified party; except that he also qualified in his own state of Louisiana, which only required paying a filing fee of $500 by early September. He was credited with 41,268 votes nationwide and was on the ballot in 8 states. Thanks to Peter Gemma for this news. 167 Comments » 167 Responses to “John R. Rarick Dies” Peter Gemma Says: September 15th, 2009 at 8:56 am John Rarick’s 1966 congressional election was as hot and spicy as Cajun food. His opponent was the powerful 24 year incumbent, Congressman James Morrison. The contest was national news: the New York Times reported on its front page that the Morrison vs. Rarick race was: “… one of the fiercest campaigns in Louisiana history.” The next front page NYT story, after Rarick won the run-off, screamed “Critic of [President] Johnson Wins in Louisiana” A Washington Post story stated that “Federal employees have lost their number one Congressional champion … Morrison relied heavily on Federal employees for voter support and money to run his campaign.” Morrison called the election “the most vicious in my 24 years in Congress.” Trent Hill Says: September 15th, 2009 at 11:14 am I met Rarick about a year ago. He was quite sick, but came and spoke with me about the American Independent Party (at the time I was hoping to write a detailed history of right-wing third parties since WWII. Still might). He even brought some Gold Coins that had his face on them, he had used them in campaigning–and a book he wrote called “Stand up and be an American!” His politics may have been pretty detestable to me back in 1968, but he was a gentleman in 2008. If he was still a racist, he was quite good at concealing it. Peter Gemma Says: September 15th, 2009 at 12:29 pm He was the last of the firebrands back in the day – representing the culture of the Old South before it changed, as it should have, into the New South. He mellowed with age and had, as many old timers still do these days, a rather benign view of minorities. He resented federal solutions to local issues, and I think he felt segregation would wither, but on its own time and under its own merits. As a judge he took some heat: I’ve seen fliers from his elections accusing him of being a “ni**er” lover because he addressed black defendants and black lawyers by “Mr.” instead of simply using their last names. He took heavy fire for releasing an accused (black) rapist from prison and insisting he have a trial instead of being held on circumstantial evidence. The man was found innocent much to the frustration of KKKers and their allies. That story is told in detail in Joan Mellon’s book “Jim Garrison: His Life and Times, The Early Years.” (http://www.joanmellen.com/) Yes, he fought for things we find hard to fathom and even repugnant, but that was a zillion years ago in political terms and in a culture far different from today. I hope you do write a history of the AIP – an accurate story needs to be told. Gene Berkman Says: September 15th, 2009 at 1:31 pm I read in little right wing publications of the time that Rep. John Rarick endorsed John Schmitz for President in 1972. Schmitz received 5% in Louisiana – his highest percentage in the South. Michael Says: September 15th, 2009 at 1:54 pm Congressman Schmitz once said he had more members of congress supporting him for president off the record than McGovern had supporting him openly. I think his percentage in Louisiana was a little higher, like about 7 percent. Michael Says: September 15th, 2009 at 1:55 pm P.S. To Trent, I be interested in reading your book also. bolshevik-leninist Says: September 15th, 2009 at 2:18 pm Didn’t Schmitz come in second in Idaho with like 10% and McGovern with about 8%? Something like that. Maybe I’m totally making it up. Richard Says: September 15th, 2009 at 2:36 pm Schmitz got 4.95% in Louisiana in 1972. In Idaho he got 9.30%, whereas McGovern got 26.0%. Schmitz’ best county in Idaho was Jefferson County, where he got 27.51%. Idaho counties in which Schmitz outpolled McGovern were Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, and Madison. Peter Gemma Says: September 15th, 2009 at 3:52 pm The late Congressman John Schmitz once lamented: “The change in American policy toward Red China and President Nixon’s visit to Peking will stand as one of the great betrayals in history … I looked about me [for help from] my fellow Congressmen who had so long proclaimed from the housetops how much they opposed any dealings with Red China and found [only] John Ashbrook and Louisiana Democrat John Rarick.” (“Stranger in the Arena: The Anatomy of an Amoral Decade 1964-1974” Rayline Publishers, Santa Ana, CA, 1974; page 31.) I do not believe Rarick actually endorsed Schmitz; he may have come close with his complimentary comments. Many Southern conservative Democrats inferred or even declared they would not be voting for McGovern, but did not specifically endorse or refer to Nixon (or in Rarick’s case) Schmitz as the recipient of their support. John R. Rarick Dies | Independent Political Report Says: September 15th, 2009 at 4:26 pm [...] Posted in Ballot Access News: [...] Steve Rankin Says: September 15th, 2009 at 4:37 pm In 1967, Rarick ran against Gov. John McKeithen, who was seeking his second term. During the campaign, someone took a shot at Rarick; I can’t recall whether anyone was ever arrested for that, but I always thought it was rather strange. Early in Reagan’s administration as governor, he made a deal with the Democrats to raise taxes. He met with Schmitz, then a state senator, to try to convince him to support the increase. When Schmitz came out, he said, “The next time I have to spend 45 minutes with that actor, I’m taking a bag of popcorn!” Schmitz represented San Clemente, where Nixon had a home, in Congress. After Schmitz criticized Nixon’s 1972 trip to China, Nixon sent Murray Chotiner to help defeat Schmitz in the Republican primary. Schmitz beat Lester Maddox for the ‘72 AIP nomination. Maddox was the ‘76 nominee. Bob Dornan, a fellow Catholic, beat Schmitz in the ‘84 Republican primary for Congress. The main issue was IUDs. Cody Quirk Says: September 15th, 2009 at 4:40 pm I hope you do write a history of the AIP – an accurate story needs to be told. = The late Bill Shearer wrote a history about the AIP into the early 90’s. Talk to his daughter Nancy about it. Peter Gemma Says: September 15th, 2009 at 4:44 pm Congressman Rarick entered the 1967 Louisiana gubernatorial election in a long shot campaign against the popular incumbent Governor John McKeithen. The state’s chief executive had been brought before a Grand Jury investigating organized crime in Louisiana however, and McKeithen was running as a moderate on civil rights—both possible wedge issues. Days before the gubernatorial election Rarick was the target of an assassination attempt. The Washington Post (November 3, 1967, page four), reported: “A gunman fired four quick shots in a driveway early today at Rep. John Rarick (D-LA), a candidate for governor in Saturday’s Democratic primary.” The Post quoted Rarick’s reaction: “The whole thing happened about like the flip of a finger—at first it sounded like someone threw a cherry bomb. Then I turned around and looked at this car. This fellow was pointing a gun right at me. The shots kept coming. I jumped between cars … I couldn’t even tell you how many shots were fired. You don’t count when you’re looking down a gun barrel.” A Rarick campaign aide, when asked by the New York Times (November 3,1987, page 32) about a link to organized crime, answered; “It possibly could, we’ve been hitting [the issue] pretty hard.” Congressman Rarick received about 18% of the vote in a five way race against Governor McKeithen who stated that: “This is the first time that a [Louisiana] governor has won without taking a big stand as a conservative.” (the New York Times, November 5, 1967; page 62). Peter Gemma Says: September 15th, 2009 at 4:50 pm Steve Rankin: “Schmitz beat Lester Maddox for the ‘72 AIP nomination. Maddox was the ‘76 nominee.” Actually Schmitz was nearly unopposed at the ‘72 AIP convention (once it was clear Wallace was unable to carry the banner). Maddox beat out John Rarick in ‘76 for the AIP nod—Rarick was nominated in ‘80 by what was left of the AIP. Trent Hill Says: September 15th, 2009 at 5:03 pm Cody, I’ve read, and I own, Mr. Shearer’s commentary. Unfortunately it is riddled with personal commentary and stories of old, and ridiculous, arguements with former allies. A proper history of right wing third parties since WWII should be written. Trent Hill Says: September 15th, 2009 at 5:04 pm “Bob Dornan, a fellow Catholic, beat Schmitz in the ‘84 Republican primary for Congress. The main issue was IUDs.” And Bob Dornan later approached the American Independent Party, in 2005, about running for Congress in the…48th? District. The AIP passed over him in favor of Jim Gilchrist. Mark Seidenberg Says: September 15th, 2009 at 5:11 pm Trent Hill is wrong in his post 16 about 2005 and Jim Gilchrist. Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman, American Independent Party. Steve Rankin Says: September 15th, 2009 at 5:12 pm McKeithen was public service commissioner before he was governor. A family friend of mine who lived in Louisiana always swore that McK took money from the natural gas companies in exchange for raising rates. McK beat Chep Morrison, the ex-mayor of New Orleans and JFK’s OAS ambassador, in the January ‘64 Democratic runoff. McK campaigned as a conservative and a segregationist. He was popular during his first term, and the constitution was changed to allow the governor to succeed himself (bumper-stickers in the referendum campaign read, “Let McKeithen Run Again”). In ‘67, Rarick said he wanted to “take the LBJ brand off of Louisiana.” McK was likely positioning himself for a possible slot on the ‘68 national Democratic ticket, and he was high on the list for Hubert Humphrey’s running mate. George Wallace carried Louisiana in the ‘68 race, and McK became very unpopular by the end of his term. In 1972, U. S. Sen. Allen Ellender died suddenly during the Democratic primary campaign, and Bennett Johnston won the nomination. McKeithen then jumped into the race as an independent. If memory serves, Johnston got 56%, McK 25%, and the Republican 19%. That was McK’s last campaign. Peter Gemma Says: September 15th, 2009 at 5:27 pm Rarick trivia #1 … Rarick followed an unusual strategy in 1971, at the height of the controversial Vietnam war. Joining fellow Democrats Robert Leggett (California) and Parren Mitchell (Maryland) in a left/right coalition, the trio sponsored the “People Power Over War Act,” a Constitutional Amendment based on the text of something originally known as the “Ludlow Amendment.” The prototype legislation was introduced every year from 1935 to 1941 by Congressman Louis Ludlow (D-Indiana) in opposition to President Franklin Roosevelt’s interventionist foreign policy initiatives. The text of the “People Power Over War Act,” read in part: “Except in the event of an attack or invasion the authority of Congress to declare war shall not become effective until confirmed by a majority of all votes cast thereon in a nationwide referendum.” Peter Gemma Says: September 15th, 2009 at 5:30 pm Rarick trivia #2 … Senator Sam Ervin (D-NC) was a leading critic and investigator of government surveillance and intimidation tactics as part of the Watergate-era abuses of the Nixon Administration. A front page New York Times article (“Wider Army Surveillance of Top Officials Disclosed,” February 29, 1972) brought to light some of his startling findings: “Senator Sam T. Ervin, Jr. disclosed today that Army intelligence surveilance of civilian officials from late 1967 into 1970 was more extensive than had been previously revealed. In a brief filed with the Supreme Court, [Ervin] said the Army had watched the political activities …” of public officials and retired politicians including “… John R. Rarick, Democrat of Louisiana … among the main targets were persons and organizations opposed to the war in Vietnam … and others considered to be anti-establishment.” Trent Hill Says: September 15th, 2009 at 5:35 pm “Trent Hill is wrong in his post 16 about 2005 and Jim Gilchrist. Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman, American Independent Party.” I’d love to hear how, perhaps i’ve been misinformed. I’ve also heard the story another way–that Dornan called Gilchrist and encouraged him to run. http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/001176.html But I’ve also heard it another way–which is that Dornan wanted to run, but the CP national leaders and AIP local guys preferred Gilchrist over him. This one seems more plausible. http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/...g_for_congress/ Jeremy Young Says: September 15th, 2009 at 5:43 pm Wait, Bob Dornan versus John Schmitz in a primary? Must have been the most conservative primary ever. I can’t believe Dornan ran to the right of Schmitz. If I ever wake up one morning and say to myself, “I’m going to run for Congress to the right of John Schmitz,” I’ll go check myself into the funny farm. Trent Hill Says: September 15th, 2009 at 5:53 pm Jeremy, Clearly you underestimate how conservative Orange County was/is. Steve Rankin Says: September 15th, 2009 at 5:54 pm #14: I remember Schmitz bragging that he beat Lester Maddox for the ‘72 AIP nomination. Maddox was Georgia governor, 1967-71; he served as lieutenant governor under Jimmy Carter, 1971-75. Maddox lost the Democratic primary for governor in 1974. #20: Sam Ervin’s middle name was James. He filibustered at least one proposal to abolish the Electoral College. Peter Gemma Says: September 15th, 2009 at 6:23 pm Steve: Blame the media for the middle name blooper on Sam Ervin. I wish those were the only kinds of mistakes they made. I was elected a delegate to the ‘72 AIP convention and as a state chairman (RI) led my delegation in support of John Schmitz. Lester Maddox was not at the convention nor was he officially part of the proceedings — he did graciously turn down a request to speak but reportedly told Bill Shearer in private that he’d accept the nomination if the AIP could quickly raise $2 million, an impossible challenge. Maddox’s name was placed in nomination by some well-meaning supporters even after he officially (to the media anyway) declined to be affiliated with the AIP and he received 55 votes (weighted by state size) to 330 for Congressman Schmitz. Gene Berkman Says: September 15th, 2009 at 6:25 pm Jeremy @ #21 – in 1976 John Schmitz ran for Congress in the Republican primary and lost to Ronald Reagan ally Bob Badham, a State Assembly member. Badham was at least as conservative as Bob Dornan. Peter Gemma Says: September 15th, 2009 at 6:33 pm Dornan and Schmitz ran against each other in the ”80 GOP US Senate primary which was won by a Republican “moderate” if I remember correctly … Michael Says: September 15th, 2009 at 7:05 pm Schmitz and Dornan actually ran against each other twice. For the Senate primary in 1982 against moderate Pete Wilson, and in 1984 for congress. I agree, that must have been one conservative primary campaign!! Michael Says: September 15th, 2009 at 7:06 pm P.S. Schmitz also ran for senator in 1980. Trent Hill Says: September 15th, 2009 at 8:51 pm Peter, are you doing a book on Rarick? Steve Rankin Says: September 16th, 2009 at 2:01 am Pete McCloskey, Barry Goldwater Jr., and Maureen Reagan also ran in that 1982 Republican U. S. Senate primary, which Pete Wilson won. Wilson beat Jerry Brown in November. Peter Gemma Says: September 16th, 2009 at 2:40 am Trent: the Rarick bio has morphed into larger view of Southern politics of his era – a time of turbulent transitioning. JR will play a key role because his public service starts at the beginning of the end, and his defeat marks him as the last of the firebrands. I’m helping his family in their effort to self-publish a book of remembrances both personal and political. If you’re till thinking of doing a book on the AIP and right wing 3rd parties, I’d be delighted to help. gary odom Says: September 16th, 2009 at 4:42 am Trent, If you do a work on the AIP, what could you possibly offer that was not set forth in Bill Shearer’s history of the AIP which I had sent to you a couple of years ago? Not saying you couldn’t, but if you’re going to do something new, then, of course, it should be something new. Bill Shearer, by the way, had a fabulous library and that included a huge section on southern politics and political leaders. I mean, how many people do you know who have two books about Leander Perez in their library. I was fortunate enough to receive several of his volumes on Huey Long and many others. By the way, I worked directly for John Rarick in 1980 when he was the AIP Nominee for President. I was just a kid in my late 20s at the time and I had worked all night at our convention on a press release announcing his nomination. When he looked at it, he just kind of smiled and said, “Kinda dry, isn’t it?” He was right. He was a true gentleman. That was about as harsh as I ever heard him be to me or anyone else. There was no comparison between Rarick and Schmitz. Schmitz was a pompous ass who looked down his nose at the average American. If Rarick had run in 1972 he would have greatly exceeded Scmitz vote. For one thing he would have got a lot more support from Wallace voters than did Schmitz, who had nothing in common with the average Wallace supporter. Peter Gemma Says: September 16th, 2009 at 5:00 am Gary: I envy you for having some of Bill’s library – I interviewed him about 10 days before he passed away and he was as lively and informative regarding AIP/politics as he ever was. I was sorely tempted to steal some of his books but didn’t know how to take 50 or so volumes under my shirt and get pass Bill and Nancy. Among the remembrances of John Rarick in obits come these two: Sam Hyde, a history professor and author at Southeastern Louisiana University where Rarick donated his official papers, said Rarick “frequently is labeled as an extreme, arch-segregationist.” but had “a much more compassionate side that revealed a connection with the common people that transcended the racial stereotype he is most often associated with.” Former U.S. Sen. J. Bennett Johnston served in the Senate beginning in 1972 while Rarick was still in the House. Johnston painted Rarick as a person whose bark was worse than his bite. “A lot of his positions were mad-dog positions,” said Johnston, who retired in 1996, but “once he got to Congress he was a mild and gentle person.” BTW, I have two books about Leander Perez in MY library. ;-) gary odom Says: September 16th, 2009 at 5:17 am Peter, I would agree with those analyses of John Rarick. By the way, I have enjoyed your posts on this thread. You clearly know what you are talking about. Yes, cancer was eating Bill’s body, but his mind was absolutely clear to the end. As you may know he was spending much of those last days writing a book on ancient Egypt. Actually, Bill Shearer’s life would certainly merit a book. He was one in 10 million. And finally, to Trent, I don’t want my comments to be misconstrued…knowing you I believe that you certainly have the capacity to do an outstanding work on the AIP, third parties, southern politics or whatever you choose to do. Just want to be clear on that. Mark Seidenberg Says: September 16th, 2009 at 7:50 am Gary Odom, You have the advantage over me, because in 1980, I was working for the Reagan Campaign. However, the Ameerican Independent Party wants to do a good website obit for John Rarick. Therefore do you have a copy of the 1980 photo of the ticket John Rarick and Eillen Shearer that you can lend Chairman Markham Robinson for scanning onto the official website of the American Independent Party? Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman, American Independent Party. gary odom Says: September 16th, 2009 at 8:04 am Mark, What I think you and Mr. Robinson should do is to leave well enough alone. Gary Mark Seidenberg Says: September 16th, 2009 at 8:16 am Gary Odom, Why not a book about both William & Eillen Shearer? I have the title, viz., MY LADY AND THE STATESMAN: The History of the American Independent Party’s first forty years. Sinceerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman, American Independent Party What do you think about the title? Mark Seidenberg Says: September 16th, 2009 at 9:00 am Trent Hill The leadership of the American Independent Party in 2005 had high respect for both Robert Dornam and Jim Gilchrist in 2005 as they do now. The problem related to threats on Robert Dornan’s son by the Tom Campbell gang in 2005. I need to clear the details with Robert Dornam first, before or if I made the facts public. Please remember that Tom Campbell was trying at the time to keep the Jewish voters away from the polls in that 2005 special election. Remember, Tom Campbell was (and is not) a friend of the Jewish people, by his 2005 speech to the Lincoln Club. This will come out in 2010 when he runs for Governor on the Republican Ticket. I talked to the leadsrship of the Republican Jewish Coalition on that Tom Campbell attack on the Jewish Community and I hope there is not a short memory. Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman, American Independent Party. P.S. This Tom Campbell attack on the Jewish Voters in Orange County should be a chapter in the book MY LADY AND THE STATESMAN. Peter Gemma Says: September 16th, 2009 at 9:04 am #35 – thanks for the kudos, Gary. I think you, me, Richard, Trent and some others here and among the readers should all come over to my house (Sarasota), drink a lot of beer, trade war stories, and maybe get some work done on various writing projects. Trent Hill Says: September 16th, 2009 at 9:21 am “If you do a work on the AIP, what could you possibly offer that was not set forth in Bill Shearer’s history of the AIP which I had sent to you a couple of years ago? Not saying you couldn’t, but if you’re going to do something new, then, of course, it should be something new.” First of all–my idea is to write a history of right-wing third parties since WWII, not specifically of the AIP. I will certainly reference Mr. Shearer’s history of the AIP copiously. However, I think his history is lacking becasue of it’s personal perspective. Trent Hill Says: September 16th, 2009 at 9:25 am “#35 – thanks for the kudos, Gary. I think you, me, Richard, Trent and some others here and among the readers should all come over to my house (Sarasota), drink a lot of beer, trade war stories, and maybe get some work done on various writing projects.” I think I would be hopelessly out of place–as a 21 year old. Trent Hill Says: September 16th, 2009 at 9:26 am Which is not to say I didn’t enjoy Mr. Shearer’s history of the AIP–but it is not a professional or scholarly history of the AIP, it is a personal narrative. Peter Gemma Says: September 16th, 2009 at 9:55 am Trent – your of legal age, obviously knowledgeable and enthusiastic about what we’re tossing about here, and you’d you be among kindred spirits … there ain’t many of those … besides, you can work on your tan in FL. The Shearer history of AIP is invaluable albeit somewhat biased. The 3 volume “Encyclopedia of Third Parties in America” – exorbitantly expensive – is almost useless. You have to start your writing project – even if it turns out to be a monograph that can b expanded into a book later. Richard Says: September 16th, 2009 at 10:34 am Unfortunately, the editors of The Encyclopedia of Third Parties in America were not at all interested in third parties of the right. The editors were enamored of Henry Wallace and Vito Marcantonio, and they let their bias into the Encyclopedia. For example, the Encyclopedia’s original article on the Socialist Labor Party (a party that the editors didn’t care about at all) was very short and inadequate, but fortunately I persuaded them to substitute a far better article written by Bob Bills, and the Bills article was printed in the Encyclopedia in place of the original article. The SLP was the original party of socialism in the U.S., and one of the 3 longest-lived minor parties in U.S. history, and it deserved a good treatment in the Encyclopedia. gary odom Says: September 16th, 2009 at 11:08 am Peter, I’m there! Gary PS: Would be interested in crossing paths some day. Trent, “Mr. Shearer’s history of the AIP…is not a professional or scholarly history of the AIP…” EXCUSE ME…!!!! You should just hope to be so scholarly or professional…(and you just might, I don’t doubt that, but hopefully you will learn that not every work of value needs to be a doctoral thesis. And, Trent, how the heck do you think you can really learn, but by hearing stories from people who were there, as Peter suggested…So if we all were to get together to swap stories…you would be a fool not to be there,too, especially if you plan to write the “scholarly” account of third parties in America. And finally, if 21 is too young…when DO they let you drink in the Bayou State? You are a brilliant young man with great future and I love giving you a hard time as much as you like calling me “old man.” Peter Gemma Says: September 16th, 2009 at 12:53 pm Gary, Trent, et al – where r u guys? I’m in FL, I think Gary is in CA (right?) and Trent you are in Louisiana? I know Richard is in San Francisco … what’s a half-way meeting point? More importantly, what do you guys drink? :-) Michael Says: September 16th, 2009 at 1:49 pm To Gary Odem–You may have a point about Schmitz not having anything in common with the average voter. I once read a New York Times article he wrote where all he talked about was the Federal Reserve, ect. ect. He lost votes with that article! Wallace would have talked about issues that people cared about. (Paragraph) The question would have been, in 1972, if not Schmitz for president when Wallace couldn’t run, then who? (Paragraph) Does anyone have any vote totals and information about the 1980 AIP convention? All I ever read about it is that Rarick was nominated. (Paragraph) I once read in the Schmitz archives in Kansas a newspaper article that said a group of anti-Wallace conservatives were trying to puy a Schmitz-Rarick ticket on the ballot for November, 1972? Any info on that? Peter Gemma Says: September 16th, 2009 at 2:09 pm Schmitz-Rarick would have been ideal … Rarick wasn’t interested as he was running for re-election (and he won that year). Some traditional conservatives, as opposed to more populist 3rd party activists, didn’t like Wallace’s government-takes-care-of-the-’little-people’ philosophy. Lots of trial balloons were floated that year – Maddox, Rarick, Cornelia Wallace, former Utah Gov. J. Braken Lee, etc. Trent Hill Says: September 16th, 2009 at 2:09 pm “EXCUSE ME…!!!! You should just hope to be so scholarly or professional…(and you just might, I don’t doubt that, but hopefully you will learn that not every work of value needs to be a doctoral thesis.” There is no doubt that Mr. Shearer was a genius, whether or not I agreed with all of his politics and tactics. I’m just saying the book cannot possibly be widely distributed. It is useful for intimating knowledge of the AIP–but is not a scholarly or professional treatment of the subject. In fact, it was not intended to be, I don’t think. My aim is not to insult =). Trent Hill Says: September 16th, 2009 at 2:10 pm “And finally, if 21 is too young…when DO they let you drink in the Bayou State? ” haha. Ironically, we were the LAST state to bump our drinking age up to 21. Trent Hill Says: September 16th, 2009 at 2:12 pm “Gary, Trent, et al – where r u guys? I’m in FL, I think Gary is in CA (right?) and Trent you are in Louisiana? I know Richard is in San Francisco … what’s a half-way meeting point? More importantly, what do you guys drink? :-)” Gary is located in Lancaster, PA–but used to live in CA, I think. Im in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I drink vodka, almost exclusively, and occasionally Jameson. Mr. Anon Says: September 16th, 2009 at 2:14 pm not sure if this vote is for the AIP-CA line or the national AIP line http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=294161 Trent Hill Says: September 16th, 2009 at 2:17 pm Peter, It is ironic that trial balloons were sent up to both Schmitz and J. Bracken Lee. Schmitz, if memory serves, was backed by the John Birch Society and was largely identified with them nationally. J. Bracken Lee, on the other hand, had spoken ill of the Society and fired their chief spokesman, Cleon Skousen. Gene Berkman Says: September 16th, 2009 at 2:23 pm Mark @ #39 – JOHN Campbell was elected over Jim Gilchrest in 2005 – he is not the same person as TOM Campbell, who is running for Governor in the Republican primary. I thought that Dornan was not able to run as an AIP candidate because California requires that you be registered in a party for three months before filing date, and not in any other party for 9 months before that. I would bet that Dornan was probably still a Republican when he talked about running as an AIP candidate in 2005. Trent Hill Says: September 16th, 2009 at 2:31 pm Gene, There are a lot of different stories about it. I’d be interested in digging into it and getting the story from the horses mouth–from Jim Gilchrist, Bob Dornan, The guys in the AIP, as well as Gary Odom/Jim Clymer. Peter Gemma Says: September 16th, 2009 at 3:01 pm #53 – that site, Our Campaigns, is terrific for trivia enthusiasts (although I don’t think it’s 100% accurate). The scores listed on that page are balloting results from the 1980 convention. Trent: Schmitz was on the Council of the JBS (leadership committee) and was heir-apparent to founder Rob’t Welch (until Scmitz’s personal crash). JB Lee was a fan of the JBS in its earliest years, but became a critic when he wasn’t the center of its attention. Skousen was a fair-haired JBS fellow until he and Welch had a falling-out — that personality clash was behind the scenes. Lee and Skousen were deadly enemies. I will be in Baton Rouge at some point in the near future to finish going through the Rarick papers at SELU. I’ll definitely try and hook-up with you. If you are free tomorrow, you should go to the Rarick services – he’ll be wearing his famous Confederate boots that got him in hot water when he wore them around the House floor. Paulie Says: September 16th, 2009 at 3:29 pm Gary, Trent, et al – where r u guys? I’m in FL, I think Gary is in CA (right?) and Trent you are in Louisiana? I know Richard is in San Francisco … what’s a half-way meeting point? More importantly, what do you guys drink? :-) Although I’ve not been invited, I’ll invite you all here – I’m currently in Denver, which I think is the closest major city to the geographic center of the Lower 48 continental US States. Not sure how much longer I’ll be here; I’m in town to work on tax cut initiative signature gathering. I’m partial to stouts and barleywines; the Vine St. Pub is a block from here, and has an excellent Java Porter. There’s also the Falling Rock Tap House in LoDo (lower downtown) with about 70 beers on tap and more in bottles. As for hard liquor, there are many, many liquor stores and bars up and down Colfax, which I’m two blocks away from – “the longest, wickedest street in America.” Back in Alabama, I’m a big fan of Muscadine wines, but I’ve yet to see them out here. Paulie Says: September 16th, 2009 at 3:33 pm Also, for any of you who are not loathe to stay in hostels, I’m at the Hostel of the Rockies, which is really nice. Denver International Youth Hostel is a bit more run down, and cheaper ($15 a night vs. $24). Cody Quirk Says: September 16th, 2009 at 3:55 pm Trent, Bill’s history of the AIP may have been told from his perspective, yet he told it in such vivid detail and even backed up most of his account with pictures and numerous references to former platforms, documents, etc. His writting of the AIP History is extremely invaluable. BTW Cody Quirk Says: September 16th, 2009 at 4:07 pm BTW Guys, u should think about Nevada as the gathering place; its legal to walk around town with a bottle of beer or wine in your hand, plus the bars and restaraunts here don’t have a ‘last call’. That and the state is rich in Party history and activism that’s still going on to this day, as many of you know. Gene Berkman Says: September 16th, 2009 at 4:16 pm Peter @ #57 & Trent @ #54 – John Schmitz was a long-time (& notorious) member of The John Birch Society. After he received the AIP nomination for President, Welch appointed him to The Council of the JBS. The John Birch Society does not endorse candidates because it would detract from the educational work of The Society, and possibly promote division. But the Society’s bulletins in 1972 plugged the Schmitz-Anderson ticket, and AIP campaign offices distributed JBS literature, including American Opinion reprints about Schmitz. Frank Mintz in his book on The Liberty Lobby shows that Willis Carto moved in on the Schmitz campaign. Eventually Carto got Schmitz to visit a Palestinian camp and denounce Israel, and Welch expelled John Schmitz from The John Birch Society for extremism. Mark Seidenberg Says: September 16th, 2009 at 5:02 pm Gene Beckman, Gene are we talking about two Tom Campbell, viz., one that is a Congressman and someone else that is running for Governor? If so, I am sorry most Republican look alike (or is it they talk alike). It has been too many years since I was one, I am recovering from the Republican Party. Back in 2005, the Tom I am talking about made a speech to the Lincoln Club explaining how the Governor will keep Jewish Voters (viz., liberal votes) away from the polls by setting the election date on a Jewish Holiday. I flew up to Sacramento the day before the Governor set the date. Was in the Governor outer office to explain why he should set the alternative date that did not fall on a Jewish holiday. Bottom line the Governor did not take my advise. William Shearer was very upset with the Governor at that time over the setting of the date. As for John Schmitz, I still remember when Dana Rohrabocker and I went to the University of California during the 1969 Strike with the sign “Shut CAL Down and Sell It” in reaction to the sign “On Strike Shut CAL Down”. John Schmitz had a bill in the California State Senate to sell the University of California and get the State of California out of higher education. I remember telling that story to Ludwig Von Mises a few years later and he told me that was good thinking on Dana’s part. Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman, American Independent Party. Trent Hill Says: September 16th, 2009 at 5:11 pm “I will be in Baton Rouge at some point in the near future to finish going through the Rarick papers at SELU. I’ll definitely try and hook-up with you. If you are free tomorrow, you should go to the Rarick services – he’ll be wearing his famous Confederate boots that got him in hot water when he wore them around the House floor.” I can’t make it–though I certainly wish I could. Definetly contact me next time you are in Baton Rouge. I’d love to thumb through Rarick’s papers with you and grab some food. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 16th, 2009 at 5:27 pm “Does anyone have any vote totals and information about the 1980 AIP convention?” If memory serves me correctly, William K. Shearer covered the 1980 convention in some detail in his marvelous history of the American Independent Party. Bill and Eileen — bless their souls — had sent me quite a bit of material on that campaign for one of my later volumes of OTHERS. In any case, a number of folks actively sought the American Independent Party’s presidential nomination in 1980, including Gov. Meldrim Thomson, the erratic, ultraconservative governor of New Hampshire who later announced that he was forming a new Constitution Party — a party, incidentally, that died aborning later that spring as a result of the Reagan juggernaut. Pro-lifer Morton Downey, Jr., the bombastic, chain-smoking talk show host who defeated Rarick by 480 votes in California’s non-binding presidential primary a few months earlier, was also briefly in the hunt. Interestingly, Cliff Finch, the former governor of Mississippi who entered nine Democratic primaries earlier that year, also briefly toyed with the idea of seeking the AIP’s presidential nomination in 1980. One by one, the field narrowed and by convention time the nomination was essentially the former Louisiana congressman’s for the asking. As expected, he easily defeated free-market economist Percy L. Greaves, who was then his only rival for the nomination. A brilliant and principled writer and lecturer who was fairly liberal on social issues such as abortion, Greaves — interestingly enough — was a veteran of the short-lived Constitution Party which had symbolically nominated an unwilling General Douglas MacArthur for the presidency in 1952. As expected, Rarick garnered 63 votes on the convention’s first and only ballot to ten for the hapless Greaves, and one for little-known Richard D. Schumacher of Phoenix. Eileen Shearer, Rarick’s vice-presidential running mate, had a somewhat closer contest, receiving support from slightly more than half the delegates while defeating Arthur E. Lee of Bellingham, Washington, and businessman Thomas A. McCrary, a former CIA planning chief who chaired the party’s affiliate in Georgia. The 74-year-old Greaves, who had resigned from New York’s Conservative Party when it endorsed Richard Nixon’s re-election in 1972, remained in the race as the nominee of the rival American Party, whose presidential nomination he reluctantly accepted in late 1979 when party leaders were unable to attract a better known candidate. This is a truly interesting thread and, needless to say, I look forward to reading Peter Gemma’s book. Mark Seidenberg Says: September 16th, 2009 at 5:36 pm Gene Beckman, Both my late parents and I have had problems with Willis Cardo. My father was an active dentist in the fight to prevent the floridation of the water supply of the City of Los Angeles in the 1950’s. Cardo attached my father for being a Zionist spy in the anti-floridation movement. I remember back in the 1970’s when I got my first telecom from Willis Cardo, that telecom came in while I was having a meeting with our long time friend Alan Bock. Alan at that time suggested to cut Cardo off and end the call. Which I did. These issues with Willis Cardo were nothing compared to the problems that Cardo had with Willian Sheare. They should be in the boo also. Sincerely, mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman, American Independent Party Michael Says: September 16th, 2009 at 6:22 pm Mark #62, I remembered that the JBS publications plugged Schmitz for president in 1972. I believe the Liberty Lobby also published a campaign folder for him that year. After Schmitz was expelled from the JBS in 1982, he joined the Liberty Lobby and became pro-Palestinian. (Paragraph) Darcy #65, I was a presidential elector for Governor Thomson in 1980 and still believe his campaign had a chance but was handled badly from the start and it ended when it became know Reagan would be the GOP nominee. It took 22 ballots to nominate Greaves as the American Party nominee. “Not Voting” kept winning each ballot until Greaves finally got enough votes to win. “Not Voting” was the plan to give the nomination to Governor Thomson. If Thomson had just gone to the convention and given a speech, he would have won outright and gotten on the ballot in 10 states right from the start. (Paragraph) By any chance, do you have a state-by-state roll call listing of the AIP presidential ballot where Rarick won in 1980? I collect information like that. Steve Rankin Says: September 16th, 2009 at 10:39 pm In 1976, Meldrim Thomson endorsed Reagan over President Ford in the New Hampshire Republican primary. In the late 1990s, John Schmitz addressed a conference of the Council of Conservative Citizens in Virginia, which I watched on C-SPAN. He spoke on third parties, and he said, “Just think if we had all the sheriffs.” Schmitz was running a vineyard in Virginia at the time. Schmitz appeared on ‘Meet the Press’ during the ‘72 campaign and acquitted himself well. #65: “Interestingly, Cliff Finch, the former governor of Mississippi who entered nine Democratic primaries earlier that year, also briefly toyed with the idea of seeking the AIP’s presidential nomination in 1980.” The main thing I remember about Finch and that ‘80 campaign was the overhead shot of him in a heart-shaped bath tub (or swimming pool). He drove an 18-wheeler cross-country to show his concern for working people. Rep. Trent Lott headed Reagan’s ‘80 campaign in Mississippi. I attended a meeting at which Lott spoke, and he listed the Democratic presidential candidates: “Carter, Kennedy… Finch…” That brought the house down, since Finch was a laughing-stock after his disastrous term as governor. In 1986, Finch was preparing to run again for governor in 1987. He drank 40-50 cups of coffee per day (no joke), and he dropped dead with a heart attack. He was age 59. Peter Gemma Says: September 17th, 2009 at 2:32 am #60 – Cody is so right. Bill’s story of the AIP the foundation on which any history of the third party movement in America must begin. There’s more to be added than Bill’s commentary and reports, but that’s the fun of treasure hunting/research. #61. Nevada is perfect: we can win some money to underwrite our writing projects #62. I think it was Schmitz’s personal problems that got him tossed out of the JBS – he then embraced issues he felt more comfortable with like the plight of the Palestinians and it’s alright to say you’re white. #65. This thread is one very good reason why I start my day of political reading with BAN. Thanks Richard. #67. Gov. Thomson – who was a solid guy – ran for Gov. of NH as the American party candidate in 1970. He switched (back) to the GOP and won the following 3 elections. Had Bush I been the nominee in ‘80, Mel Thomson would have been a high-profile alternative, and with Rarick on the ticket, they could have rejuvenated the AIP/third party movement. I’m not sure the strong wills of Thomson and Shearer could have survived in the same tent. gary odom Says: September 17th, 2009 at 4:58 am Peter, Trent is correct. I am a Californian exiled most of the time in Lancaster, PA, except when I can go back and bug Gene Berkman in our hometown of Riverside, CA. Drink…Whatever you got will probably work. If we are going to eat, as well, we should drop in on Trent’s hometown of Baton Rouge…that’s where the really good food is to be found (as long as you like shellfish). Gary gary odom Says: September 17th, 2009 at 5:00 am Cliff Finch was also pretty much a laughing stock when he spoke to the AIP national meeting in “I can’t quite remember when, but I was there,” Peter Gemma Says: September 17th, 2009 at 5:52 am Back to John Richard Rarick … his family is kinda sad that the obits all carry the tag line of segregationist or arch-segregationist etc., without some sort of context or without reference to other aspects of his career (see #3). For example, in Congress he sponsored a number of innovative legislation (see #19) such as … • H.R.10851: A bill to provide for paper money to carry a designation in braille indicating the denomination. • H.R.6359: A bill that would allow a deduction from gross income any expenses incurred in connection with the adoption of a child. • H.R.118: A bill to permit citizens of the United States to acquire, hold, and dispose of gold. • H.R.119: A bill to vest in the Government of the United States unconditional ownership of the 12 Federal Reserve banks. • H.R.960: A bill that would reduce the public debt by at least 10 percent of the estimated overall Federal receipts for each fiscal year. • H.R.5164: A bill to provide that the first $5,000 of compensation paid to law enforcement officers and firemen in any taxable year not be subject to the Federal income tax [note: consider that figure was in 1973 dollars.] gary odom Says: September 17th, 2009 at 6:04 am Darcy— Good lord…I was there and didn’t remember some of that stuff until read your post (#65). By the way, Morton Downey, Jr. was going by Sean Downey at the time and was selling himself as a pro-life Democrat and was trying to be Kenndyesque, as he knew them when he was young. He had good schtick, but he wasn’t genuine. His Wally George (who nobody out of Southern California will probably remember) talk show persona came a bit later. Also not genuine. Peter Gemma Says: September 17th, 2009 at 6:23 am remember why Downey fell out of politics and lost his nat’l talk show? He was found in the back of a van with an underage girl … Peter Gemma Says: September 17th, 2009 at 6:30 am I can’t find the reference to his arrest for a sex crime, so I might be wrong about Downey. I have carried that memory through the years and it’s gotta be based on something, but maybe it wasn’t Downey (so many political sex scandals one can get confused I guess). And poor Morton – he’s got enough baggage on his grave that he needs no more. Steve Rankin Says: September 17th, 2009 at 6:33 am Gary, #73: I never heard of Wally George until I saw him on ‘Biography’ on A&E. He was incredibly rude to some of the guests on his show. He was estranged from his daughter, the actress Rebecca DeMornay. He criticized her for turning down a marriage proposal from Tom Cruise. Downey’s TV show used to come on late at night here. He would sprint out with a cigarette in his hand. One of his favorite terms was “pabulum puking.” Downey later lost a talk radio gig in California (Sacramento?) for telling a joke about a “Chinaman.” I never knew that Downey had run for president. Michael Says: September 17th, 2009 at 7:45 am Why did Cliff Finch want to run for the AIP nomination in the first place? Was he a conservative? Was he having second thoughts about his not endorsing Governor Wallace for president in 1976 and wanted to mkae up for it? What was the story behind his campaign? Michael Says: September 17th, 2009 at 7:46 am Now I remember Wally George. Johnny Carson once said, “Wally George is William F. Buckley for people who attend rooster fights.” Steve Rankin Says: September 17th, 2009 at 9:26 am I don’t remember Finch having much of a campaign in 1980. It’s news to me that (1) he ran in as many as nine Democratic primaries, and (2) he had any interest in the AIP nomination. He was a populist who was mainly interested in power. Finch put together a “black neck/redneck” coalition in his winning ‘75 gubernatorial campaign. He ran a “workingman’s campaign,” copied from Tom Harkin’s ‘74 US House race in Iowa. Finch would spend a day performing such jobs as operating a bulldozer, giving haircuts, working on a shrimp boat, etc. He carried a lunchbox with him, and that was his campaign symbol. (He also often wore a hard hat.) It was a gimmick that, unfortunately, captured the voters’ imagination. For me, it was surreal. When Jim Eastland retired in ‘78, Finch ran for the Senate and finished second in the Democratic primary. He indirectly attacked Eastland, who endorsed his opponent in the Dem runoff. Finch said he lost because the people wanted him to complete his term as governor. In November, Thad Cochran won a four-way race with 45 percent. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 17th, 2009 at 5:53 pm I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the informative — and witty — comments by Peter Gemma, Steve Rankin, Gary Odom and Michael. Good stuff. Michael @67: That’s fascinating information about the American Party’s national convention in Pasadena in December 1979. Thanks for sharing it with us. I knew the presidential balloting had proceeded through multiple ballots, but I was unaware that Greaves wasn’t nominated until the twenty-second ballot! That’s incredible and probably explains why the obscure New York economist agreed to run in the first place. With Meldrim Thomson no longer in the running, the party was essentially deadlocked. According to Greaves, a majority of delegates simply couldn’t agree on any one candidate and, as a consequence, he was finally persuaded to run. Like other American Party leaders at the Pasadena convention, he was deeply worried that failure to nominate a presidential ticket that year would lead to the party’s early demise. Though not a particularly dynamic speaker, one could argue that the little-known Greaves, the author of several books and an authority on Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises, boasted credentials as impressive as any third-party candidate running that year. As the young financial editor of David Lawrence’s prestigious United States News, which later became U.S. News & World Report, Greaves attended almost every press conference by FDR and his Cabinet during the Great Depression. Naturally, he was philosophically opposed to the New Deal. Among other things, his resume also included a stint as an associate research director for the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., and he later served as the chief minority staff member on the joint congressional committee investigating the attack on Pearl Harbor. In the latter role and later as a revisionist historian, Greaves was among those who questioned the Roosevelt Administration’s official version of events leading up to the attack on December 7, 1941. In reply to your question, I’m not sure if I have a state-by-state breakdown of the balloting at the American Independent Party’s national convention, but I’ll dig through my files on the 1980 presidential election this weekend when I have a bit more time. In the meantime, William Shearer’s first-hand account indicates that 17 states were represented at the Sacramento convention and that both Rarick and Greaves personally addressed the delegates. With ninety delegates at one-half vote apiece, California had by far the largest delegation. John Rarick received 44 1/2 of the state’s votes while Greaves received only one-half vote from the Golden State. According to Shearer, Rarick captured all or a majority of the votes from eleven states while Greaves was supported by the Nevada, Washington and New York delegations. A delegate from New Mexico cast his state’s lone vote for Richard Schumacher. Delegates from Idaho and Missouri were apparently absent when the roll call was taken. I hope this helps. Gene Berkman Says: September 17th, 2009 at 6:27 pm Peter @ #69 – you are correct that John Schmitz had personal problems which were also a factor in his expulsion from The John Birch Society. But his close ties with Liberty Lobby were also a factor. When I met John Schmitz in 1973, he was already talking about the Palestinians, and his visit to a Palestinian camp was the main official reason for his purge. In later years, Schmitz became involved with the German American Political Action Committee (GANPAC) which is best avoided by real German Americans (including me). Cody Quirk Says: September 17th, 2009 at 8:14 pm #60 – Cody is so right. Bill’s story of the AIP the foundation on which any history of the third party movement in America must begin. There’s more to be added than Bill’s commentary and reports, but that’s the fun of treasure hunting/research. = Maybe his testimony can be used as an official guide for building and sustaining a successful third party. #61. Nevada is perfect: we can win some money to underwrite our writing projects = I dunno if the IAP would fund that. Our money squarely goes to party building and elections only. Steve Rankin Says: September 18th, 2009 at 3:24 am #80: “… David Lawrence’s prestigious United States News, which later became U.S. News & World Report…” David Lawrence was a big proponent of the parliamentary system. He would periodically write columns about how much better off the U. S. would be if we changed to a parliamentary system. Peter Gemma Says: September 18th, 2009 at 5:46 am #82 What?!? The IAP won’t fund a gambling conclave of third party kooks from around the nation? Sounds like it’s time for another purge! ;-) Here’s something I only stumbled upon recently: Tom Anderson ran for the US Sen. in TN after in the declining days of the Amer. Party and scored fairly well if I recall – something like 4-6-8% And speaking of Pigeon Forge (um, where Anderson lived), what happened to Dr. John Grady – the articulate FL 3rd party candidate – who moved to Pigeon Forge TN, started a Second Amendment advocacy group, but was never heard from again (at least by me). Michael Says: September 18th, 2009 at 1:41 pm Tom Anderson ran for senator against Howard Baker in 1978 becuase of his vote to give away the Panama Canal. He got 4 percent of the vote in Tennessee and in one county got 14 percent. Dr. Grady got 17 percent of the vote as the American Party candidate in 1974, then ran as the GOP candidate in 1976. At the GOP National Convention that year he got 19 votes, all from Florida, for vice president. In November, he got only 33 percent of the vote in a two candidate race. I know he lives now in Tennessee, nothing beyond that. (Paragraph) I forgot to mention I met Congressman Rarick once and I said to him we were both Hoosiers. He laughted and said, “Yes. I went to Ball State University, in Munice, Indiana, and it drives them crazy that the only student from there who ever got elected to Congress voted against every education spending bill while he was in office!” Darcy G Richardson Says: September 18th, 2009 at 2:29 pm The last I heard Dr. Grady was living in Benton, Tennessee, about 75 miles from Pigeon Forge. Long out of the political limelight, he’ll be 79 in November. In addition to Thomas J. Anderson, it’s interesting that Delmar Dennis, the American Party’s presidential nominee in 1984 and 1988, also resided in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and had actually launched a couple of publications based in Pigeon Forge. The 56-year-old Dennis was living in nearby Sevierville — about six miles from Pigeon Forge — when he succumbed to a heart attack in 1996. Perhaps they all wanted to be close to Dolly Parton — America’s most authentic lyricist! Cody Quirk Says: September 18th, 2009 at 5:41 pm Hey, I remember the AP elected a state assemblyman in Tennessee in the early 70’s, anybody got info on that? Another thing, I also remember, there was a student chapter of the AIP operating at Brigham Young University back then- does anybody know who the leaders of that student chapter were? Was Bruce Bangerter involved? Michael Says: September 18th, 2009 at 6:16 pm I believe his name was William Davis and was in office from 1972-1980. He was the only American Party member of a state legislature. His victory caused the two major parties in the state of Tennessee to remove party labels for candidates on the ballot. He also ran for Congress in 1969 and Governor Wallace campaigned for him. Out of several candidates, Davis placed second. Some say that Davis’ loss was what convinced Wallace to run as a Democrat for president in 1972 instead of staying third party. (Paragraph) Utah was a center of American Party activity in the 1970s. I also heard from one party member they elected a county commissioner there. Michael Says: September 18th, 2009 at 6:17 pm P.S. Davis was a state senator. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 18th, 2009 at 7:19 pm I think Davis, an insurance agent from Covington, was actually elected to the State Senate in 1970, about twenty months after he campaigned unsuccessfully in a special election for Tennessee’s rural eight congressional district seat. Michael has a great memory. George Wallace, who had carried the fourteen-county district against Humphrey and Nixon the previous autumn, actively campaigned for Davis during his congressional campaign, giving a widely-publicized speech for the American Party nominee in Union City a week before the special election. It was Wallace’s first political speech since his 1968 presidential campaign. Incidentally, the 1969 special election attracted national attention as leading politicians from both major parties, including Gerald R. Ford, stumped the district for their party’s respective nominees. Interestingly, Wallace wasn’t the only former third-party presidential candidate who took part in the Tennessee special election that spring. Dick Gregory, the former Freedom & Peace candidate for President, actively campaigned in the district’s black communities on behalf of O. W. Pickett, an African-American businessman from Memphis who was running as an independent. Steve Rankin Says: September 19th, 2009 at 12:06 pm #86: That must be the same Delmar Dennis who was an ex-Ku Klux Klansman and testified for the prosecution in at least one Klan leader’s murder trial. #88 and #90: That congressional district was in west Tennessee. Who vacated the seat and why? #85: What office did Dr. Grady run for in Tennessee in 1976? I thought you meant US senator, but ‘76 was the year that the Republican Sen. Bill Brock lost re-election to the Democrat Jim Sasser. It came out during the campaign that Brock had not paid income tax, and almost overnight, bumperstickers appeared that said, “I Paid More Income Tax Than Bill Brock.” Does anyone know what became of the Conservative Party of Virginia? They were Birchers who were disenchanted with the leftward drift of the state Democratic Party (in the 1960s). If memory serves, one of their candidates once got 13% or 14% for a statewide office. Gene Berkman Says: September 19th, 2009 at 12:15 pm Steve @ #91 – Delmar Dennis did testify in the trial of Byron de la Beckwith in the murder of three civil rights workers in Missippi in 1963. The story of Dennis’ heroism in laid out in “Klandestine” by William McIlheny Dr John Grady ran for U.S. Senate in Florida, before he moved to Tennessee. He was The American Party candidate i 1974, and the Republican candidate in 1976. I am pretty sure that the Virginia Conservative Party put Schmitz on the ballot in 1972. Don’t know anything after that. Steve Rankin Says: September 19th, 2009 at 12:32 pm Beckwith murdered Medgar Evers in 1963 and was tried twice in the ’60s, with both trials ending with hung juries. He was convicted here in Jackson in 1995. Alec Baldwin played Bobby DeLaughter, the assistant DA who led the prosecution, in the TV movie (James Woods played Beckwith, and Rob Reiner directed). DeLaughter later became a state judge but is now headed to prison for lying to the FBI. Thanks for the info. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 19th, 2009 at 12:39 pm Steve – The eighth congressional district had been represented by Democrat Robert A. Everett, who died in January of that year. Interestingly, that district had once been represented by Davy Crockett. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 19th, 2009 at 1:39 pm By the way, John G. Schmitz appeared on the Virginia ballot under the American Party label in 1972. The American Party, whose Virginia campaign was headed by T. Coleman Andrews — the former IRS Commissioner and independent States’ Rights candidate for President in 1956 — slipped in just before the state’s filing deadline, submitting 14,400 signatures to qualify the Schmitz-Anderson ticket. The Virginia ballot had a truly democratic look that year. The Socialist Labor Party’s Louis Fisher of Chicago, a little-known silk spotter in the dry cleaning industry, was listed first on the November ballot, followed by the American Party’s presidential ticket. Nixon was listed third and Democrat George S. McGovern was listed last. Cody Quirk Says: September 19th, 2009 at 4:30 pm Thanks for the info, but what about that student AIP chapter at BYU? Peter Gemma Says: September 19th, 2009 at 7:12 pm I love this board Darcy G Richardson Says: September 19th, 2009 at 8:39 pm Cody, I’m not really sure if I can shed any light on the BYU chapter, other than to say that I’ve read that the party had a flourishing organization on campus during that period. I think this was a little after Bruce Bangerter’s years at BYU. Of course, he attended college there from 1960-64, but that’s not to say that he didn’t have a hand in getting it organized. He probably did. Moreover, I understand that there was a really active IAP chapter at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) in neighboring Idaho. Then a two-year Mormon facility located in the predominantly Latter-day Saints community of Rexburg, the vibrant student organization at Ricks College was believed to have contributed immensely to John G. Schmitz’s relatively strong 9% showing in the state in 1972 — his best showing in the nation. As you know, Schmitz finished ahead of George McGovern in four counties, including Madison County where Ricks College was located. Like Minnesota’s Eugene McCarthy who briefly contemplated moving to New Hampshire to launch a political comeback during this same period, Schmitz, who taught political science at Santa Ana College in southern California after leaving Congress, seriously considered moving to Idaho shortly after the 1972 presidential campaign. He felt at home there. While looking at property in and around Idaho Falls in the spring of 1973, the former congressman told Idaho reporters that he didn’t have any immediate political plans, but wanted to keep “several options open.” At 42, he was still a relatively young man, and one can only speculate how his later political career might have been different if he had relocated to a more traditionally conservative state like Idaho. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 19th, 2009 at 8:42 pm Peter, Same here. This thread has really been interesting. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 19th, 2009 at 8:57 pm …and my deepest sympathy to you and the Rarick family. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 19th, 2009 at 11:09 pm Steve, I meant to respond earlier to your question about the Conservative Party of Virginia in post #91, but got sidetracked. The Conservative Party’s William J. Story, a lifelong educator and member of the John Birch Society from Chesapeake, polled 75,307 votes, or 13.4%, in Virginia’s 1965 gubernatorial contest — a race that, curiously enough, also featured the American Nazi Party’s George Lincoln Rockwell. Rockwell, incidentally, received about one vote for every ten votes cast for the Conservative Party nominee. Story and other Conservative Party leaders actively campaigned for George Wallace in 1968. The Conservative Party, whose founding in 1965 essentially signalled the beginning of the end of Democratic dominance in Virginia politics, petered out in 1969 when most party leaders supported Linwood Hilton, the first Republican governor of Virginia since Reconstruction. While most of the party’s rank and file eventually found their way into the GOP, a few others — the true third-party folks — briefly followed T. Coleman Andrews into the fledgling American Party. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 19th, 2009 at 11:10 pm That’s Linwood Holton, not Hilton. Sorry, I’m getting tired. Steve Rankin Says: September 20th, 2009 at 3:20 am Thanks for the info on the Conservative Party of Virginia, Darcy. Not long ago, Linwood Holton was on C-SPAN promoting his book. He had a strong voice and seemed to have all his mental faculties, but his face looked emaciated. He was bad-mouthing the conservatives in the Republican Party. You mentioned Eugene McCarthy in comment #98. Maybe you can answer this question: Would McCarthy have run again for senator in 1970 if Hubert Humphrey had not run? At the time, it appeared to me that Humphrey scared McCarthy out of the race. Also, did McCarthy run in any Democratic presidential primaries in 1972? If so, how did he do? I know that he was on several ballots in the 1976 general election as an independent or third party candidate. I believe he cost Jimmy Carter at least one state. Peter Gemma Says: September 20th, 2009 at 6:41 am I lived in VA most of my adult life — where I was full time in politics. Very interesting state for that industry. T. Coleman Andrews Sr. of VA was the ‘56 States Rights Party. Also, in ‘56 Andrews, Sr. had former CA Cong. Thomas H. Werdel (R-CA) as his running mate … I have a small political button collection and the Andrews-Werdel button reads “Abolish Income Tax – Save Segregation.” Anyone know anything about Werdel? Was he pretty far out on the right to hook-up with a pro-segregation candidate? Trent, you have any background on that election – wasn’t Utah Gov. J. Bracken Lee organizing a Third party party too that year? What happened to his efforts? T. Coleman Andrews Jr. was a (Dem.) state legislator ‘60-’66 and was influencial in the ‘68 Wallace campaign but quickly fell out of favor with the AIP in ‘69/’70 – anyone know why? T. Coleman Andrews III, is a founding partner with Mitt Romney of the multi-billion dollar Bain Priivate Equity Fund. He very briefly launched a campaign for Lt. Gov. of VA in ‘97 and was viewed as the early favorite for the GOP nod and even gen’l election. Then, very suddenly (even suspiciously), he dropped out of the race. Peter Gemma Says: September 20th, 2009 at 7:06 am Darcy et al – Interesting that the Conservative Party of VA dissipated in ‘65 or so … my book about the hard edge of Southern politics will show (I hope) that the massive resistance to desegregation was about to collapse in ‘64-’65. It then evolved into a more populist movement with George Wallace as its best known representative. The issues in ‘66-’76 were school choice not segregation; law and order and not voter registration. The era of confrontation to desegregation was approximately late 40s-mid 60s. John Rarick’s political career started at the beginning of the end of that time period (’61), and by the time he was defeated (’74) he was the last of the old guard. Steve Rankin Says: September 20th, 2009 at 7:18 am Peter: Interesting that an ex-IRS commissioner would favor abolishing the income tax. Which president appointed him? As for segregation, did you know that FDR’s vice president for the first eight years, John Nance Garner, was a Texas segregationist? And a South Carolina segregationist, Jimmy Byrnes, was almost picked as FDR’s running mate in 1944. Gov. David Treen ® was involved with the Louisiana States Rights Party, and this was used against him later in his career. Henry Howell, whom Larry Sabato admired, was a leader in the liberalization of the Virginia Democratic Party. He was lieutenant governor and ran at least once for governor. I thought it was strange that he had a substantial following among George Wallace’s supporters (must have been the populism). Darcy G Richardson Says: September 20th, 2009 at 9:29 am Steve, Good question. I doubt that Gene McCarthy would have run for a third term in 1970 under any circumstances. He once told me that he thought he could be more effective outside the U.S. Senate. McCarthy was a really complex guy — brilliant, wondrously witty, and at times unpredictable. Having turned down Richard Nixon’s offer to serve as Ambassador to the UN in early 1969, McCarthy angered a number of his antiwar supporters by later giving up his seat on the coveted Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Wyoming’s Gale McGee, a hawk, and by supporting Louisiana conservative Russell Long over Edward M. Kennedy for Majority Whip. McCarthy laid pretty low after leaving the Senate, only occasionally sallying forth to campaign for various peace candidates or to criticize the two-party establishment. Newsweek magazine facetiously referred to him as “the poltergeist of American politics.” While keeping the threat of an independent or third-party candidacy alive, especially if the Democrats failed to nominate a peace candidate, McCarthy entered eleven Democratic primaries in 1972, posting his strongest showing in Illinois where he spent $250,000 in an attempt to upset one-time frontrunner Ed Muskie. McCarthy polled 444,260 votes, or approximately 37% against his rival from Maine — not a bad showing, to be sure, but not enough to catapult Gene into serious consideration for his party’s nomination. He also stumped briefly in the Wisconsin and Oregon primaries, but it was too late. By then, George McGovern had galvanized the party’s large antiwar constituency. Running as an independent in 1976, McCarthy polled the difference between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter in four states — Iowa, Maine, Oklahoma and Oregon — that President Ford carried by the narrowest of margins. Unfortunately, McCarthy’s name didn’t appear on the ballot in heavily-populated California and New York that year, two of his potentially strongest states. The Democrats were so worried about McCarthy’s presence in the 1976 presidential campaign that they quietly dispatched writer Norman Mailer to meet with McCarthy at La Guardia Airport in the campaign’s closing days with an offer of the ambassadorship to the United Nations if the former Minnesota senator agreed to withdraw and endorse the former Georgia governor. McCarthy blew them off, triggering a series of acrimonious attacks on Gene’s under-funded independent effort in the final week of the campaign. Most folks probably aren’t aware that the 76-year-old McCarthy also sought the Democratic presidential nomination again in 1992, garnering more than 108,000 votes in a handful of primaries. His best showing that year — and you and Peter Gemma will probably enjoy this nugget — was in the Cajun State, where Gene unexpectedly polled 15,129 votes while finishing second to Bill Clinton in no fewer than twenty-eight northern parishes. McCarthy, who never stepped foot in Louisiana that year, later joked that the state’s Democratic voters had confused him with Joe McCarthy. Michael Says: September 20th, 2009 at 12:55 pm McCarthy said in an later interview that people in Louisiana may have remembered him because he made a number of campaign stops for the late Hale Boggs for congress. (At 108 posts, I believe this is the longest running thread on BAN.) Darcy G Richardson Says: September 20th, 2009 at 2:44 pm Peter – Your book sounds fascinating, a much-needed account of southern politics during that tumultuous period. Like yourself, I’ve always been a little mystified by Thomas H. Werdel’s role in the 1956 presidential campaign. He never particularly struck me as a candidate of the far right, and he certainly didn’t fit the profile of some sort of fire-breathing segregationist. A former state assemblyman who had served two terms in Congress before losing his seat in 1952 — the same year he had challenged Gov. Earl Warren in the California presidential primary — Werdel had been the subject of a genuine draft that year. Why the loosely-organized third-party movement headed by Clarence E. Manion, the former dean of the University of Notre Dame’s law school, eventually settled on Werdel remains something of a mystery, especially since the party had no chance whatsoever of qualifying for the California ballot that autumn and Werdel himself was not particularly well-known nationally. I know that Manion’s group, which included remnants of the Constitution Party, had considered several other vice-presidential possibilities that year, including Utah’s J. Bracken Lee. However, the conservative Utahan, who had been elected governor as a Republican in 1948 and 1952, was immersed in his own uphill campaign that fall — running for a third consecutive term as an independent. He nearly pulled it off, too. Regardless, the fiscally conservative Werdel was deeply flattered by the vice-presidential nomination and “gladly accepted.” I know that he personally had tremendous respect for T. Coleman Andrews, but I’m not sure if he completely shared the former IRS Commissioner’s view on the confiscatory nature of the federal income tax. Like Andrews, who was initially hesitant to run and didn’t officially launch his campaign until October 15 — barely three weeks before the election — Werdel wasn’t able to commit much time to the 1956 effort. Of course, Andrews, who was serving as chairman of the board of American Fidelity and Casualty in Richmond, only campaigned on weekends. Likewise, Werdel made only a few campaign trips that fall, spending most of his time attending to his busy law practice in Bakersfield. Interestingly, while running against Gov. Earl Warren in California’s 1952 GOP presidential primary, Werdel — who personally favored Robert Taft’s nomination — appealed to moderate and conservative Republicans alike. In fact, he campaigned under the slogan, “If You’re for Taft, MacArthur, Eisenhower or Stassen, Vote the Free GOP Ticket with Werdel.” (He polled 521,000 votes, losing to the popular Warren by a two-to-one margin.) That’s one of the reasons, I suppose, that I never considered him a rabid right-winger. He worked closely with many Republican moderates throughout his career and later served as a California advisor to Richard Nixon’s presidential campaign in 1960. Peter Gemma Says: September 21st, 2009 at 7:34 am Darcy: great backgound on Werdel – I thought he was defeated for re-election … are you saying he ran for Prez in the CA GOP primary than switched to States Rights? It would be interesting to look into rightwing 3rd parties and politicians of ’50s (Trent? Are you still with us?) J. Bracken Lee would be good enough for two volumes. Steve Rankin Says: September 21st, 2009 at 7:52 am Here’s an interesting piece on Virginia political history. Trent Hill Says: September 21st, 2009 at 10:16 am “Trent, you have any background on that election – wasn’t Utah Gov. J. Bracken Lee organizing a Third party party too that year? What happened to his efforts?” Werdel was pretty far out on the right–he was from Southern California, which, as you know, would later produce firebrands like John G. Schmitz. He served in Congress from 1949-1953, but lost a run for re-election. Interestingly, Clarence Manion (grandfather of a LewRockwell.com contributor) was national co-chairman of the Andrews-Werdel ticket in ‘56. He was the former dean of Notre Dame’s law school. As for J. Bracken Lee–he was very much apart of the Andrews-Werdel ordeal. He organized much of the support for the ticket and, I believe, helped to bring many of the Northern Far-right parties under the umbrella of the ticket. J. Bracken Lee lost the GOP primary that year, and ran as an independent for Governor of Utah–he scored 100,000+ votes. Trent Hill Says: September 21st, 2009 at 10:21 am I should have finished reading the thread before launching into an explanation–Darcy Richardson has clearly beat me to the punch. “Peter: Interesting that an ex-IRS commissioner would favor abolishing the income tax. Which president appointed him” Eisenhower. I disagree with the characterization of Werdel as a moderate, though. His own votes and views were fairly right-wing, even if his disposition was more moderate. Peter Gemma Says: September 21st, 2009 at 10:36 am Clarence Manion quit an early app’t by Eisenhower as chair of a commission to look at gov’t services/programs to find streamlined and less costly options. Manion said Eisenhower’s people were not going to follow his recommendations. Manion’s youngest son (not grandson), Chris (who writes for Lew Rockwell and other sites), is married to a daughter of John and Mary Schmitz – she briefly worked for me one summer. Of course Manion was a leader and even a spokesman for the John Birch Society in its earliest days. Markus Says: September 21st, 2009 at 12:22 pm First post. I have always been fascinated by the history of third parties, including those on the far right. Mr. Rarick’s death and this thread full of very knowledgable people gives me the opportunity to ask some questions that I’ve had for awhile. 1. I never understood the reasons for split between the AP and the AIP in 1976. I read somewhere that the AIP was more southern-based, and more anti-zionist, while the AP membership was heavily weighted towards John Birch Society members, was not terribly anti-zionist at all, and was focused mainly on anti-communism and small government. Is this accurate? Would it be fair to say that the AIP was more populist, and more attuned to viewpoints of your typical “Spotlight” reader or Liberty Lobby member, whereas the AP was more for the religious person and the John Bircher? 2. It seems as if the AIP was at least trying to be a national party in 1980, given that Rarick was on the ballot in eight states. How was the campaign? Did they have money for an advertising campaign? Did Rarick travel and give speeches? 3. What happened after the election to the party in the other seven states besides California? Did they directly join the Populist Party, or did they just die away? 4. What was Rarick’s take on the Liberty Lobby and other related Willis Carto projects? I know that there was a long, positive profile on him in the Barnes Review a few years ago. To me the most interesting split on the far right is between those who are obsessed with the Jewish Question and/or the Race Question, as they used to be called, and those who are not. It seems as if very religious people and Bircher types HAVE a party that represents them (Constitution) but people oriented towards pro-white and anti-zionist (or anti-Jewish) populism have none. I wondered if the AIP played that role in the seventies. Thanks in advance for any light that the knowledgable posters here can shed on these matters. Gene Berkman Says: September 21st, 2009 at 4:02 pm Darcy @ #107 – “McCarthy’s name didn’t appear on the ballot in heavily-populated California and New York that year, two of his potentially strongest states.” In 1976 California operated under a new law that made it easier for Independent candidates to qualify – Roger MacBride was on the California ballot that year as an Independent. The McCarthy campaign in California had collected probably enough signatures to qualify. But on the final day, the guys from the Los Angeles office were driving to the Registrar of Voters with 80,000 signatures, and their car broke down and they missed the deadline. Still, McCarthy received something like 56,000 write-in votes, and came in ahead of MacBride. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 21st, 2009 at 4:38 pm Thanks, Gene. That’s absolutely fascinating. Incidentally, I’m working on a book called, “The Spirit of ‘76: Eugene McCarthy’s Struggle for Open Politics.” McCarthy often said that his little-known campaign for the presidency that year was in many ways more important than his 1968 antiwar candidacy. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 21st, 2009 at 5:29 pm Trent, Thomas H. Werdel was certainly a conservative. There’s no question about that, but I don’t think he was quite as far right as some might assume. For example, while easily winning the Republican nomination for Congress in 1948, Werdel came across as more of a mainstream conservative or moderate than some sort of far right fringe character, enabling him to also capture the Democratic nomination by a comfortable margin against the party’s presumptive nominee. That was quite a feat and probably not something an ultraconservative like John G. Schmitz would have been able to pull off, even in traditionally conservative Orange County. Incidentally, Dick Nixon also captured both major party nominations in his congressional district that year, but the striking difference between the two men was that Nixon was already a sitting member of Congress, having defeated Jerry Voorhis, a former Socialist and liberal protege of Upton Sinclair, in 1946, while Werdel, an ex-state assemblyman, was waging his first campaign for Congress. Of course, all of that happened back in the days when California’s cross-filing law allowed for dual — and even multiple — nominations. Steve Rankin Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 6:47 am Darcy #107: Gene McCarthy was indeed an interesting fellow. I had to admire anyone who would take off in the midst of a campaign and spend the day reading poetry. It must have been in the 1990s when I saw him and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) on C-SPAN testifying on campaign finance, etc., before Congress. McCarthy noted that the government made the rules by which the government was chosen. McCarthy always had problems with the Kennedys. He said he was a better Catholic and would’ve been a better president than JFK. I remember seeing a C-SPAN interview McCarthy gave during the 1992 New Hampshire primary campaign. He was sitting just inside the open door of his hotel room, and the interviewer was in the lobby. He also made a speech to the Rainbow Coalition and removed any doubt that he was a redistributionist. He said that 100% of individual income above a certain amount should go to the government, and if it wasn’t given voluntarily, “we should take it from them.” McCarthy’s Catholicism surely must have been a factor in his ‘92 Louisiana primary showing. #109: I remember controversy involving Reagan’s nomination of one of the Manions to a federal judgeship. Was he confirmed or not? Click here for a transcript of a 1956 broadcast by Dean Clarence Manion on Social Security. Quite prescient… #118: If memory serves, Gov. Earl Warren got both major-party nominations in 1946 or 1950, as did U. S. senator William F. Knowland in 1952. Knowland, of course, was Senate Republican leader, 1953 through 1958. He backed Sen. Barry Goldwater in the 1964 California GOP presidential primary, in which Goldwater defeated Gov. Nelson Rockefeller of NY. Knowland made some out-of-state speeches for Goldwater that fall, including one at a fund-raiser on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I had thought that Jerry Voorhis was a moderate Democrat. I have a copy of his 1943 book, Out of Debt, Out of Danger, about the fiasco of the Federal Reserve. Steve Rankin Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 am Gene McCarthy also voted against the confirmation of his fellow Minnesotan, Warren Burger, for chief justice. He was angry at Burger for tactics he used against McCarthy in a U. S. House campaign. Michael Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 12:58 pm #115/1–I would agree with you except the AP was also strong in the South. Also, there were very few who were anti-Israel in the AP. 115/2&3–Try the book, “The Other Candidates”, written in 1983 and having interviews with all the candidates for president in 1980, including John Rarick. It was written by the VP for Independent John Anderson in Maine that year. Except for California, I believe the state branches of the AIP faded away. #115/4– I believe Rarick was with the Liberty Lobby and wrote articles for them. (Paragraph) #116–At one point McCarthy was on the ballot in New York State and his name was removed from it by the State Court. It happened so close to Election Day that some voting machines still had his name on them. Also, after the election, judges in Alaska, Idaho, D.C., and I believe Rhode Island ruled he should have been on the ballot in those state. (Paragraph) #117–I’d like to read your book on the 1976 McCarthy campaign when it’s published. #109 & 119–Dan Manion, his son, was named to a federal judge’s post in 1987(?). His father and the John Birch Society were some of the issues. He was confirmed I believe in a 52-48 vote. Peter Gemma Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 1:23 pm #121 – Judge Dan Manion is indeed Clarence Manion’s son too. Thanks for the heads-up on “The Other Candidates” book – I’ll try and track it down. Do you know the author? Rarick was indeed affiliated with Liberty Lobby and flirted with anti-Zionist stuff over the years. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 1:37 pm Good stuff, Steve. As an adviser during his 1992 campaign, I remember that McCarthy’s proposal for a capital levy on wealth raised a few eyebrows that year. Moreover, Gene had long advocated a shorter workweek — it was one of his key issues during the ‘76 campaign — and once co-authored a book on the subject with Bill McGaughey of Minneapolis. McGaughey, a friend of the Socialist Party’s Brian Moore, was later an unsuccessful candidate for the Independence Party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2002. Michael Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 2:21 pm #122–Peter, the book is “The Other Candidates. Third Parties In Presidential Elections”, by Frank Smallwood. (1983) The cover has a great photo of campaign buttons used by the candidates that year. Gene Berkman Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 2:36 pm #121 & #122 – I met Dan Manion at the 1973 YAF National Convention. I was running a booth for Books for Libertarians, and he came over with the latest BFL Review and asked for a copy of “God and the State” by Mikhail Bakunin. I am not sure he knew who Bakunin was. I mentioned this to other people and sold 5 more copies of “God and the State” to YAF delegates. Steve @ #119 – Jerry Voorhis was a veteran of Upton Sinclair’s socialistic Epic campaign, but in the House he was a solid anti-totalitarian. He wrote the Voorhis Act that prevents American Trotskyites from affiliating with The Fourth International. And he did call for abolition of the Federal Reserve System. Trent Hill Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 3:48 pm Speaking of anti-zionism and such. John G. Schmitz later went on to work with holocaust deniers and such. Odd. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 4:23 pm Peter – I’m glad you’re still on this board. Smallwood’s book, as Michael indicated, has some really good interviews with the 1980 independent and third-party presidential candidates, but doesn’t go into nearly enough detail about the AIP-American Party split in 1972-73 and the lingering rivalry between the two parties in the years following. (By the way, I own a copy of Smallwood’s book if you have difficulty finding it.) I only mention that because I know that you had asked in a previous post about T. Coleman Andrews — Wallace’s choice to head the American Party’s national committee following the ‘68 campaign — and his relationship with Shearer’s rival American Independent Party. It’s a complicated story, one to which I devote about 15-20 pages in a forthcoming book. In a nutshell, Shearer and other AIP leaders initially viewed the American Party — eventually dominated by Birchers — as Wallace’s personal vehicle, subservient to the Alabama governor’s political wishes and to be kept in abeyance while Wallace explored the greener pastures of the 1972 Democratic primaries. As early as December 1969, Shearer’s American Independent Party, meeting in Indianapolis, wanted Wallace to make a clean break from the Democratic Party and, while urging him to again be a candidate for the presidency, authorized their own national committee to call a presidential nominating convention for 1972. Shearer, who was never big on cult of personality, had called Wallace’s bluff. This not only caused tremendous conflict between the two competing national committees, but also between the AIP and Wallace himself. Shearer proved prophetic. To make a long story short, T. Coleman Andrews and other American Party leaders eventually came to the same conclusion. “The [American] party is no longer a tool of George Wallace,” declared Andrews shortly after the 1972 presidential election. “Mr. Wallace has gone his way and the party has gone its way.” Farm magazine publisher Thomas J. Anderson, who headed the American Party’s ticket in 1976, concurred, saying that the American Party had been “too much of a Wallace movement,” a “one-man show” that not only discouraged party building, but criticized anything that drew attention away from the feisty Alabama governor. By then, of course, the American and American Independent parties, having cooperated in supporting John G. Schmitz’s candidacy that year, were already going their own separate ways, too. Peter Gemma Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 6:20 pm fascinating stuff Darcy – you are a warehouse of info. These postings make my head hurt sometimes – trying to recall people/issues/dates. I think T. Coleman Andrews was out of the loop of the AmParty/AIP long before 1972 wasn’t he? He had hired an exec. director, Ed Hudgens (sp?) and I thought by ‘69-’70 they had split from Shearer and were not Birch enough for Tom Anderson and gang. Both were out of the loop pretty quickly after ‘68 if memory serves. Michael Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm Shearer wrote in a front page letter in his (and the AIP’s) “California Statesman” and asked Wallace in April, 1976, after Carter pretty much had a solid lead for the Democratic nomination to run once again as a third party candidate. It would have given Wallace enough time to get both the AP and the AIP nominations. I believe if he had he could have achieved his 1968 goal of deadlocking the November election since the race between Carter and Ford (with McCarthy tossed in for good measure) was very close. Peter Gemma Says: September 22nd, 2009 at 7:33 pm I think we should formally introduce ourselves – we’ve been trading lots of info but I don’t know anyone on this thread (maybe some of you know each other). In any case, here’s my background: I used to be a political campaign operative in DC but now write almost full time (in FL) and do consulting for Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty. I’m a columnist with Middle American News, and have written for USA Today, Military History magazine, Human Events, etc. My anthology, “SHOTS FIRED: Sam Francis on America’s Culture War” was published in ‘06 and carried an intro by Pat Buchanan and an afterword by Joe Sobran. I can’t make up my mind who I am politically: I volunteered in the ‘68 Wallace campaign and headed-up the AIP/Schmitz campaign in my home state in ‘72 (I was a Delegate to the Louisville AIP convention). Then I got active in the GOP and was elected as a Delegate (from VA) to the 1992 Republican National Convention (serving on the platform committee). I was elected as a Delegate to the Reform Party convention in 2000 and then worked for Pat Buchanan. I was elected a Delegate to the 2008 Libertarian Party convention and worked briefly for Bob Barr. Now I just trade war stories and write, slowly, about politics. Trent Hill Says: September 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 am I also write full time, but not the same sort of stuff, Peter. I work for an Internet Reputation Management company. This essentially means that I write about our clients, biographical or business content mostly–although I do get paid to do some political blogging too. I’m a full-time student at Louisiana State University, a senior in History. Im 21, and I’ve been married since I was 19. I have no kids (yet, at least). I got my start in politics with the Constitution Party–but have gradually moved towards a more libertarian viewpoint. My last real action with the Constitution Party was to help nominate Chuck Baldwin over Alan Keyes at the National Convention in ‘08. I worked with some friends to put Ron Paul on the ballot in Louisiana and managed to achieve it. I then registered Republican and have remained that way since. I’m still intensely interested in third party politics, as my posts here show, and I’m the editor and publisher of IndependentPoliticalReport.com, which is probably the most well-known third party politics site on the Internet. Peter Gemma Says: September 23rd, 2009 at 2:56 am Trent – I visit your site every day. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 23rd, 2009 at 6:19 am Gene Berkman offers an excellent description of Jerry Voorhis in post #125. Incredibly, during the waning days of the Great Depression — it may have been as late as 1939 or 1940 — Voorhis nearly convinced President Roosevelt to nationalize the Federal Reserve banks, but FDR quickly changed his mind after discussing the proposal with longtime Fed chairman Marriner S. Eccles, a relatively obscure Republican banker from Utah who had been elevated to that powerful position by Roosevelt in 1934. Nevertheless, the California congressman’s spirited opposition to the Federal Reserve during that economically distressed period attracted the attention of a number of assorted figures on the Right, including Ezra Pound, the widely-acclaimed poet who by this time had clearly drifted into fascism and anti-Semitism. Like others on the far right, Pound — whose uncanny ability to discover and nurture under-appreciated writers obviously didn’t extend to judging those in the political sphere — mistakenly believed he had found a kindred soul in Voorhis. Pound, who was later charged with treason as a result of his war-time activities in Italy and was eventually institutionalized for a dozen years, had completely misread the California lawmaker. According to most accounts, Voorhis completely ignored Pound’s repeated overtures. As Gene so succinctly suggested in his post, Voorhis was a liberal Democrat to the core, vehemently opposed to extremism in any form, especially the kind of totalitarianism advocated by the controversial expatriate. Long after he was out of the political limelight, Voorhis remained a tireless and articulate critic of the Federal Reserve System, arguing as late as 1981 — three years before his death at the age of 83 — that it was “morally, economically, and, in fact, constitutionally wrong to permit any private agency to create the money of a nation” — a right and responsibility, he firmly believed, that belonged exclusively to the national government. Peter Gemma Says: September 23rd, 2009 at 7:55 am oh-my-gosh … Darcy, while looking for Smallwood’s book on 3rd parties I just found your series of books on Amazon and ordered two (for now; the rest later) – I had no idea you authored such studies – so glad we bumped into each other here. See? That’s why I thought introducing ourselves would be good – I would have ordered these books before! Trent Hill Says: September 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 am Peter, I highly suggest Darcy’s books. They’re meticulously researched, well-written, and they provide plenty of fodder for us third party afficionados. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 23rd, 2009 at 10:32 am Profound thanks for the kind words, Trent. And thank you, Peter! I just returned the favor and purchased a copy of your Sam Francis anthology through FGF. I look forward to reading it. By the way, in response to one of your earlier posts — and this certainly isn’t intended as another Excedrin moment — T. Coleman Andrews didn’t step down as state and national chairman of the American Party until the end of 1972. In fact, he had addressed the Louisville national convention that summer in his capacity as national chair, reading a telegram from Wallace and pleading with the 1,900 or so delegates not to try to draft the Alabama governor, who, of course, was still recuperating from the tragic assassination attempt on his life during the Maryland primary in May. As I’m sure you’ll recall, a large number of delegates wanted to draft Wallace that year, contrary to his explicit wishes. The draft movement at Freedom Hall that summer almost took on a life of its own, fueled in large part by the manipulative presence of Tom Turnipseed of South Carolina, a former Wallace aide who once promised to make the governor’s wife, Cornelia, “the Jackie Kennedy of the rednecks.” Turnipseed, incidentally, had been fired from the Wallace organization long before the 1972 presidential campaign began in earnest. In any case, William Shearer and other participants at the convention believed that Turnipseed and his colleague, a vaguely mysterious financier with admitted ties to the Nixon White House, were trying to create a stampede in which the American Party would nominate the ailing Wallace, knowing full well that he would have to decline the nomination and thereby leaving America’s third largest party without a presidential standard-bearer — not unlike the situation in 1916 when Theodore Roosevelt had left the Progressives high and dry. A number of delegates refused to believe that Wallace wouldn’t run if nominated and some were even convinced that the telegram that Andrews had read during the convention’s opening session wasn’t authentic. Unable to effectively stymie the draft movement, Andrews and other party leaders then arranged for Wallace himself to address the delegates via a telephone hook-up from his bed in a Birmingham rehabilitation facility. Wallace spoke and tears flowed, but the third-party movement survived. Peter Gemma Says: September 23rd, 2009 at 10:53 am Darcy: you’re right … ok, ok, I’m getting old … Turnipseed ran for office several times in SC I believe – almost winning once if memory serves. He’s still active as a liberal/left Democrat. I do remember that poignant phone call from GW at the AIP confab. I also remember meeting Turnipseed and some of his friends, one of which I believe is a household name today. Gene Berkman Says: September 23rd, 2009 at 12:31 pm Darcy @ #133 – according to “The Campaign of the Century” Ezra Pound endorsed Upton Sinclair and his socialist EPIC movement in the 1934 elections. Pound was also a correspondent of the left-wing Republican Sen. Bronson Cutting of New Mexico – both favored a planned economy to replace the capitalism they blamed for the Depression. @ #136 – I read in 1972 that financial kook author Dr. Peter Beter was part of the movement to draft Wallace at the 1972 American Party convention. Dr Beter claimed to be very anti-Nixon and wanted the strongest candidate to run against him. Other reports from the Watergate investigation indicate that Nixon used the IRS investigation of Wallace’s brother to send a message to Wallace that he should decline to run as a third party candidate in 1972. Others have blamed Nixon for the assassination attempt on Wallace (I am just reporting,not verifying). The upshot was that the mass of southerners who had voted for Wallace in 1968 voted to re-elect Tricky Dick in 1972, with the Schmitz campaign getting little support in the south. Tom Turnipseed had been a Republican Party staff worker in South Carolina before joining the Wallace campaign in 1967. He has since moved to the left and ended up as more a left-populist than a liberal. Michael Says: September 23rd, 2009 at 1:02 pm I remember the news coverage of the Wallace phone call and the looks on the faces of the delegates as he told them the news. It was very tragic to watch. (Paragraph) Tom Turnipseed ran for South Carolina Att. Gen. in 1998(?) and got 46 percent of the vote as the Democratic nominee. I one point he was trying for one of his campaigns to put together an alliance between the Democrat and Green parties in South Carolina. I don’t know how it worked out. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 23rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm Thanks for the info on Turnipseed. I didn’t realize he was still around and active. I remember that he ran for governor of South Carolina back in the late ’70s, but dropped out of the Democratic primary because of a suspected heart condition. Michael Says: September 23rd, 2009 at 6:11 pm Gene #138–According to an autobiography by CBS newsman Bob Schieffer, Governor Wallace did believe Nixon was somehow behind the assassination attempt on him. Nixon did use the IRS to audit Wallace’s past tax records. It proved to be an disaster on the part of the IRS because it was dicovered they owed him $800!(Paragraph) Darcy #140–I believe Turnipseed has a website for his law office in South Carolina. Peter Gemma Says: September 24th, 2009 at 6:28 am Turnipseed was actually elected once (’80) – he served one term as a state senator (D) before running for Lt. Gov. in ‘82. #138 – Peter Beter was indeed at the AIP convention, but I think he was a hapless dupe of those who were trying to get the convention to adjourn without a candidate. Nixon’s IRS audited GW’s brother (Gerald?) who years later was later indicted on some kickback charge, to threaten GW BTW, George Corley Wallace IV, committed suicide – at age 25 – just a couple of months ago. He lived in FL I believe. Gene Berkman Says: September 24th, 2009 at 1:01 pm Turnipseed & Associates Law Office maintains a website @ http://www.turnipseed.net/ Darcy G Richardson Says: September 24th, 2009 at 1:47 pm I somehow missed Gene Berkman’s excellent post #138 yesterday. Good stuff, Gene. You’re absolutely correct about Ezra Pound being supportive of Upton Sinclair’s 1934 gubernatorial campaign — “perhaps figuring that any setback for the bankers was a victory for fascism,” as Greg Mitchell astutely put it in his excellent and exhaustive study of that campaign. Having lived in the predominantly Jewish community of Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, for eighteen years, only a few blocks from the home in which Ezra Pound grew up, I’ve always been sort of fascinated by him. (I’ve never personally written anything about him, so you can imagine my surprise in learning recently that one my earlier books was cited in the latest book on the expatriate poet, a volume of selected annotations on Pound’s voluminous correspondence with British activist Olivia Rossetti Agresti, an anarchist-turned-fascist.) In any case, Mitchell’s book is one of my favorites; I particularly liked the fact that he included the saga of Milen Dempster, the Socialist Party’s hapless contestant in that campaign and his seemingly absurd request in late October that Sinclair return to the fold by withdrawing from the race and throwing his support to the Socialist Party! Sinclair, of course, laughed it off. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 24th, 2009 at 3:49 pm Gene @ 138: I remember that George C. Wallace, Jr., the late governor’s son, called for a new investigation into the assassination attempt in December 1992, citing largely unsubstantiated claims that the attempt on his father’s life may have been discussed in the Nixon White House. In calling for a new investigation, the younger Wallace said that they had long been aware of the fact that in the weeks leading up to the attempt on his father’s life, Arthur Bremer — an unemployed janitor with no visible means of support — had been “staying in some of the finest hotels in the country” while stalking his father. He also said at the time that he didn’t think Nixon had any personal knowledge of the situation, but wanted to know if anyone else involved in Nixon’s re-election campaign had any prior knowledge of Bremer’s intentions. A spokesman for the ailing ex-governor added at the time that the elder Wallace believed that there had been a government conspiracy to eliminate him from the 1972 presidential race. Peter @ 142 – Wallace’s ex-wife, Cornelia, who courageously threw herself on top of her husband when Bremer opened fire on that tragic day, also passed away earlier this year. I think she lived in Sebring, Florida, at the time of her death. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 24th, 2009 at 4:26 pm Interesting stuff about Dr. Beter from Gene and Peter. Peter’s recollection seems to reinforce William Shearer’s view of Beter’s role at the 1972 convention, namely, that he was an operative of the Nixon White House, or at least claimed to be. Believe it or not, John G. Schmitz thought this issue was important enough to address at the National Press Club during the heat of the campaign, telling reporters during the third week of October that Nixon’s agents had infiltrated the American Party in an attempt to destroy it. “They were up to drafting a man who said he didn’t want to run so there would be no candidate,” Schmitz said. Having failed in that attempt, Schmitz also charged during that same press conference that CREEP — Nixon’s appropriately-named campaign organization — tried to hire away several top staff members of the American Party, including Shearer, in an attempt to render the party ineffective. Peter Gemma Says: September 24th, 2009 at 4:48 pm #137 “I also remember meeting Turnipseed and some of his friends, one of which I believe is a household name today.” Darcy G Richardson Says: September 24th, 2009 at 4:56 pm Okay, I’ll bite. Who? Trent Hill Says: September 24th, 2009 at 8:12 pm Call me juvenile–but his name was REALLY Peter Beter? Gene Berkman Says: September 25th, 2009 at 6:47 pm Trent @ #149 -Who can know? But we wondered the same thing when he came out of nowhere in 1971 with his book on “The Death of the Dollar.” I got thrown out of a meeting where Peter Beter was speaking. It was sponsored by Sam Andy – a line of survival food, freeze dried in 98% nitrogen packing – and I was passing out copies of None Dare Call It Conspiracy with a leaflet for a competing survival food company folded inside. I respect their right to throw me out – it was my buddy’s idea in the first place to go there. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 25th, 2009 at 8:50 pm As wacky as he was, Beter — a man who once claimed the all of the gold in Ft. Knox had been whisked away in the middle of the night as part of a scheme by the Rockefellers — somehow managed to wrangle an appointment as counsel to the Export-Import Bank during the Kennedy Administration. He later ran for governor of West Virginia, polling a pathetic 1,844 votes in the 1968 Republican primary. Hoping to appeal to Wallace’s supporters in November, he later mounted a forlorn write-in campaign for the same office, but received even fewer votes. During the Watergate investigation, Beter admitted to the Washington Post that former Attorney General John Mitchell and Harry S. Dent, then special counsel to President Nixon, tried to enlist Tom Turnipseed and himself in an effort to block George Wallace’s third-party nomination during a meeting at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington in July 1972, only a few weeks before the American Party’s national convention in Louisville. Steve Rankin Says: September 26th, 2009 at 6:37 am #145: “George C. Wallace, Jr., the late governor’s son, called for a new investigation into the assassination…” Actually, the late governor was George Jr. I remember the governor saying that it was strange that Arthur Bremer was able to travel around the country and stay in hotels. Bremer stalked at least one other presidential candidate, but I can’t remember who. The governor’s son, George III, has run for numerous offices and is fast becoming the Harold Stassen of Alabama. He had Jesse Jackson in to campaign for him at least once. Most recently, he ran in the 2006 Republican primary for lieutenant governor. The GOP allows people who voted in the Democratic primary to vote in the Republican runoff, and Wallace openly appealed to those voters, but he lost the runoff anyway. If he had won, he would have faced Jim Folsom Jr., the son of another legendary governor and a former governor himself. George Wallace III has been married some three times and has had at least one messy divorce. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 26th, 2009 at 11:20 am Steve, You’re right, he is the III. By the way, the younger Wallace nearly won a seat in Congress in 1992, back when he was still a Democrat, losing to self-made millionaire Terry Everett in a race in which the Libertarian Party’s Glynn Reeves and two independents polled the difference between their major-party rivals. Michael Says: September 26th, 2009 at 2:24 pm 152–It was Ed muskie, then when he faded during the primaries, he changed targets. 152&153–The young Wallace, as I call him, served as State Treasurer as a Democrat, then as Public Safety Commissioner as a Republican. The last is head of the State Police, which in Alabama is an elected office. In addition to the other two races you mentioned he lost he was also defeated in 1994’s primary for state senator. I believe he was defeated by the grandson of the man Governor Wallace defeated for governor in 1962. I’ve read he might run again for his old post of state treasurer. If he wins it might put him in a spot for higher office. Steve Rankin Says: September 26th, 2009 at 2:37 pm I recall that congressional race. George III also ran for state treasurer… the only office I remember him winning was highway commissioner. George Jr. was definitely an adroit politician. He first ran for governor in 1958 as a racial moderate with NAACP backing; he lost to John Patterson, a strong segregationist. Wallace vowed, “I’ll never be outsegged again!” He ran a winning race in 1962 as a rabid segregationist with KKK backing. That was the year that ex-Gov. “Big Jim” Folsom missed the Democratic runoff by some 1000 votes. Drunk on live TV the night before the primary, Folsom clucked like a chicken and forgot the name of one of his children. A Wallace-Folsom runoff would have been interesting, though I suspect Wallace would’ve won; defending segregation was uppermost in voters’ minds, and Folsom was a racial moderate. Wallace injected race into the 1970 gubernatorial campaign, in which he defeated Albert Brewer, who had become governor on the death of Wallace’s wife, Lurleen. Wallace had moderated again on the race issue when he was re-elected in ‘74; he said his disability had helped him to “see the light.” Such liberals as Ted Kennedy and Jesse Jackson made pilgrimages to Alabama to bestow their blessings on Wallace, and he was compared to FDR. In his latter years as governor, Wallace did such things as crowning black homecoming queens. He won his final term in 1982, narrowly beating the incumbent lieutenant governor in the Democratic primary. Steve Rankin Says: September 26th, 2009 at 2:54 pm #154: OK… it was public safety commissioner instead of highway commissioner. I had forgotten that George III was elected state treasurer. You’d think he would try again for lieutenant governor next year, since the incumbent, Jim Folsom Jr., is running for governor. Do you remember who George Jr.’s opponent was in the 1962 Democratic runoff? Darcy G Richardson Says: September 26th, 2009 at 3:16 pm Yes, Wallace defeated Ryan DeGraffenried — Alabama’s version of JFK — in the 1962 runoff by a little over 71,000 votes. A young state Senator from Tuscaloosa who had starred on the University of Alabama’s football team, DeGraffenried had narrowly finished ahead of folksy Jim Folsom to make the runoff. Interestingly, DeGraffenried was going to run again in 1966 against the governor’s wife, Lurleen, but was tragically killed on a dark and gusty night in early February of that year when the small Cessna aircraft carrying him to a speaking engagement in nearby Gadsden was caught in gale-force winds and slammed into Lookout Mountain. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 26th, 2009 at 3:24 pm Michael, Thanks for the update on the younger Wallace. I hope to interview him for one of my later volumes. Steve Rankin Says: September 27th, 2009 at 1:22 pm Lurleen Wallace, running as a stand-in for George, won the multi-candidate 1966 Democratic primary without a runoff. Attorney general Richmond Flowers ran, as did ex-Gov. John Patterson. I believe ex-Gov. Folsom also ran. James Martin, who had nearly defeated longtime Democratic U. S. senator Lister Hill in 1962, was the ‘66 Republican nominee for governor. He foolishly gave up the U. S. House seat to which he had been elected in 1964, as he lost badly to Mrs. Wallace. Steve Rankin Says: September 27th, 2009 at 1:57 pm Here are the results of Alabama’s 1966 Democratic gubernatorial primary. I didn’t remember Patterson and Folsom doing so poorly. Patterson also ran unsuccessfully for chief justice of the state Supreme Court in 1970, and Folsom ran a number of other losing campaigns. Michael Says: September 28th, 2009 at 12:40 pm Patterson was later appointed as a judge, and was part of the judges panel which confirmed the removal of Alabama Chief Justice Judge Roy Moore from office over the Ten Commandments monument. Steve Rankin Says: September 28th, 2009 at 4:08 pm Ironically, John Patterson turned age 88 yesterday. It must be really embarrassing for a former governor to run again and only get 3.5% of the vote (and Folsom got even less in 1966). Patterson lost for chief justice in 1970, 66% to 34%, to Howell Heflin, the future US senator. Rush Limbaugh used to do a great impression of Heflin. Trent Hill Says: September 28th, 2009 at 11:07 pm Steve, How two former governors could run for Governor and score less than 6%, is beyond me. Peter Gemma Says: September 29th, 2009 at 6:33 am sorry I’ve been off this thread for awhile – traveling a lot, and when I logged-on using the hotel’s computer, John Rarick’s name triggers “Nazi – forbidden!” on the hotel’s computer censor system. Geez, good thing I didn’t look up smoking, drinking, or Bill Clinton’s girlfriends. grrrr. I’m at a library now. There was a plan to house George Wallace’s political papers – including his/his wife’s campaign memoribilia – in a special museum but the fund raising didn’t go anywhere for some reason. I think the state backed down from an initial offer of seed money or a building or something – for financial not political reasons. I also believe I read somewhere that all the materials are sitting in a wharehouse … not a safe place for paper. Darcy – I plan to interview Wallace III at some point too … is it a race to get there first or shall we go together? Michael Says: September 29th, 2009 at 1:13 pm Peter #164–I sent a letter to the secretary of state’s office in Alabama and got a letter from Gov. Bob Riley. I don’t know how it got routed that way. Anyway, Governor Riley said Governor Wallace’s papers, records, photos, campaign documents, ect., are located at the Alabama State Archives. I’ve checked their website and there is a huge amount of material on Governor Wallace located there. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 29th, 2009 at 3:30 pm Peter, By all means, if possible let’s try to interview Wallace together. We’re both living in Florida, so I imagine it could be a really fun road trip. By the way, I started reading “Shots Fired” this past weekend and really enjoyed “Gemma’s Dilemma” — your beautifully-written and insightful introduction, as well as Pat Buchanan’s moving foreword to the book. I’m just now making my way through your subject’s selected writings and speeches and particularly enjoyed his delightfully contrarian view of Abraham Lincoln as a typical “small-town politico” whose highly-touted prominence as a lawyer in an underdeveloped frontier state like Illinois in the 1850s was akin to describing him as “an admiral in the Swiss navy.” At first blush, I have to admit that I enjoy Sam’s off-angle way of looking at things. Darcy G Richardson Says: September 29th, 2009 at 3:56 pm Thanks for that info, Michael. Gov. Wallace had taken a $30,000 tax deduction on his 1968 personal income tax return — or ten cents a page — for some 300,000 pages of documents related to his 1968 presidential campaign that he had turned over to the Alabama Department of Archives and History, which, incidentally, is also in possession of his official papers as governor. According to newspaper reports published in the early 1970s, the material turned over to the state archives shortly after the ‘68 campaign unfortunately didn’t include any of the legal papers and other documents stemming from Wallace’s Herculean ballot access efforts that year. In any case, I think what Peter Gemma was referring to in comment #164 — and Peter please correct me if I’m wrong — are the additional personal papers and memorabilia, stuffed in wooden boxes, that the Wallace family wanted to donate to the state archives shortly after Wallace’s death in 1998. Due to lack of funding, they are now sitting in a warehouse in Atlanta, or at least were as of a few years ago. Those papers and artifacts — a treasure trove equivalent to three tractor-trailer truckloads of material — apparently have never been catalogued for researchers and historians. For years, there was also a large volume of uncatalogued papers at the University of Alabama, Birmingham library — papers that had been originally donated to the Alabama State Department of Archives and History, but later reclaimed by Gov. Wallace and placed under the control of the Wallace Foundation. When writing his excellent 1994 biography of Wallace, Stephen Lesher said that he was given access to “thousands of campaign papers, boxes, and artifacts that were piled willy-nilly, uncatalogued, on a balcony in the library…” I’m not sure if those papers are still at UAB or are part of the voluminous material still sitting in the warehouse in Atlanta.

Here is a discussion of the so-called Senator Gale McGee (D-Wyoming) Memorandum (1962 or 1963) mostly about the John Birch Society: http://books.google.com/books?id=uPZXEkMA0...dum&f=false This memorandum along with the Reuther Memorandum will one day be recognized as an ill-fated venture for JFK and the Democrats. Realistically speaking it only confirmed what the Birchers and the members of Buckley's YAF feared the most: Big Brother and the One World Order conspiring against them to ruin them financially, politically and in the eyes of their faithful followers. Within a year of the publication of this McGee memorandum, JFK was dead. "Hey, hey, JFK how many Birchers shot you down today?" Was this a line from a Bob Dylan song or from whose song was it if not his? The counter-offensive launched by The Birchers and YAF'ers right after the Reuther Memorandum was described by Dr. Fred Schwarz and others in previous postings. When Senator McGee published his memo, JFK's fate was sealed. And that's the way it was...

When Chomsky appeared on a COPA panel in the 1993-1994 time frame he sat back and listened quietly and respectfully as that hack Donald Gibson blamed "the Jews on Wall Street" for the entire JFK plot. And Lisa Pease did the same, cornering that escapee from The Planet of the Apes and quizzing him respectfully on the points he had been making instead of taking him to task for following in the footsteps of Michael Collins Piper. Chomsky could at least have offered some token opposition to Gibson's outrageous statements and so could Lisa. Then L. Fletcher Krauty stood up and made his famous comment about how the Kennedys were 2nd generation Irish immigrants who thought they could run the country the way they wanted to. Followed up by: "I guess we showed them a thing or two." And I was the only one who called him out on that statement. How many of you knew about that Krauty statement, or that he was indeed a Kennedy hater from way back? Not many I would bet. Only Lou Wolf from Covert Action Quarterly thanked me for nailing Krauty to the wall and for challenging Gibson. When I asked Mark Lane to release the files of the Liberty Lobby and The Congress of Freedom, do you know what his answer was? "Files! What Files? There are NO FILES!" Using the microphone for effect I could only say: "Where have we heard THAT BEFORE?" And his jaw just dropped open... as everyone tittered and laughed nervously. Of course the entire COPA Board just sat there with collective thumbs buried where the sun don't shine. Earlier, some guy who looked like he could have been Goldwater's son told me that: "Colonel Prouty is like us on the n issues!" He also added that: "the Holocaust was a Polish thing, not a German thing. Did you know that Auschwitz was in Poland and not in Germany?" And these are the types who are invited to speak on the podium of COPA... What a joke!

Eavesdropping - A Means of Evaluating the Empirical Evidence about the JFK Case There were at least a half-dozen well documented cases of accidently overheard conversations which shed some light on the identitities of the perpetrators of the JFK murder. Here are some of them: 1) Joseph A. Milteer a member of Senator J. Strom Thurmond's National States Rights Party (NSRP) and the Ku Klux Klan plus the several other Dixiecrat right wing organizations was tape recorded by Willie Somersett an undercover agent for the Miami Police Department's Intelligence Division describing in intimate detail not only how JFK was going to be killed but gloating after the fact about how accurate he was in his prognostications. This conversation occurred while both attended a conference held by The Congress of Freedom where the assassination of hundreds of left wing activists was being openly discussed. The Congress of Freedom was started by Robert LeFevre and Willis A. Carto who both worked with Edwin A. Walker later at Noontide Press. Also attending the conference was Dr. Revilo P. Oliver who later accidently confirmed the names of the persons on the speaking tour in southern Canada where Richard Giesbrecht overheard the conversation in 1964 about the JFK assassination: including Ron A. Gostick, Patrick J. Walsh (who was Carto's Canadian correspondent for The Liberty Lobby), Eric D. Butler who was the constant traveling companion of Rev. Gerald L. K. Smith from mid-January until late March of 1964. Gostick, Walsh and Butler were well known neo-Nazis worldwide and GLK Smith was a member of the pro-Nazi Silver Shirts during World War II, run by William Dudley Pelley who was convicted for violations of the Espionage Act of 1917 in 1943 just like Anastase Vonsiatsky had been in 1942 at The Great Hartford Trial. Walker had many contacts with the Deutsch National Zeitung Newspaper which interviewed him after the JFK assassination including Nazis like Gerhard Frey and Theodor Oberlander who also attended meetings of The World Anti-Communist League during its most Nazi dominated periods. 2) Emilio Nunez Portuondo - Editor for The Foreign Intelligence Digest of Maj. Gen. Charles A. Willoughby was accidently overheard by a long-distance operator discussing the JFK assassination. Portuondo attended meetings of The World Anti-Communist League as a member of Alpha 66 which often sent delegates to WACL conferences. Edwin A. Walker and Yaroslaw Stetsko were both frequent contributors to The Foreign Intelligence Digest and were also involved with other incidents implicating them in the JFK Assassination. Jack Ruby mentioned Edwin A. Walker by name in Warren Commission Testimony as a leader in the Dallas John Birch Society as a person who was involved with the JFK assassination and Stetsko worked closely with Anastase Vonsiatsky who was himself overheard discussing the JFK assassination in Canada. Also a member of the Dallas John Birch Society were Maj. Gen. Charles A. Willoughby and Robert J. Morris. Born in Germany as Adolph Tscheppe Weidenbach, Charles Willoughby was called: "My Little Fascist" by his commanding officer General of the Armies, Douglas Arthur MacArthur. Willoughby was identifed by one of Dick Russell's anonymous informants as heading up the entire plot to murder John F. Kennedy with the full approval of Douglas A. MacArthur. 3) A group of anti-Castro Cuban exiles were overheard discussing a pending motorcade to Dallas from Miami (in Spanish) on November 18, 1963 Subjects discussed included Rubio (which is Spanish for Ruby), and persons named Alex (Alek's), (LHO was also known as Alek), Pedro (Peter), Laurence as in Laurence Eugene Hall perhaps, The Havana Bar, Marita, as in Marita Lorenz who also described a similar motorcade to Dallas in her book on the JFK Assassination. This house was leased to a leader of The 30th of November Movement by Bernard Barker's Keyes Realty. At one time or another Frank Sturgis, E. Howard Hunt and Jack Ruby were all seen in the front yard of that house during the early 1960's. E. Howard Hunt later admitted during a deathbed confession that he had participated in the planning and execution of the JFK assassination in a backup role. And Frank Sturgis implicated himself in the JFK plot by attempting to intimidate 2 witnesses who had personal knowledge about his role in the entire JFK plot. 4) Rev. Gerald L K Smith, Anastase Vonsiatsky, Ronald Gostick and Eric D. Butler were overheard in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada discussing the JFK assassination on February 13, 1964 by a Canadian businessman named Richard E. Giesbrecht. Both Gostick and Butler were members of the World Anti-Communist League through either NARWACL, the North American Regional World Anti-Commuist League or the Australian League of Rights which was run by Eric D. Butler from Australia. Vonsiatsky worked with Yaroslaw Stetsko, a Ukrainian Nazi who participated in pogroms against Ukrainian Jews, while wearing a Nazi uniform, in Lvov, Ukraine in 1942 and actually started the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations on 11/22/1943. JFK was killed on the 20th anniversary of the founding of ABN. Also appearing at several ABN conferences was admitted Bulgarian Fascist and pro-Nazi Prof. Spas T. Raikin who conveniently managed to meet the Oswalds in Hoboken, NJ when they disembarked from the S.S. Maasdam on their way back from Europe via Rotterdam, Holland after a side trip to West Berlin by LHO. Vonsiatsky used to dress in full Nazi regalia in the late 1930's while attending football games at Brown University after driving from his home in Putnam, CT down Route 44 called the Providence-Hartford Turnpike. Vonsiatsky's classmates at Brown included both E. Howard Hunt and George Lincoln Rockwell, who later started The American Nazi Party, both became fascinated with Nazism and Vonsiatsky during that timeframe at Brown. The other thing that many of these people have in common? They were included in the historical novel, The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon and they have confidential files which were collected by either Wes McCuen or Wilbur Baldinger for Group Research, Inc. in Washington, DC, between 1950 and perhaps 1970. Group Research, Inc. was a private intelligence gathering organization and dossier collection agency funded by the Ruther brothers through UAW. Group Research began by just following anti-Union activists and Collective Bargaining foes but later widened its focus to include the other common threads shared by their anti-Labor opposition which included anti-Immigrationism, anti-Semitism, anti-Communism, opposition to Civil Rights advances and Civil Rights legislation and most of all, The pseudo-science of Eugenics, in particular the brand practiced by Wickliffe Preston Draper of Hopedale, Massachusetts and his Pioneer Fund. Now please try to come out of denial long enough to realize that the umbrella of Right Wing Extremism encompassed just about every segment of society and EVERY intelligence agency in the 1960's. And also note that ex-Nazis had penetrated every U.S. Gov Intel Agency from NASA to the DIA to the CIA to ONI to Army Intelligence as well. And perhaps, then, and only then, will your myopic, narrow focus expand just wide enough to encompass ALL the players in the ENTIRE JFK conundrum.

Talking about denial... how can anyone ignore the common threads involved with these 4 well documented cases of overheard conversations? Your assignment, class, is to tie together all 4 incidents described herein with the events you know from the JFK Assassination into one cohesive entity consisting of all the perps behind the murder of JFK. Should not be that hard. Eavesdropping - A Means of Evaluating the Empirical Evidence about the JFK Case There were at least a half-dozen well documented cases of accidently overheard conversations which shed some light on the identitities of the perpetrators of the JFK murder. Here are some of them: 1) Joseph A. Milteer a member of Senator J. Strom Thurmond's National States Rights Party (NSRP) and the Ku Klux Klan plus the several other Dixiecrat right wing organizations was tape recorded by Willie Somersett an undercover agent for the Miami Police Department's Intelligence Division describing in intimate detail not only how JFK was going to be killed but gloating after the fact about how accurate he was in his prognostications. This conversation occurred while both attended a conference held by The Congress of Freedom where the assassination of hundreds of left wing activists was being openly discussed. The Congress of Freedom was started by Robert LeFevre and Willis A. Carto who both worked with Edwin A. Walker later at Noontide Press. Also attending the conference was Dr. Revilo P. Oliver who later accidently confirmed the names of the persons on the speaking tour in southern Canada where Richard Giesbrecht overheard the conversation in 1964 about the JFK assassination: including Ron A. Gostick, Patrick J. Walsh (who was Carto's Canadian correspondent for The Liberty Lobby), Eric D. Butler who was the constant traveling companion of Rev. Gerald L. K. Smith from mid-January until late March of 1964. Gostick, Walsh and Butler were well known neo-Nazis worldwide and GLK Smith was a member of the pro-Nazi Silver Shirts during World War II, run by William Dudley Pelley who was convicted for violations of the Espionage Act of 1917 in 1943 just like Anastase Vonsiatsky had been in 1942 at The Great Hartford Trial. Walker had many contacts with the Deutsch National Zeitung Newspaper which interviewed him after the JFK assassination including Nazis like Gerhard Frey and Theodor Oberlander who also attended meetings of The World Anti-Communist League during its most Nazi dominated periods. 2) Emilio Nunez Portuondo - Editor for The Foreign Intelligence Digest of Maj. Gen. Charles A. Willoughby was accidently overheard by a long-distance operator discussing the JFK assassination. Portuondo attended meetings of The World Anti-Communist League as a member of Alpha 66 which often sent delegates to WACL conferences. Edwin A. Walker and Yaroslaw Stetsko were both frequent contributors to The Foreign Intelligence Digest and were also involved with other incidents implicating them in the JFK Assassination. Jack Ruby mentioned Edwin A. Walker by name in Warren Commission Testimony as a leader in the Dallas John Birch Society as a person who was involved with the JFK assassination and Stetsko worked closely with Anastase Vonsiatsky who was himself overheard discussing the JFK assassination in Canada. Also a member of the Dallas John Birch Society were Maj. Gen. Charles A. Willoughby and Robert J. Morris. Born in Germany as Adolph Tscheppe Weidenbach, Charles Willoughby was called: "My Little Fascist" by his commanding officer General of the Armies, Douglas Arthur MacArthur. Willoughby was identifed by one of Dick Russell's anonymous informants as heading up the entire plot to murder John F. Kennedy with the full approval of Douglas A. MacArthur. 3) A group of anti-Castro Cuban exiles were overheard discussing a pending motorcade to Dallas from Miami (in Spanish) on November 18, 1963 Subjects discussed included Rubio (which is Spanish for Ruby), and persons named Alex (Alek's), (LHO was also known as Alek), Pedro (Peter), Laurence as in Laurence Eugene Hall perhaps, The Havana Bar, Marita, as in Marita Lorenz who also described a similar motorcade to Dallas in her book on the JFK Assassination. This house was leased to a leader of The 30th of November Movement by Bernard Barker's Keyes Realty. At one time or another Frank Sturgis, E. Howard Hunt and Jack Ruby were all seen in the front yard of that house during the early 1960's. E. Howard Hunt later admitted during a deathbed confession that he had participated in the planning and execution of the JFK assassination in a backup role. And Frank Sturgis implicated himself in the JFK plot by attempting to intimidate 2 witnesses who had personal knowledge about his role in the entire JFK plot. 4) Rev. Gerald L K Smith, Anastase Vonsiatsky, Ronald Gostick and Eric D. Butler were overheard in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada discussing the JFK assassination on February 13, 1964 by a Canadian businessman named Richard E. Giesbrecht. Both Gostick and Butler were members of the World Anti-Communist League through either NARWACL, the North American Regional World Anti-Commuist League or the Australian League of Rights which was run by Eric D. Butler from Australia. Vonsiatsky worked with Yaroslaw Stetsko, a Ukrainian Nazi who participated in pogroms against Ukrainian Jews, while wearing a Nazi uniform, in Lvov, Ukraine in 1942 and actually started the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations on 11/22/1943. JFK was killed on the 20th anniversay of the founding of ABN. Also appearing at several ABN conferences was admitted Bulgarian Fascist and pro-Nazi Prof. Spas T. Raikin who conveniently managed to meet the Oswalds in Hoboken, NJ when they disembarked from the S.S. Maasdam on their way back from Europe via Rotterdam, Holland after a side trip to West Berlin by LHO. Vonsiatsky used to dress in full Nazi regalia in the late 1930's while attending football games at Brown University after driving from his home in Putnam, CT down Route 44 called the Providence-Hartford Turnpike. Vonsiatsky's classmates at Brown included both E. Howard Hunt and George Lincoln Rockwell, who later started The American Nazi Party, both became fascinated with Nazism and Vonsiatsky during that timeframe at Brown. The other thing that many of these people have in common? They were included in the historical novel, The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon and they have confidential files which were collected by either Wes McCuen or Wilbur Baldinger for Group Research, Inc. in Washington, DC, between 1950 and perhaps 1970. Group Research, Inc. was a private intelligence gathering organization and dossier collection agency funded by the Ruther brothers through UAW. Group Research began by just following anti-Union activists and Collective Bargaining foes but later widened its focus to include the other common threads shared by their anti-Labor opposition which included anti-Immigrationism, anti-Semitism, anti-Communism, opposition to Civil Rights advances and Civil Rights legislation and most of all, The pseudo-science of Eugenics, in particular the brand practiced by Wickliffe Preston Draper of Hopedale, Massachusetts and his Pioneer Fund.

Wow. This is very enlightening. You really explained that time well. But one thing surprised me. OK, the father was a rum runner, but I didn't know President Kennedy drank! I never heard this before. Especially that he drank like a fish. I know about the medications he took. He was on sterioids and amphetamines, I read. I don't think you mix alcohol with these drugs. Supposedly Mary Pinchot Meyer smoked dope with him and gave him an LSD trip. I find that hard to believe too. Are you sure about the drinking? Kathy C My source on this is none other than GLK Smith who insists that the Kennedy brothers were not only "whore-mongering" but "whiskey-swigging" fake Catholics. Who am I to question him? I have seen photos of JFK on both Newport harbor and Hyannisport boat trips with a short, well iced, Scotch and soda in his had as well. Not that this is going to change much of anything but he was at a bare minimum, a heavy social drinker. But to good old GLK, that qualified him as a "whiskey swigger". Did you know who originated that nasty rumor about JFK's previous marriage with someone named Blausvelt, I think it was? Why mah old buddy GLK Smith, hisself. And do you know that 2 of my suspects: GLK Smith and Wickliffe Draper came into unexpectedly large sums of money after they participated in the JFK hit? 1) GLK Smith built "Christ of the Ozarks" starting in the Summer of 1964 which cost him well over $1,000,000 when he had only $5,000 to his name as of 12/31/1963 according to his biographer, Jeanne Glennsonne. 2) Wickliffe Draper who sold The Draper Company to Rockwell Standard for almost $100,000,000 Funny how no one else who has come up with a suspects list can cite ONE EXAMPLE of a gigantic financial largesse being dumped into the laps of any of their "suspects".

Who was that Senator from the Northwest who also filed a memorandum in the 1962-1963 era recommending to go after the Far Right and bring them to a crashing halt? Why it was Senator Gale McGhee from Wyoming now that I did my research. Turns out that he was the Senator who urged his fellow delegates to put JFK over the top during the 1960 Democratic Convention joining Walter Reuther as unabashedly outspoken proponents of all things Kennedy for the next several years. Senator Gale McGhee almost got the job that my uncle Charles Yost received, that of US Ambassador to the United Nations. And he was US Representative to the Organization of American States as well. Just a good old fashioned liberal negotiation specialist who believed in everything JFK stood for and for nothing represented by the Radical Reich Wing of Republican Politics. 1960 Democratic Convention From Harper's Magazine[8]: "With Kennedy only eleven votes short of the nomination, Ted Kennedy approached the Wyoming delegation, where Kennedy was known to have eight and a half solid votes, Johnson had six, and one-half vote remained loyal to Adlai Stevenson. Suddenly one of Wyoming's leaders broke away from a frantic huddle with Ted Kennedy, hopped on a chair, and held up four fingers to the delegates. "Give me four votes!" he begged. "We can put him over the top! Please give me four votes!" Hastily the Wyoming delegates decided to write themselves a footnote to history. Chairman Roncalio proudly spoke of the honor that was his as Wyoming cast all fifteen of its votes for John F. Kennedy." "In the roar greeting the announcement, I kept my eyes on the man who had begged for four votes. He was jumping up and down, slapping a beaming Ted Kennedy on the back, apparently beside himself with joy. I recognized him as our old friend Senator Gale McGee." [edit] Second Senate term In 1964 McGee was re-elected to the Senate. In his second term he was appointed to the Foreign Relations Committee and became chairman of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee. During this period Gale McGee supported President Lyndon B. Johnson's views on the conflict in Vietnam. Johnson strongly considered appointing Senator McGee to be Ambassador to the UN after the resignation of Arthur Goldberg.[9] He believed in the policy of containing communism, and his pro-military views were accented by his firm support for foreign aid. McGee often took a liberal position on domestic issues and an internationalist stand on foreign affairs. [edit] Third Senate term In 1970 he was elected to a third term in the Senate and continued to be a leading member of the committees on which he served. McGee was a voice of moderation in the affairs of the Watergate scandal and the impeachment proceedings of President Richard Nixon. Against the wishes of his constituents, McGee fought hard for gas rationing and the 55-mile per hour speed limit in the era of the first Arab oil embargoes. In his 1976 bid for a fourth term, McGee was easily defeated by Republican challenger Malcolm Wallop. The margin of defeat was almost ten percentage points. [edit] Accomplishments Among the major laws he has authored include an amendment that prevented a Nationwide rail strike in 1963, the act that created the National Commission on Food Marketing, and the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. As chair of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee, McGee’s efforts led to greater equity in pay and benefits for those federal workers. McGee also specialized in problems of appropriations and foreign relations while serving on subcommittees and lobbied for legislation to allow voter registration by mail. McGee was also the author of The Responsibilities of World Power, published in 1968. The work warned against isolationism and urged the United States to accept its power and position imposed upon it in the aftermath of World War II. McGee further argued that the U.S. had a responsibility to be a Pacific power, to act as a counterweight to China, and to support free nations in their efforts to remain nonaligned or western allies but not to fall into the communist fold. The work was nominated for a Woodrow Wilson Foundation award. A long-time supporter of the United Nations, McGee was appointed by President Richard Nixon to a four-member congressional delegation to represent the United States at the United Nation’s 27th General Assembly in 1972. So Gale McGhee filed this 100+ page document recommended a full broadside against the Radical Reich about the same time that the Reuther brothers were doing the same thing in Washington, DC. And in fact they both ended up sealing JFK's fate, as the Radical Reich gained momentum and steam while they hatched their plans to remove JFK from the face of the earth. So what did JFK's killers have in common? (Cover your ears and close your eyes if you are the least bit squeamish.) #1 They were first and foremost anti-Semites a/k/a "Jew Haters" So the Reuther Brothers were high on their hit list too #2 They were against any Civil Rights advances a/k/a "Nigra Haters" and they were first and foremost "Eugenicists" to the core #3 They were against anything Communistic or collectivist like Unions a/k/a "Commie-Haters" and "Strike-Busters" #4 They were for the most part also very opposed to anything involved with "Catholicism", "Papism" or the "Mackeral Snappers" which is what they called Catholics who ate fish on fridays. #5 They were for the most part "pure blooded Mayflower Descendants" who hated any immigrants who joined unions and took away their profits plus they hated the "mud-races" who could not trace back their heritage through 10 generations back to England. #6 Many of them were tea-toataling non-drinkers who looked down on anyone who chased after loose women, gambled or otherwise had low morals. And JFK's father was a rum runner by trade. And in fact they saw JFK as a "Jew-Lover" who favored Civil Rights "Nigra-Lover", a Democrat who was pro-Union and a "Com-Symp" or a Communist Sympathizer and not only was he a "Mackeral Snapper" and a "Papist" but he was an uppity Irish low class recent immigrant to boot. Plus he chased women, drank like a fish and was an the son of a rum runner. And that did not even make him a good Catholic, let alone a good Christian. Five strikes and you are OUT! As Rev. Gerald L K Smith said it best perhaps: "The Kennedy brothers are nothing but whisky-swigging, whore mongering, fake Catholics who want to take this country away from the God-loving, White Christian Patriots and hand it over on a silver platter to the Nigras, the Kikes, the Wops and the Spics." NOW DO YOU GET IT? I HOPE SO! And when you add up those 5 listed characteristics, what kind of a person do you get? A bunch of Nazis, Nazi-symps and neo-Nazis like Rev GLK Smith, Ron Gostick, Pat Walsh, Eric Butler, Fred Schwarz, Charles Willoughby, Bonner Fellers, Wesley A. Swift, Albert C. Wedemeyer, Willis Carto, Wickliffe Draper, Sen. James Eastland, Barry Goldwater, John Tower, Leander Perez, Mitch Werbell, Edwin A. Walker, Robert Morris, Anastase Vonsiatsky, William F. Buckley, Yaroslaw Stetsko, and many others who all agreed that JFK had to go. Who else is xenophobic and hates everyone including Jews, blacks, union organizers, immigrants, Communists and Communism, the mud races, homosexuals, epileptics, the mentally retarded and everyone and everything except those damn Nazis? Who? Tell me! Who represents the epitome of hatred, xenophobia and aggression against their enemies? Who? The Fascists, the Nazis and the neo-Nazis. End of story. Good night. Sleep tight.

THE REUTHER MEMORANDUM and Fred C. Schwarz During the past 18 months a ferocious campaign has been waged relentlessly to discredit and destroy the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. There has been no limit to the dishonesty practices by the participants in this slanderous attack. It has been very difficult to discern the motives of some of those who have taken part. It is easy to understand the hostility of the Communists, but many of those who have joined in the attack on the Crusade have records of hostility to Communism rather than sympathy towards it. Their attitude has been puzzling in the extreme. Light has not been shed on this perplexing problem through the publication of a memorandum prepared by Walter and Victor Reuther of the United Auto Workers Union and submitted to the Justice Department on December 19, 1961. This memorandum was first revealed in the book "The Far Right" by Donald Janson and Bernard Eismann. They write, "In the fall of 1961, Walter Reuther, President of the United Auto Workers’ Union, and a Vice President of the AFL-CIO, discussed the matter with Attorney General Robert Kennedy and promised to write a memorandum for him." Thus, the Reuther Memorandum was born. Judging from the events of the last eighteen months, it appears that this memorandum was instrumental in forming the official policy of the Administration towards the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. Lack of Definition of the Radical Right No attempt is made to define the radical right. The Christian Anti-Communism Crusade is simply classified as an extremist radical right organization without a breath of evidence to support the assumption. The authors reveal great ignorance of the history, philosophy, and general activity of the Crusade. There is no hint given in the document that they are even aware of our world-wide, anti-Communist educational work. The memorandum states, "All of these radical right organizations have the same general line. The danger to American is domestic Communism. While their particular traitor will vary from Harry Hopkins to George Marshall; from President Truman to President Eisenhower; from Senator Fulbright to some labor leader; there is no question that anybody even slightly to the left of Senator Goldwater is suspect. They traffic in fear. Treason in high places is their slogan and slander is their weapon." By classing the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade in this category, the Reuthers proved that they themselves are skilled in the techniques of slander. The Christian Anti-Communism Crusade has an intelligent, effective anti-Communist program in 21 countries extending from Japan to Mexico. Long before this memorandum was written, the Crusade had enabled an American-educated Indian, a Christian freedom-loving patriot, George Thomas, to establish a daily newspaper in Kerala, India, and to cooperate with other groups in the overthrow of a Communist state government. It had been active in the sugar and rice plantations of British Guiana teaching the workers there what they might expect from a Communist take over. These activities have led to consistent attacks on the Crusade in the Communist press of the entire world. On all this the Reuther brothers were silent, and I suspect their silence was due to their ignorance. The memorandum ends with some practical suggestions. One of these is, "The flow of big money to the Radical Right should be dammed to the extent possible." The memorandum suggest that tax exemptions be carefully checked, that lists of major donors to the Far Right be made public and that the Federal Communication Commission investigate radio and television stations carrying "Far Right" propaganda. If we assume that this recommendation became the policy of the Administration, we can easily account for many puzzling things. These include: 1) The attempt to destroy the financial support of the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. 2) The slanders of Attorney General Mosk. 3) The slanders of Senator Stephen M. Young. 4) The difficulties experienced in purchasing television time in New York City. 5) The changed attitude of the United States Information Service towards the book "You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)" The Attempt to Destroy the Financial Support of the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade The Christian Anti-Communism Crusade secured tax-exempt status as an educational and a religious organization on September 18, 1956. This was granted after thorough examination of the work of the Crusade. The books have always been open and audited, and the audit was published. In the summer of 1962, auditors representing the Federal Government and the State of California investigated the books very thoroughly. We welcomed this investigation as we are proud of what we have been able to do in the battle against Communism all around the world with very limited funds. The auditors were able to check both the source of the funds and their expenditure. A cursory examination soon revealed that the assumption that the Crusade was financed by big business was quite incorrect. The chief source of finance comes from small gifts from scores of thousands of devoted individuals scattered across the country. Since much of our income is invested in freedom-loving national workers, the donations have proved a most fruitful investment for the cause of freedom. We welcomed both the State and Federal audits which revealed the high quality of this work. A second attack has now commenced. If it can be shown that the Crusade is primarily political, tax deductible status can be withdrawn. This charge has been made by a number of sources but it is demonstrably false. Education concerning the philosophy, morality, organizational structure and techniques of Communism constitutes the dominant activity of the Crusade and no honest investigation can fail to substantiate this. Prejudice and hatred are strangers to honesty so we must expect that this charge will continue to be made. The Slanders of the Attorney General Most of California On February 5, 1963, Attorney General Stanley Mosk of California climaxed an attack on the Northern California School of Anti-Communism and the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade with a television speech filled with objective falsehood. This speech attached the label "Patriots for Profit" to Crusade workers and this has been repeated thousands of times around the world. Why would a man in a position of such trust and honor so degrade his office and besmirch his State of California? It appears part of the pattern. The Slanderous Attack of Senator Stephen M. Young of Ohio On August 7, 1962, Senator Stephen M. Young of Ohio delivered one of the most scurrilous speeches in the history of the United States Senate. It was an attack upon Dr. Fred Schwarz and the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. When I first read the speech of Senator Young, I could scarcely believe my eyes. It was a compilation of all the lowest and vilest lies gathered from polluted sources and released under the immunity of the United States Senate. I had never met Senator Young and found his vicious unprovoked attack extremely puzzling. When we see his speech as part of the coordinated campaign to destroy the Crusade, it begins to make sense. Television in New York When we were in New York City for the Greater New York School of Anti-Communism, we were shocked to discover that it was exceedingly difficult to buy television time. They were apologetic but appeared fearful. If we assume that the Federal Communication Commission had been directed to follow the recommendation of the Reuther memorandum and, "Check radio and television stations carrying ‘Far Right propaganda’", and when we consider the life and death power exercised by the F.C.C. the reluctance of friendly television stations can be understood. The mere hint of official displeasure can be devastating. The Changed Attitude of the United States Information Service Towards the Book "You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)" On August 26, 1962, I was the guest on the nationally televised program "Meet the Press". One of the panelists, James Wechsler of the New York Post, challenged me to produce any areas of cooperation between the Crusade and the Administration. I stated that the United States Information Service had arranged for the translation of the book "You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)" into Korean and suggested that the Crusade subsidize the publisher. At the conclusion of the program the news media contacted the United States Information Agency to check the accuracy of my claim. The USIS confirmed it and stated, "The book by Dr. Schwarz . . . is regarded by the USIS as ‘an extremely clear exposition of the Communist threat’." This was the report of Director Herb McGushin, published in the New York Post, August 27, 1962. The New York Post responded with an editorial attacking the USIS for subsidizing the Far Right. During this interchange the U.S. Information Agency revealed that it had also arranged for the translation and publication of the book in Burmese. I discovered this Newsletter dated November, 1963 but only distributed in December, 1963 as far as I can determine. I was really searching for the full text of the (Victor and Walter) Reuther Memorandum, sometimes referred to by the radical right as: "The Ruthless Memorandum" It is almost as if Dr. Fred Schwarz, a typical "anti-Communist pseudo-Patriot for profit" and an Australian rabble rouser knew that JFK was going to be killed during November, 1963. Schwarz's close associate Eric D. Butler from the World Anti-Communist League and the Australian League of Rights, among other organizations, actually visited the U.S. starting in mid-January of 1964 and toured southern Canada with Rev. Gerald L K Smith for a period approaching 2-3 months. Both Butler and Smith were positively identified as being present on this Canadian tour without specific mention of The Winnipeg Airport Incident also known as The Richard Giesbrecht Incident by none other than Dr. Revilo P. Oliver in a speech recorded on his website. http://www.revilo-oliver.com I think is the site. Oliver was cited by Richard Condon in the Manchurian Candidate indirectly only using an anagram unfortunately. Since Oliver was a civilian cryptographer during World War II, Condon chose this encrypted anagram and cryptographic method to identify those persons whom he believed were behind the 1958 plot to kill Senator Kennedy which was written about in The Third Decade by Dr. Jerry Rose from Fredonia State I think that Schwarz was essentially dancing his little victory dance over both JFK, RFK and the Reuther brothers who were both Jewish and staunch Union leaders for UAW and the AFL-CIO. He was really telling the world that the "Ruthless Brothers" were now powerless without JFK and RFK to help carry out their memorandum and their plan of action against both the Far Right and specifically against the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade run by Schwarz and Company. Until this week I was unaware that the reason Schwarz and Eric Butler were so anti-Kennedy was not only because of his pro-Union stances and what they determined was a "soft stance" against the Commies, but specifically because Senator Young, the Reuthers and even the FCC had launched a campaign to silence them forever and bankrupt them in the process. It took the Far Right almost 18 months from the date of the "Ruthless Memorandum" to finalize their plans, but it eventually happened. There was another memorandum, done by a Democratic Senator from Montana or the Dakotas, (I will have to research his name) which essentially proposed the same type of counter-attack against The John Birch Society, the Liberty Lobby, the Congress of Freedom and the rest of the Radical Right which JFK had heartily endorsed as well as I recall. This memo came out in the late 1962 or early 1963 timeframe. People who worked for the Reuthers, like Wilbur Baldinger and his associates, Wes McCuen from Group Research, in Washington, DC, had been attempting to penetrate or investigate the far right for several years. Baldinger's archives show that he had been tracking the right since about 1950 in fact. Now we discover from James Richards, that Baldinger was hot on the trail of none other than Alex Rorke and those in the Anti-Communist Liaison, Committee of Correspondence, who had a Research Report on their activities published in the early 1960's as well which I had in my hands at one time. This included Billy James ("BJ") Hargis, Charles Willoughby, Alex Rorke and Edward Hunter the author of "Brainwashing" as well and a few others like Sarah McClendon the former White House Reporter from Texas, who successfully counter-penetrated C.O.P.A. in the early 1990's in order to find out how close we were getting to the solution of the entire JFK mystery. She and an associate of hers, a friend of Steve Hagen or Steve Hager from HighTimes Magazine directed her to me as the author of several previous articles on Charles Willoughby. She tried to grill me over lunch at a JFK Conference in Washington, DC to find out more about my knowledge of Willoughby, but since I did not really know who she was at the time, I only cited what had been published already by both Dick Russell, Mae Brussel, Bill Turner, David Emory and myself. Sarah was VERY INTERESTED and VERY CONCERNED about this line of research to say the least. And now I know why. There is no doubt in my mind, NONE WHATSOEVER, that Major General Charles A. Willoughby and his former senior officer General of the Armies, Douglas Arthur MacArthur were 2 of the lynchpins in the entire JFK murder plot. There were 3-4 major factions which came together to eliminate JFK and to reduce his powerful friends to useless puppets without a puppet master. Here I have at least partially delineated the reasons why both the Religious Right and the Military Right wanted JFK eliminated. The Manufacturing and Industrial Right, opposed every aspect of JFK's favoritism for labor unions and especially for currying favor from the Jewish Reuther brothers and other labor leaders like Jimmy Hoffa in exchange for promising block votes for his Presidential campaigns. They all feared further loss of properties and businesses to communist insurgents both here and abroad. The Publishing and Broadcasting Right used their power in the press, on TV and Radio in as pamphleteers to mount opposition against JFK, and they succeeded very well in that campaign. The so-called "Banana Dictatorship" Farming and Agricultural Right from the likes of United Fruit, The Boston Fruit Company and even Dole among others hated JFK for not doing enough to recover lost properties in Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean Islands. (most recently the Sugar Cane, Banana and Pineapple properties of United Fruit in Cuba taken by Castro) The Oil and Petroleum Right feared the same things as well but that has already been well documented. The Intelligence Right was also opposed to JFK and his willingness to follow a Dean Rusk and Dean Acheson approach to communist containment: Berlin Walls, Iron Curtains, No-fly Zones, 48th Parallels with barbed wire fences, and the Straits of Cuba. The Democrats wanted to draw Lines in the Sand and the Republican Far Right wanted Blood in the Sand. And the Republican Right won out. They got their blood, they killed their Commies but only after JFK was dead and gone. I lived these events personally and knew people who took both sides of each and every part of these conflicts. And I was subjected to anti-communist pamphleteers, and lectures from Irish missionaries, right in my Catholic elementary school courtesy of the good Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They had been scared to death about what the Communists had actually or allegedly done to priests, nuns, Bishops, Cardinals, Catholic Churches and Catholic Schools around the world and they asked us to join them in the fight against Communism. While they did not ask us to take up guns and kill them, the message was clear. Godless Communists had no souls, they were not Catholic and had no right to heaven, so by implication a dead Commie would go straight to Hell. The message was pretty clear. We had anti-Communist pamphlets with the ugly mug of J. Edgar Hoover on them left on our desks to be discussed when we came back from recess. We literally had the pants scared off our little butts. We had not only fire drills but air raid drills once a month. First we were told to practice huddling under our little desks as if that would save our butts. Then we were told to move all the desks over to the blackboard away from the windows as if that would somehow help. And finally after several months of pussy footing around we would all be marched down into the deep and dark recesses of the basement of our building every single month just to practice. And if you think that was not scary for a bunch of 8 or 9 year olds you are very wrong. Very wrong. And that's the way it was. Tuesday, October 27th, at 3:00 pm. ....and You Are There. As Walter Cronkite used to say.

This so-called "Reuther Memorandum" written in the early 1960's (c. 1961?) launched a concerted response from the far right against the Reuther brothers (UAW union leaders) who were strong supporters and allies of JFK. This book was published by the Liberty Lobby, authored by Billy James Hargis of the Christian Crusade a leader of the Anti-Communist Liaison Committee of Correspondence and purchased by tens of thousands of rabid and vitriolic far right wingers. Hargis was a close friend of Alex Rorke, Charles Willoughby, Edward Hunter, Sarah McLendon who were all on the ACL-Comm of Correspondence. These 5 were a microcosm of the elements who were allied to kill JFK. "BJ" as Hargis was affectionately known, penned the forward to this opposition manuscript shortly thereafter. It turns out that this was one of the last nails in the coffin of JFK. The alliance of these forces from the far right laid out the fate of JFK and carried out his execution after their attempts at character assassination failed: The anti-Union forces, the anti-Semites, the integration opposition, the anti-Communist forces, the pro-Military forces (especially the anti-CIA foes from Army Intel) and the anti-Catholic elements all agreed on one thing: JFK Must Die, Dean Rusk and Dean Acheson must go and Bobby Kennedy must follow shortly thereafter. And you think the CIA acting alone did it? You must be kidding! Really you must be kidding, right? Walter Reuther's Secret Memorandum Reuther, Walter Bookseller: Sessions Book Sales (Birmingham, AL, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: Christian Crusade, Tulsa, OK. Paper. Book Condition: Very Good. 5.5" x 8.5". 28 pages. Reprint of a memorandum from pro-communist Walter Reuther to Bobby Kennedy advocating the use of the Fairness Doctrine by the FCC as a means of silencing and suppressing conservative broadcasters. Stapled Booklet. Bookseller Inventory # 55042 Bookseller & Payment Information | More Books from this Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question Price: US$ 17.50 Convert Currency Shipping: US$ 1.95 Within U.S.A. Destination, Rates & Speeds 2. Walter Reuther's secret memorandum. Foreword by Billy James Hargis. Hargis, Billy James] Bookseller: Bolerium Books (San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: Tulsa Christian Crusade no date, about 1970., 1970. 28p., 8.5x5.5 inches, from typescript, staplebound selfwraps. The memo was captioned "The radical right in America today" and was outspoken : "The strong posture against radical right Generals and Admirals suggested in this memorandum would go far to answer Soviet propaganda that American foreign policy is not in responsible hands and that there is a substantial 'preventative war' group in the Pentagon which may ultimately get the upper hand." // Hargis' intro is a page and a half, with another two pages of Hargisoniana appended, this a short essay, "The real facts about Walter Reuther." This appendix includes excerpts from a 1938 letter allegedly from the Reuther brothers that was introduced into Dies committee hearings. // See also Victor G. Reuther's autobiography "The Brothers Reuther" (Houghton 1976) where the memorandum is reprinted and credited (Victor, Walter and Joseph Rauh were preparers, the memo was specifically directed to RFK). Bookseller Inventory # 117842 Bookseller & Payment Information | More Books from this Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question Price: US$ 16.50 Convert Currency Shipping: US$ 3.50 Within U.S.A. Destination, Rates & Speeds 3. Walter Reuther's Secret Memorandum Reuther, Walter Bookseller: Conover Books (Rochelle, IL, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: Foreward by "BJ" Hargis from Christian Crusade Publications, Tulsa, OK, U.S.A. Stapled Soft Cover. Book Condition: Very Good. Reprint (1961). 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Minor edge and corner wear, lightly scuffed, lower corner is creased, overall a clean used copy! Very very rare and hard-to-find title! White wrappers with black lettering. No publishing date (appears to be early 70's). 20 very clean unmarked informative and historical pages! Extremely scarce and out-of-print! "As you read the heretofore 'secret' document which we reprint here (an exact reproduction of original, without deletions, additions or comments), you will see 'liberalism in action..with the facade removed.' The liberals intend to stop the 'grass-roots' conservative movements of America without regard to civil liberties or civil rights. A suppression of 'freedom of speech'..'government coercion and intimidation'..all the earmarks of Nazism and communism are suggested in this report as appropriate action against the enemies of the Liberal Establishment..." ---- from the Foreword by Billy James a/k/a "BJ" Hargis. Bookseller Inventory # 036547 Bookseller & Payment Information | More Books from this Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question Price: US$ 20.00 Convert Currency Shipping: US$ 3.25 Within U.S.A. Destination, Rates & Speeds 4. The Reuther memorandum: Its applications and implications William E Mallett Bookseller: Zubal Books (Cleveland, OH, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: Liberty Lobby, 1963. *Helping and promoting global literacy since 1961* 80 pp., paperback, small wave to top edge, yellow spine discolored, else good+. Bookseller Inventory # ZB655957 A spine-tingling foreward written by "BJ" Hargis. Bookseller & Payment Information | More Books from this Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question Price: US$ 22.94 Convert Currency Shipping: US$ 3.50 Within U.S.A. Destination, Rates & Speeds 5. The Reuther Memorandum - Its Applications and Implications Mallett, William E. Bookseller: RG Vintage Books (Frostburg, MD, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: Liberty Lobby, Washington, D.C., 1965. Trade Paperback. Book Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: No Dustjacket. 1965 Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. 1965 Edition. Tight trade paperback in as new condition. 8vo. 80pp. White wrappers with black & white illustration of a meeting with Russia officials and American is holidng up The Reuther Memorandum booklet on the front wrapper. Book is clean and tight. No dustjacket as issued. Wrappers have only a bit of edgewear from storage. Leaves are in excellent condition with no markings or flaws. Ships within 24 hours. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Scanned photos available upon request. Bookseller Inventory # 002755 Foreward penned by "BJ" Hargis a whale of a tale teller. Bookseller & Payment Information | More Books from this Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question Price: US$ 23.95 Convert Currency Shipping: US$ 3.95 Within U.S.A. Destination, Rates & Speeds 6. Walter Reuther's Secret Memorandum Reuther, Walter Bookseller: Pamphleteer (Cambridge, MA, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: Tulsa, OK : Christian Crusade. Soft cover. Book Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. A 12mo pamphlet of 19p. VG. Circa early 1970's. With a forward by Billy James "BJ" Hargis. Bookseller Inventory # 3X2961 Bookseller & Payment Information | More Books from this Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question Price: US$ 24.99 Convert Currency Shipping: US$ 4.00 Within U.S.A. Destination, Rates & Speeds 7. Walter Reuther's Secret Memorandum Reuther, Walter Bookseller: A Parcel of Books (Exton, PA, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: Christian Crusade Publications. Soft cover. Book Condition: Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Foreword by Billy James "BJ" Hargis. Stapled printed wrapper. [28] pages. [No date] Toning on all edges. No corner wear, very lightly creased on back below lower staple, no markings inside, overall a very clean collectible used copy. Laid in is a facsimile reproduction of a Federal Communications Commission public notice FCC 63-734 38372 , with printed marginal notations, dated July 26, 1963 entitled "Broadcast licensees advised concerning stations' responsibilities under the fairness doctrine as to controversial issue programming." Walter Philip Reuther (1907-1970) was an American labor union leader (president of the United Automobile Workers (UAW) from 1946 until his death) and a socialist who became a leading liberal and supporter of the New Deal coalition, and then a leading anti-Communist and supporter of the Cold War and the Vietnam War. Billy James a/k/a "BJ" Hargis (1925-2004) founded the Christian Crusade in 1947, as "a Christian weapon against Communism and its godless allies." Bookseller Inventory # R1024 Bookseller & Payment Information | More Books from this Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question Price: US$ 25.00 Convert Currency Shipping: US$ 4.50 Within U.S.A. Destination, Rates & Speeds 8. The Reuther memorandum, its applications and implications. Mallet, William E Bookseller: Bolerium Books (San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: Washington Liberty Lobby [1965]., 1965. 80p., wraps, one corne slightly bumped. Attack on the unions, the Kennedys, the media, Congress, etc. Bookseller Inventory # 111546 Bookseller & Payment Information | More Books from this Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question Price: US$ 27.50 Convert Currency Shipping: US$ 3.50 Within U.S.A. Destination, Rates & Speeds 9. THE REUTHER MEMORANDUM: ITS APPLICATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Mallett, William E Bookseller: Commonwealth Books [ABAA, ILAB] (Boston, MA, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: Washington, DC : Liberty Lobby, 1965., 1965. 8vo. Stapled wraps (pamphlet). 80 pp. Walter Reuther’s name written in ink (probably not by Reuther himself) on front wrap. Association information stamped in ink on inside rear wrap. Wraps lightly toned and soiled. Very good. Bookseller Inventory # 418013 Bookseller & Payment Information | More Books from this Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question Price: US$ 30.00 Convert Currency Shipping: US$ 7.50 Within U.S.A. Destination, Rates & Speeds 10. THE REUTHER MEMORANDUM, ITS APPLICATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS MALLETT, WILLIAM E. Bookseller: Hardcovers @ Old and Rare Inc. (Palm Bay, FL, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: LIBERTY LOBBY, WASHINGTON DC 1965, 1965. SOFT COVER BOOK WITH 80 PAGES. VERY GOOD. Bookseller Inventory # BOOKHII2285 Billy James "BJ" Hargis bent over backwards (and forwards as well apparently) to contribute to the successful publication of this book. Bookseller & Payment Information | More Books from this Seller | Ask Bookseller a Question Price: US$ 60.00 Convert Currency Shipping: US$ 3.00 Within U.S.A. Destination, Rates & Speeds 11. The Reuther Memorandum; Its Applications and Implications William E. Mallett Bookseller: Books4all (Hendersonville, NC, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Book Description: Liberty Lobby, 1965. Paperback. Book Condition: Near Fine. Nice copy. Covers a bit dirty but so was "BJ" Hargis. No writing in the book - not even an owners name. Bookseller Inventory # 006197

Christian Anti-Communist Crusade's NEWSLETTER by Dr. Fred C. Schwarz November 1963 TEACHING COMMUNISM IN THE SCHOOLS COMMUNISM – DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT MEXICO BRAZIL THE REUTHER MEMORANDUM LEST WE FORGET BRITISH GUIANA LIBEL IN NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE COMING EVENTS UNIVERSITIES INDIA THE TASTE OF VICTORY CONCLUSION TEACHING COMMUNISM IN THE SCHOOLS There is considerable agreement that the nature of Communism should be taught in the schools, but debate rages concerning how it should be taught. The two dominant schools of thought may be summarized: 1) Communism should be taught as an unmitigated evil. 2) Communism should be taught objectively with attention being paid to its good features as well as to its evil ones. The partisans of the second schools of thought adorn themselves with the garments of academic righteousness and attack those who would teach Communism as a completely evil system as advocates of indoctrination, not education. They emphasize the necessity for strict objectivity and the absence of any element of emotionalism in the treatment of Communism. They are supremely confident that they are in the stream of American educational traditions, and have chosen the better course. This assumption is false and represents academic infantilism rather than maturity. It is pedagogic nonsense. If applied generally to the educational processes, it would reduce it to a shambles. Education without basic indoctrination is impossible. No system of education can be divorced from the society which educates. This society has accumulated experience and established philosophic and moral values. These values must be communicated to the student and not left to his personal discretion. It has been well said, "A fool learns by his own experience, a wise man by the experience of others." There are many things in which a child is rightfully indoctrinated. A few examples taken at random are: 1) 2 + 2 = 4. 2) Cleanliness is desirable. 3) Cruelty is undesirable. 4) Human life should be preserved. 5) Laws should be obeyed. It is true that philosophic arguments have raged concerning the validity of each of these assumptions but the resultant chaos in the community if such doctrines were not basically accepted can well be imagined. Philosophy of Education "All but the most superficial realize that education like any other complex organized unit must operate in a frame of reference. There must be a basic philosophy of education. Education is not merely the sum of the facts submitted. These facts have perspective as well as quantity and construct an essential unity. It was said of Socrates, "He saw things steadily and saw them whole." Perspective Those who emphasize the necessity for objective teaching of Communism emphasizing its good features as well as its evil ones tend to ignore the important question of perspective. If any complex system is subdivided into its component parts, it is usually a mixture of good and evil. Let us assume that the toxin in snake venom constitutes 13 per cent of the whole. The remaining 87 per cent may be considered nutritional. Would it be advisable to educate children that being bitten by a snake would be 13 per cent bad and 87 per cent good? The fatal consequences of the 13 per cent might seem to dwarf the nutritional benefits of the 87 per cent to the pardonably biased victim. The Nature of Communism Communism is a unity with philosophic, organizational, political elements. Its philosophy denies God and bestializes man; its organization projects a small elite and ultimately one man into a position of enormous power; its political system imposes dictatorship which is exercised through monopoly and reduces the entire population to an aggregation of slaves. It we accept the basic premise that God created man to be free, Communism is a unity of evil. The features which could be classed beneficial if considered in isolation merely compound this evil. I debated Ben Dobbs, Executive Director of the Communist Party in California, on a television program. Ben Dobbs said, "But what’s wrong with Communism? We Communist believe in full employment. What’s wrong with that? We believe in the end of war for all time. What’s wrong with that? We believe in universal peace and human brotherhood. What’s wrong with that?" Turning to me he asked, "Don’t you believe in these things, Dr. Schwarz?" I replied, "That reminds me of the mackeral swimming by and observing an enticing piece of fish. It says to itself, ‘High protein content, what’s wrong with that? Delicious aroma, what’s wrong with that? Highly nutritious, it will build splendid fish tissue. What’s wrong with that? Just the right size. I can take it in one swift mouthful. What’s wrong with that?’ What’s wrong with it is the hook in it! And what’s wrong with what you just said, Mr. Dobbs, is the hook of Communist dictatorship through monopoly and its imposition of universal tyranny." The bait attached to the hook may be beneficial in every way, but a hook adorned with such bait is to the fish a much more sinister unit of evil than the naked hook. The alleged economic and moral benefits of Communism are simply the bait adorning the monstrous Communist dictatorial hook. Every proud boast of Communist achievement can be matched by conditions in a well-kept penitentiary. Most people would be unconvinced by the argument that imprisonment is desirable because the following statements are true: 1) Alcoholics become sober. 2) Economic security is universal. 3) Shelter is adequate for protection against tornadoes and hurricanes. 4) Medical and dental care are freely available. 5) Educational opportunities exist. 6) An environment of law and order prevails. The universal passion for liberty would spurn these benefits and prefer the insecure environment where the individual can choose. Without freedom to choose, there is no freedom and no morality. Communism is a monstrous hoax. It is a unity of bestiality and slavery. This central fact concerning Communist should be clearly taught, and education that ignores this is unworthy of its name. COMMUNISM – DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT The publication and translation of the book "Communism–Diagnosis and Treatment" was undertaken by a missionary couple, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Schiebe. Our sole contact was through correspondence until we recently had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Schiebe personally in the United States. They write: "A Baptist Pastor Friend was given your book. He read it over and preached about it on his big radio broadcast. He has a program every other morning in Sao Paulo. Many, many people wrote in asking to receive the book and he is thrilled with the response. I am thankful that so many people are waking up before it is too late." MEXICO When our educational program against Communism is judged objectively, we usually receive high commendation. The pictorial booklet "If Communism Comes to Mexico" has been widely distributed in that country. It does not, of course, mention the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. A copy of it reached the hands of the editor of the Tucson Daily Citizen and they published the following. "Page 14, Tuesday Evening, Aug. 27, 1963 "The Hammer is Heavy and The Sickle Drips Blood "It’s a little booklet printed in bright colors on pulp paper–the sort of thing called a "comic" book here in the United States. "But its contents are not comic. "On the cover, superimposed upon a map of Mexico, are the crossed hammer and sickle, emblem of communism. The hammer is heavy and black. The sickle drips red blood. "‘Si El Communismo Llega a Mexico,’ reads the title. "‘If Communism Comes to Mexico.’ "It’s a frightening little book, of just 12 pages, which depends as much on pictures as on its very brief Spanish text to tell the story of what a Communist takeover would mean to the people of Mexico. "And that’s a grim story–a story of forced labor under the lash, of families separated by the state, of closed churches, of wholesale political executions–a story, in short, of the terror and tyranny without which Communist dictators cannot maintain themselves in power. "It’s a down-to-earth booklet, aimed at the widest possible audience. Even those who cannot read would get from the pictures the concept that communism is evil. "We don’t know who published the booklet (and an almost identical one which is aimed at all Latin America instead of just Mexico) or how many have been printed and distributed. Whoever it is deserves praise for the effort, and we hope he will spread them by the millions. "We do not know of any organized right-of-center political movement in Mexico. Despite a good constitution, which is honored more in the breach than the observance, Mexico operates for all practical purposes under what amounts to a one-party system. The government, although not Communist, is certainly left-of-center. Many Communist groups and agitators are active in the country. "Because of these circumstances–and because subversion is being exported from Red Cuba to all of Latin America–there is always some danger that Mexico could succumb to a Communist coup. That would be a true tragedy–not only for the Mexican people but also for the United States, which shares some 1500 miles of border with its neighbor to the south. "Communist propagandists are active in Mexico. We hope that wide distribution of ‘Si El Comunismo Llega a Mexico’ will more than offset the harm they are doing." BRAZIL While the political and economic situation in Brazil continues to deteriorate and the nation trembles at the brink of the Communist abyss, the program to educate the Brazilian people concerning Communism continues unabated. We now have the two books circulating in Portuguese: 1) You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists) 2) Communism – Diagnosis and Treatment Many thousands of these books are now in circulation and some idea of the results can be secured from the following letters: This letter was written by Roland L. Day on August 3, 1962. It sparked the project to publish and distribute the Portuguese Edition of "You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)." "I am an American, 27 years old, married to a Brazilian girl who attended college where I studied in Alabama, my home state. I have one sone and my occupation is construction, that of building houses and apartment buildings. I make my home in this town and an very satisfied to be a resident of Brazil. "I’m writing to you for help. In this city of nearly 200,000 there does not exist any force, civil or otherwise, combating Communism. I need materials, instructional guidance and the backing of your organization to launch a down to earth drive that will be effective in educating local citizens as to what Communism is. "To briefly explain the necessity, I should like to inform that this city has three universities, a law school, and engineering school and a dental school, all without exception are taught by leftist professors who really have no knowledge of Communism. The students of course are constantly striking and creating mobs as you can imagine. High living citizens also think Communism is out to bring about a new way of life for everybody. Now is the time for the candidates to make speeches in their efforts to get elected next October and, I regrettably report, it appears that the majority are leftists." The changing situation is revealed by the following letter dated October 15, 1963. "It was indeed stimulating to learn about the Portuguese translation of your "Communism – Diagnosis and Treatment" being presently available in Brazil. Your initiative serves as further proof that we are continuing to be supported by the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. This fact is often reassuring since it is easy to despair in the midst of this world of ignorance in which we live down here. "The Communist activities in Brazil are growing in number day to day. And it is needless to say that their growing power is attained by the simple application of tactics which have been utilized in every other Communist dominated nation. Translations of this type are imperatives for us. The effective distribution of these materials is a much more powerful weapon than tons of free food, speeches or any other method of combat. An example of the effectiveness of literature inthis area is the repercussion your ‘Voce Pede Confair Nos Communistas’ has brought about. I took measures to select persons who are known leftists. For example, students, school and university teachers, businessmen and many common laymen. I even sent one copy to David Masser, the famous Brazilian reporter, who is a tremendous Anti-Communist. I’m hopeful to stir-up a lot of propaganda with his assistance. Also Governor Carlos Laserda, the greatest Brazilian alive today, received a copy and many federal congressmen who are ‘useful innocents’. All in all I report from here excellent developments from this project. "I request 1000 copies of the Portuguese translation ‘Communism – Diagnosis and Treatment’. Should its effects match those of ‘You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)’ then the Crusade will be well compensated for its efforts. So will I. "Thank you again for your help and many blessings." Here is another typical letter from a missionary priest: "What good news to hear your book is in Portuguese. In fact, I just sent for 100 copies to use in our Junior College and High School, plus gift copies to our political ‘bosses’, etc. "In fact, another Priest, Fr. Louis Gansale and I were talking about you the other day and agreed that yours is one of the best books on Communism. So again, keep up the good fight. "Here in the interior of the country the Communists are beginning to reveal themselves. And it’s a very difficult job to alert or warn the people because they are almost completely indifferent. So any literature you care to send this way, I’d be glad to read and study it." Good News Periodically we receive news that gladdens the heart. In this category was the information that "Diario de Noticias" one of the outstanding newspapers of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, wishes to serialize "You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)" in its Sunday edition. THE REUTHER MEMORANDUM During the past 18 months a ferocious campaign has been waged relentlessly to discredit and destroy the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. There has been no limit to the dishonesty practices by the participants in this slanderous attack. It has been very difficult to discern the motives of some of those who have taken part. It is easy to understand the hostility of the Communists, but many of those who have joined in the attack on the Crusade have records of hostility to Communism rather than sympathy towards it. Their attitude has been puzzling in the extreme. Light has not been shed on this perplexing problem through the publication of a memorandum prepared by Walter and Victor Reuther of the United Auto Workers Union and submitted to the Justice Department on December 19, 1961. This memorandum was first revealed in the book "The Far Right" by Donald Janson and Bernard Eismann. They write, "In the fall of 1961, Walter Reuther, President of the United Auto Workers’ Union, and a Vice President of the AFL-CIO, discussed the matter with Attorney General Robert Kennedy and promised to write a memorandum for him." Thus, the Reuther Memorandum was born. Judging from the events of the last eighteen months, it appears that this memorandum was instrumental in forming the official policy of the Administration towards the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. Lack of Definition of the Radical Right No attempt is made to define the radical right. The Christian Anti-Communism Crusade is simply classified as an extremist radical right organization without a breath of evidence to support the assumption. The authors reveal great ignorance of the history, philosophy, and general activity of the Crusade. There is no hint given in the document that they are even aware of our world-wide, anti-Communist educational work. The memorandum states, "All of these radical right organizations have the same general line. The danger to American is domestic Communism. While their particular traitor will vary from Harry Hopkins to George Marshall; from President Truman to President Eisenhower; from Senator Fulbright to some labor leader; there is no question that anybody even slightly to the left of Senator Goldwater is suspect. They traffic in fear. Treason in high places is their slogan and slander is their weapon." By classing the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade in this category, the Reuthers proved that they themselves are skilled in the techniques of slander. The Christian Anti-Communism Crusade has an intelligent, effective anti-Communist program in 21 countries extending from Japan to Mexico. Long before this memorandum was written, the Crusade had enabled an American-educated Indian, a Christian freedom-loving patriot, George Thomas, to establish a daily newspaper in Kerala, India, and to cooperate with other groups in the overthrow of a Communist state government. It had been active in the sugar and rice plantations of British Guiana teaching the workers there what they might expect from a Communist take over. These activities have led to consistent attacks on the Crusade in the Communist press of the entire world. On all this the Reuther brothers were silent, and I suspect their silence was due to their ignorance. The memorandum ends with some practical suggestions. One of these is, "The flow of big money to the Radical Right should be dammed to the extent possible." The memorandum suggest that tax exemptions be carefully checked, that lists of major donors to the Far Right be made public and that the Federal Communication Commission investigate radio and television stations carrying "Far Right" propaganda. If we assume that this recommendation became the policy of the Administration, we can easily account for many puzzling things. These include: 1) The attempt to destroy the financial support of the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. 2) The slanders of Attorney General Mosk. 3) The slanders of Senator Stephen M. Young. 4) The difficulties experienced in purchasing television time in New York City. 5) The changed attitude of the United States Information Service towards the book "You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)" The Attempt to Destroy the Financial Support of the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade The Christian Anti-Communism Crusade secured tax-exempt status as an educational and a religious organization on September 18, 1956. This was granted after thorough examination of the work of the Crusade. The books have always been open and audited, and the audit was published. In the summer of 1962, auditors representing the Federal Government and the State of California investigated the books very thoroughly. We welcomed this investigation as we are proud of what we have been able to do in the battle against Communism all around the world with very limited funds. The auditors were able to check both the source of the funds and their expenditure. A cursory examination soon revealed that the assumption that the Crusade was financed by big business was quite incorrect. The chief source of finance comes from small gifts from scores of thousands of devoted individuals scattered across the country. Since much of our income is invested in freedom-loving national workers, the donations have proved a most fruitful investment for the cause of freedom. We welcomed both the State and Federal audits which revealed the high quality of this work. A second attack has now commenced. If it can be shown that the Crusade is primarily political, tax deductible status can be withdrawn. This charge has been made by a number of sources but it is demonstrably false. Education concerning the philosophy, morality, organizational structure and techniques of Communism constitutes the dominant activity of the Crusade and no honest investigation can fail to substantiate this. Prejudice and hatred are strangers to honesty so we must expect that this charge will continue to be made. The Slanders of the Attorney General Most of California On February 5, 1963, Attorney General Stanley Mosk of California climaxed an attack on the Northern California School of Anti-Communism and the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade with a television speech filled with objective falsehood. This speech attached the label "Patriots for Profit" to Crusade workers and this has been repeated thousands of times around the world. Why would a man in a position of such trust and honor so degrade his office and besmirch his State of California? It appears part of the pattern. The Slanderous Attack of Senator Stephen M. Young of Ohio On August 7, 1962, Senator Stephen M. Young of Ohio delivered one of the most scurrilous speeches in the history of the United States Senate. It was an attack upon Dr. Fred Schwarz and the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. When I first read the speech of Senator Young, I could scarcely believe my eyes. It was a compilation of all the lowest and vilest lies gathered from polluted sources and released under the immunity of the United States Senate. I had never met Senator Young and found his vicious unprovoked attack extremely puzzling. When we see his speech as part of the coordinated campaign to destroy the Crusade, it begins to make sense. Television in New York When we were in New York City for the Greater New York School of Anti-Communism, we were shocked to discover that it was exceedingly difficult to buy television time. They were apologetic but appeared fearful. If we assume that the Federal Communication Commission had been directed to follow the recommendation of the Reuther memorandum and, "Check radio and television stations carrying ‘Far Right propaganda’", and when we consider the life and death power exercised by the F.C.C. the reluctance of friendly television stations can be understood. The mere hint of official displeasure can be devastating. The Changed Attitude of the United States Information Service Towards the Book "You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)" On August 26, 1962, I was the guest on the nationally televised program "Meet the Press". One of the panelists, James Wechsler of the New York Post, challenged me to produce any areas of cooperation between the Crusade and the Administration. I stated that the United States Information Service had arranged for the translation of the book "You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)" into Korean and suggested that the Crusade subsidize the publisher. At the conclusion of the program the news media contacted the United States Information Agency to check the accuracy of my claim. The USIS confirmed it and stated, "The book by Dr. Schwarz . . . is regarded by the USIS as ‘an extremely clear exposition of the Communist threat’." This was the report of Director Herb McGushin, published in the New York Post, August 27, 1962. The New York Post responded with an editorial attacking the USIS for subsidizing the Far Right. During this interchange the U.S. Information Agency revealed that it had also arranged for the translation and publication of the book in Burmese. Brazil An American citizen stationed in Brazil was alarmed at the presence of Communist propaganda and the absence of Anti-Communist literature. He contact both the Crusade and the United States Information Agency in Brazil with the suggestion that the book "You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)" be made available in Portuguese. Negotiations followed in which the United States Information Agency office in Brazil acted as the middle man. They put the Crusade in touch with the publisher and negotiated arrangements for a Crusade subsidy that would enable the book to be published cheaply. The project to distribute the book to every university student in Brazil was conceived. A fund-raising banquet to secure funds for this purpose was planned for the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles for the evening of June 10. In the publicity promoting this banquet it was stated that the United States Information Service had cooperated in the project of publishing the book. Certain newsmen contact the United States Information Agency and reported that they denied such cooperation. In the light of the active role they had played, this denial was incomprehensible. On the day of the banquet the above letter was received. Letter From the Information Agency "June 7, 1963 Dear Dr. Schwarz, This Agency has recently received copies of a brochure announcing your fund raising banquet to be held this Monday, June 10. The brochure is headed "Anti-Communist Literature for Latin America Banquet." While it is true that this Agency did facilitate your publication efforts in a few countries, it is not at all true as stated in your brochure that your project has the active cooperation and support of this Agency. We therefore strongly object to the use of the name of this Agency in furthering your fund rasing efforts. There are other anti-communist volumes this Agency is in fact actively supporting in Latin America through our book translations and publication program. These include: J. Edgar Hoover: A STUDY OF COMMUNISM (Spanish) Harry and Bonaro Overstreet: WHAT WE MUST KNOW ABOUT COMMUNISM (Spanish) Igor Gouzenko: FALL OF A TITAN (Portuguese) Leland Stowe: CONQUEST BY TERROR (Spanish and Portuguese) In addition this Agency has recently received Congressional support for a substantially stepped up book program in Latin America. As part of that program we are currently arranging the translation and publication in Spanish and Portuguese of the following volumes: Goodman: SOVIET DESIGN FOR A WORLD STATE (1960) Griffiths: CHANGING FACE OF COMMUNISM (1961) Kaznacheev: INSIDE A SOVIET EMBASSY (1962) Kulski: PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE: An analysis of Soviet Foreign Policy (1959) Monahan and Gilmore: THE GREAT DECEPTION: The Inside Story of How the Kremlin Took over Cuba (1963) In light of the above facts, we would greatly appreciate your refraining from the use of the name of this Agency or its officers in any manner indicating endorsement or support of your book or organization and its fund raising activities. Very truly yours, Stanley Plesent General Cousel" To this letter I made the following reply: Dear Mr. Plesent: I read your letter of June 7, with elation, confusion, and consternation. My elation is due to the information that the United States Information Agency is translating and publishing in Spanish and Portuguese the excellent books your letter named. My confusion is because I cannot see the relevance of this delightful information to the point at issue. I stated that the United States Information Agency cooperated actively in the project to publish the book, YOU CAN TRUST THE COMMUNISTS (to be Communists), in Portuguese, in Brazil. I contend that any unbiased person would agree that contacting a publisher and initiating negotiations constitutes active cooperation. My consternation is due to the bizarre possibility that the United States Information Agency may be opposed to the distribution to the university students of Brazil of a book which they classified as "an extremely clear explanation of the Communist threat." The cooperation of the United States information Agency was reported to disperse the prevalent delusion that the educational programs on Communism conducted by the Crusade are contrary to the policies and activities of the United States Government. I cannot speak for the present and future policies of the United States Information Service. However, their past actions and statements are a matter of record, and I know of no reason why I should conceal the truth. If there is a reason of which I am unaware, I would be glad to be informed of it so that I may adjust my future conduct. I will be visiting Washington, D.C. in the near future and hope I may meet with representatives of the United States Information Service. Yours very sincerely, Fred Schwarz Director Anti-Communist Literature for Latin America Project Burma An interesting postscript is that two weeks later we received a copy of the Burmese translation of "You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)" from the USIA. They had made all arrangements for translation and publication and had financed the entire project. Until I read the Reuther memorandum, the change in attitude was difficult to understand. The Attorney General In retrospect it is ammusing to contemplate the sincere efforts we made to secure the Attorney General as a speaker at the Madison Square Garden Anti-Communism Rally in New York City. While this attempt is being made to destroy the Anti-Communism Crusade, Communism continues to make great gains throughout the world. The situation has never been more dangerous than it is at present. It is ludicrous to spend enormous sums of money fighting Communism all around the world and to ignore the dedicated representatives of this scourge within the United States. The agents of a totalitarian tyranny, that has conquered and enslaved one billion people and is working overtime to conquer the rest of the world, must be regarded seriously whatever opinion the Reuther brothers may have. The Crusade will publish the Reuther Memorandum and will supply copies on request. LEST WE FORGET During the present phase of the Communist Plan of conquest, Communism is assuming garments of moderation and peace. The nature of the system must never be forgotten and we publish this statement by the Supreme Executive Council of the Association for the Liberation of Ukraine. The Dastardly Crime of the Russian Colonialists in Ukraine Thirty years ago the Russian Communist horde, with the aid of its lackeys in Ukraine, slaughtered not less than seven million men, women and children by arranging the greatest man-made famine the world has ever known. This monstrous famine was arranged as a reprisal against the people of Ukraine, aspecially the peasants, for their stubborn resistance to the colonial policies of Moscow, particularly the collectivization of agriculture. Moscow gave orders to strip the entire territory of Ukraine of all visible grain, other foodstuffs and livestock. In order to complete such mass robbery, Moscow mobilized all available Communist riff-raff in Ukraine and Russia proper and set it upon the defenseless villages of Ukraine in order to do the job within the shortest time possible. The entire territory of Ukraine was quarantined from the rest of the empire and no one was allowed to enter the Russia proper, where there was an abundance of food. The Ukrainians were faced with slow, agonizing death from starvation and millions of Ukrainians perished as a result. This hideous crime of the Russian colonialists surpassed all other crimes committed by them against the Ukrainian people. The winter and spring of 1933 found Ukraine covered with a mass of emaciated corpses. They were loaded on the hatracks and hauled away to be dumped into large pits. Entries of deaths were made in the registries attributing them to "natural causes". The Russians took every precaution to prevent the news of the famine from reaching the outside world with the result that no help whatsoever came from the international Red Cross, and there was no public outcry against this heinous crime of the Russian colonialists, not even a fraction of the outcry that took place against the Russian use of a dog in the spacecraft experiment. DURING THE TERRIBLE YEAR THE LATE PRESIDENT, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, RECOGNIZED THE RUSSIAN COMMUNIST REGIME AND ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH IT, DURING THAT TERRIBLE YEAR THE ABOMINABLE KNAN OF THE RUSSIAN COMMUNIST HORDE COINED THE SLOGAN – "LIFE BECAME BETTER; LIFE BECAME HAPPIER." The present "liberal" premier of the Russian colonial empire, Khan Khrushchov, was then the boss of the colonial government in Ukraine, in charge of executing this monstrous famine. The blood of those who perished is on his hands. The Ukrainians, living outside of the Iron Curtain, are commemorating the 30th anniversary of this man-made calamity by offering prayers and requiem masses for the millions of the deceased brethren and pladging to do everything in their power to bring about the disintegration of this last and the most abominable of the colonial powers. They are being assisted by the good neighbours of the free world who are beginning to understand that the Russian Communism is a dangerous social evil and are willing to join forces to help in smashing of this empire and thus give the Ukrainians and other enslaved peoples to become free and independent nations. WE DEMAND THAT THE UNITED NATIONS CONDEMN THE RUSSIAN COLONIALISM AS A SYSTEM OF GENOCIDE OF THE NON-RUSSIAN PEOPLES OF THE USSR, AND AS THE LAST AND THE MOST BRUTAL COLONIAL EMPIRE OF THE WORLD! AWAY WITH THE RUSSIAN COLONIALISTS! LONG LIVE THE SOVEREIGN, INDEPENDENT UKRAINE! Association for the Liberation of Ukraine Supreme Executive Council BRITISH GUIANA British Guiana continues to be the No. 1 target of Communism in this hemisphere. Press discussion of the current crisis in British Guiana is now quite common. Many of the articles present clearly the danger to Guiana itself, but I am astonished that the strategic location of British Guiana and its common borders with Venezuala and Brazil are receiving so little attention. We seem to understand the strategic significance of South Vietnam as the doorway to Southeast Asia and the consequent necessity for sacrifice to prevent its falling into Communist hands but the comparable relationship of British Guiana to South America is largely ignored. This is indeed strange. An excellent article on British Guiana has been published by Rowland Evans and Robert Novak. Portions of this are reprinted: Communist Pattern–Jagan is changing Guiana "Georgetown, British Guiana – Without waiting for Britain to bestow full independence, Marxist Prime Minister Cheddi Jagan is trying to transform British Guiana into the first Communist salient on the South American continent. "The pattern is familiar. Jagan concentrates on the strategic nerve centers – police, schools, mass communications, labor unions, commerce. Now that an anti-Jagan general strike has been broken, activists fresh from training in Havana and Moscow are infiltrating every aspect of Guianese life. "What makes this rather remarkable is that Guiana, after all, is still a British colony. It ought to be reassuring to see the ubiquitous protraits of Queen Elizabeth II and the remnants of Kiplingesque Englishmen who strike a nostalgic note in their pith helmets. "The British Tommies form an elite regiment resplendent in green jackets. Besides, the newspapers openly attack Jagan. ‘Jagan resign now’ slogans are painted on sidewalks. How could this be called a potential Communist strong hold? "The answer: Jagan is biding his time. Overt strongarm tactics could provoke a repetition of 1953, when Jagan frightened London so badly that it dispatched an army to resume temporary colonial rule. "Ten years later, an older and wiser Jagan is moving discreetly until independence day. For the present, a major objective of the PPP (People’s Progressive Party) is destruction of the free trade union movement so there cannot be another general strike. New Jagan-controlled union, in fact, are having some success in capturing sugar workers and civil servants from old-line, anti-Communist unions. Their success, however, is due far less to silver-tongued organizers than to Jagan’s goon squads roaming the British-owned sugar estates. "There have been cases of beatings, home-burnings, and destruction of worker-owned rice plantings. Jagan is helped no end by his domination of the country’s two British-owned radio stations. No opposition politician can buy a minute’s worth of radio time – but the airways are Jagan’s for the asking. Some air time has been sold to anti-Jagan labor unions, but the programs are heavily censored. "Or consider infiltration of the schools. An anti-Communist educator no longer has a future here. Congeniality with Communism has replaced academic qualifications as the criterion for teaching faculties, particularly the faculty of the new University of Guiana, where four American leftwingers have been imported to teach. "Although it’s only a trickle now, Communist-bloc farm machinery and consumer goods brought in by the PPP’s own trading organization are worrying even British businessmen generally complacent about Communism. "Just last week, for example, a trading contract was signed with East Germany. "More ominous is the insidious infiltration of the police. Although still headed by a British commissioner, the newest recruits are Jaganists, including some bully-boys straight from the PPP youth corps. All this, plus the apparent British disinclination to do anything about it, is driving away the very Guianese who spearhead the resistance to Jagan – the intellectuals, senior civil servants and small businessmen. "In keeping with the dynamic of Communist takeovers, there is no Communist mass movement worthy of the name in this tortured land. Jagan is blindly supported by Guiana’s dominant East Indian population – as a fellow Indian, not as a Communist. He has capitalized on racial rivalry, East Indian vs. Negro, to give Communism a foothold. In truth, all that restrains Jagan is the vestigial British sovereignty. "Until the British lion exists, Jagan cannot have his own army to crush the opposition. And yet Britain is determined to clear out of this impoverished little country with its mixed population of 600,000. This frantic desire to give up the white mans’ burden requires fuller discussion in another column." If we are unable to prevent a Communist takeover of British Guiana, we are unlikely to be able to expel the Communists once they are fully in power. In a very real sense our ability to understand this crisis and to meet it successfully may determine whether Communism will prevail in this hemisphere. LIBEL IN NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE For some undisclosed reason, the national magazine "Newsweek" continues its campaign of libel against the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. In their edition of October 7, 1963, referring to the overthrow of Juan D. Bosch in the Dominican Republic, Newsweek reports, "Even before his election, he was denounced as a ‘Marxist-Leninist,’ and afterward rightist agitators, including members of the California-based Christian Anti-Communist Crusade, tried to stir up more trouble. Their charges were picked up by some U.S. newsmen." This statement is completely false: The Crusade has supported no workers in the Dominican Republic. We have distributed no literature there, and we have had no speakers on the subject of the Dominican Republic. I sent the following letter to the editor of Newsweek magazine and received the familiar experience of having it ignored. The big question is "Why?" "The Editor Newsweek Newsweek Building New York 22, New York Sir: Your edition of October 7, adds another false statement to the many your magazine has already published concerning the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. No rightist agitators are spokesmen for the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade, and this organization has never tried to stir up trouble for President Juan D. Bosch of the Dominican Republic, nor have we denounced him as a Marxist-Leninist. Yours very sincerely, Fred Schwarz" COMING EVENTS San Francisco: On November 19, in the Fairmont Hotel, a KEEP LATIN AMERICA FREE $50-per-plate, fund-raising banquet will be held at 7:00 p.m. This will provide many business and professional friends with an opportunity to contribute. Please inform us of the names of any who may be interested in attending or contributing. Los Angeles: On December 3, in the Shrine Auditorium, a SAVE SOUTH AMERICA FROM COMMUNISM mass rally will be held. We have invited a Senator from British Guiana to address this rally as we seek to awaken the conscience of a slumbering America to the enormous danger to the south. Washington, D.C. Anti-Communism School: This is now planned for the winter of 1964. We are endeavoring to recruit: 1) Sponsoring Committee 2) Faculty 3) Student Body 4) Financial supporters With adequate preparation this can be an event unique in American history. Indianapolis School of Anti-Communism: We anticipate that the Central Indianapolis School of Anti-Communism to be held in Indianapolis from October 28, to November 1, will be the best held in a long time. We believe we will penetrate the wall of prejudice, slander, and fear that has been erected in the effort to contain us. We are truly grateful for superb sponsorship and magnificent workers for the school. UNIVERSITIES The university doors remain open everywhere and during the past few weeks I have spoken to the following colleges and universities: Boston College, Tufts University, Indiana Central College, Butler University, Stanford University, California State College, University of Wisconsin, University of Southern California and the University of Toronto. The student population is characterized by intelligence and idealism and they must be recruited for freedom. The Communist enemy concentrates on recruiting students for their cause. INDIA The work in India continues to grow and it requires constant support. THE TASTE OF VICTORY The film "The Taste of Victory" is now available. It shows the part played by the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade in the support of the Indian Christian leader and publisher, George Thomas, Ph.D. and the means by which the Communist Government of Kerala was overthrown. The film is in color, splendidly produced, and is narrated by our Director of Missions, James Colbert. The methods used to combat Communism in Kerala are described in this film, and these can be used successfully to meet the Communist threat all over the world. This film may be secured by writing to our office. CONCLUSION The Crusade is controversial in the minds of many. This is a matter for pride, not shame. Our Lord was most controversial during His lifetime and His human life ended when He was crucified between thieves. His disciples were renowned as those who turned the world upside down. If we follow Christ, we must expect the storm of controversy to swirl. If we are effective in exposing the true nature of Communism, it is axiomatic that we will be slandered and attacked. True Christians understand this and always seek to discover the truth and spurn insinuation and libel. The number of the supporters of the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade grows constantly. The days ahead will be full of attack, misrepresentation, and calumny, but we rejoice in the peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that we speak the truth in love and the serenity that accompanies the consciousness of the presence and the power of God. With Christian Love, Fred Schwarz

By: Jessie Walker Managing Editor of Reason Magazine - Jesse Walker (jwalker@reason.com) is the author of Rebels on the Air: An Alternative History of Radio in America (NYU Press). The Paranoid Center How the panic over right-wing violence is being used to marginalize peaceful dissent Jesse Walker from the October 2009 issue of Reason Magazine On June 10, 2009, an elderly man entered the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, raised a rifle, and opened fire, killing a security guard named Stephen Tyrone Johns. Two other guards shot back, wounding the gunman before he could end any more lives. The killer was soon identified as James Wenneker von Brunn, an 88-year-old neo-Nazi. Von Brunn acted alone, but there was no shortage of voices eager to spread the blame for his crime. The murder was quickly linked, in a free-associative way, to the assassination 10 days earlier of the Kansas abortionist George Tiller. This, we were told, was a "pattern" of "rising right-wing violence." More imaginative pundits tried to tie the two slayings to a smattering of other crimes, from an April shootout in Pittsburgh that killed three cops to a year-old double murder at a Knoxville Unitarian church. The longest such list, assembled by the liberal blogger Sara Robinson, included nine diverse incidents linked only by the fact that the criminals all hailed from one corner or another of the paranoid right. One of the episodes involved a mentally disturbed anti-Semite who had stalked a former classmate for two years before killing her in May. "This is how terrorism begins," Robinson warned. Crime wave thus established, the analysts moved on to denounce the unindicted instigators. Bonnie Erbe of U.S. News and World Report pinned the museum guard's death on "promoters of hate," adding, "If yesterday's Holocaust Museum slaying of security guard and national hero Stephen Tyrone Johns is not a clarion call for banning hate speech, I don't know what is." In The New York Times, columnist Bob Herbert wrote that he "can't help feeling" the crimes "were just the beginning and that worse is to come"—thanks in part to "the over-the-top rhetoric of the National Rifle Association." His Times colleague Paul Krugman warned that "right-wing extremism is being systematically fed by the conservative media and political establishment." Another Timesman, Frank Rich, announced that "homicide-saturated vituperation is endemic among mini-Limbaughs." After the museum murder, Rich wrote, the talk show host Glenn Beck "rushed onto Fox News to describe the Obama-hating killer as a 'lone gunman nutjob.' Yet in the same show Beck also said von Brunn was a symptom that 'the pot in America is boiling,' as if Beck himself were not the boiling pot cheering the kettle on." When critics blamed pro-life partisans for the death of George Tiller, there at least was a coherent connection between the pundits' anti-abortion rhetoric and the assassin's target. Say what you will about Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, but neither is known for railing against the Holocaust museum. If Beck, to borrow Rich's mixed metaphor, is cheering on a kettle, it isn't the kettle that produced James von Brunn. We've heard ample warnings about extremist paranoia in the months since Barack Obama became president, and we're sure to hear many more throughout his term. But we've heard almost nothing about the paranoia of the political center. When mainstream commentators treat a small group of unconnected crimes as a grand, malevolent movement, they unwittingly echo the very conspiracy theories they denounce. Both brands of connect-the-dots fantasy reflect the tellers' anxieties much more than any order actually emerging in the world. When such a story is directed at those who oppose the politicians in power, it has an additional effect. The list of dangerous forces that need to be marginalized inevitably expands to include peaceful, legitimate critics. The Paranoid Style in Center-Left Politics This isn't the first time the establishment has been overrun with paranoia about paranoiacs. The classic account of American conspiratology is Richard Hofstadter's "The Paranoid Style in American Politics," a 1964 survey of political fear from the founding generation through the Cold War. A flawed and uneven essay, Hofstadter's article nonetheless includes several perceptive passages. The most astute one might be this: "It is hard to resist the conclusion that this enemy is on many counts the projection of the self; both the ideal and the unacceptable aspects of the self are attributed to him. The enemy may be the cosmopolitan intellectual, but the paranoid will outdo him in the apparatus of scholarship, even of pedantry. Secret organizations set up to combat secret organizations give the same flattery. The Ku Klux Klan imitated Catholicism to the point of donning priestly vestments, developing an elaborate ritual and an equally elaborate hierarchy. The John Birch Society emulates Communist cells and quasi-secret operation through 'front' groups, and preaches a ruthless prosecution of the ideological war along lines very similar to those it finds in the Communist enemy." Hofstadter didn't acknowledge it, but his argument applied to much of his audience as well. His article begins with a reference to "extreme right-wingers," a lead that reflected the times. In the early 1960s, America was experiencing a wave of alarm about the radical right. This had been building throughout the Kennedy years and then exploded after the president's assassination, which many people either blamed directly on the far right or attributed to an atmosphere of fear and division fed by right-wing rhetoric. By the time Hofstadter's essay appeared, the "projection of the self" he described was in full effect. Just as anti-communists had mimicked the communists, anti-anti-communists were emulating the red hunters. In 1961, for example, Walter and Victor Reuther of the United Auto Workers wrote a 24-page memo urging then-Attorney General Bobby Kennedy to join "the struggle against the radical right." The letter, co-authored by the liberal attorney Joseph Rauh, called for Kennedy to deploy the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Communications Commission against the extremists. By "the radical right," the Reuthers meant not just the Birchers and the fundamentalist Christian Crusade but Sen. Barry Goldwater and the libertarian Volker Fund. In Before the Storm, his history of the Goldwater movement, Rick Perlstein describes Group Research Incorporated, an operation funded by the Reuthers' union, as "the mirror image of the political intelligence businesses that monitored left-wingers in the 1950s, identifying fellow-travelling organizations by counting the number of members and officers shared with purported Communist Party fronts. Group Research did the same thing, substituting the John Birch Society for the reds." Interestingly, the phrases that sounded so dangerous on the lips of the far right weren't always so different from the rhetoric of the Cold War liberals. Robert DePugh, founder of the Minutemen—the anti-communist activists of the '60s, not the anti-immigration activists of today—claimed to have been inspired by JFK's own words: "We need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life." In Before the Storm, Perlstein notes that Kennedy "spoke often in these absolutist, apocalyptic terms." Philip Jenkins, a scholar at Pennsylvania State University who specializes in both the history of moral panics and the history of the American right, has described this period as the second of three "brown scares" ("brown" as in the brown shirts of fascism). The first came in the late 1930s and early '40s, when aides and allies of Franklin Roosevelt conflated genuine domestic fascists with critics who were far from Nazis. The third came in the mid-1990s, when Timothy McVeigh's mass murder in Oklahoma City set off a barrage of fear-mongering stories about the alleged militia menace in the heartland, helping Bill Clinton push through the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. The anxieties of the latter period have the most in common with the cocktail of fears emerging in 2009. The Great Militia Panic In the popular imagination, the militia movement of the '90s was a paranoid pack of racists plotting terrorist attacks. The University of Hartford historian Robert H. Churchill calls this "the narrative of 1995," a storyline cemented after McVeigh bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that year. "In this narrative," Churchill writes in To Shake Their Guns in the Tyrant's Face, a perceptive new study of the militias, "the militias and the Patriot movement took on the guise of a perfect, racist 'other,' and the threat they posed was best articulated by Morris Dees' apocalyptic vision of a 'gathering storm.'" This vision was pushed by a collection of groups dedicated to tracking the radical right, notably Dees' Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League. It dominated the media. "In news coverage, popular novels, episodes of Law and Order, and movies such as Arlington Road," Churchill writes, "the public became well acquainted with the archetypal militiaman, usually portrayed as warped by racial hatred, obsessed with bizarre conspiracy theories, and hungry for violent retribution." In Searching for a Demon, a detailed 2002 study of how the movement was portrayed, the Indiana University sociologist Steven Chermak summed up the militiamen's media image: They were "irrational terrorists—a dangerous, growing outsider threat that needed eradicating." The figures who crafted this image often traced the militia movement to a single weekend in 1992, when Peter J. Peters, an anti-Semitic preacher associated with the racist Christian Identity movement, organized a gathering of the far-right tribes in Estes Park, Colorado. About 160 people reportedly attended, one of whom, John Trochman, later played a significant role in the militia milieu. By this account, the militias were a direct sequel to the violent racist underground of the 1980s, represented by such groups as the Aryan Nations and the Order. (The latter was a terrorist gang that robbed banks, counterfeited money, and murdered a Jewish talk radio host.) If the militias didn't seem to express the same set of concerns, that was merely a mask. In The Eliminationists, published this year, the Seattle-based journalist David Neiwert—one of the movement's most prominent critics—claims the militias were "specifically geared toward mainstreaming some of the basic tenets of [the racist right's] worldview." Churchill offers a more persuasive origin story. By his account, the militias overlapped with the older, broader populist right, but their origins were distinct. The movement began to congeal not in 1992 but in the early months of 1994, as activists reacted to the lethal federal raid on the Branch Davidian church in Waco, Texas. Rather than tracing the phenomenon back to groups like the Order, Churchill uses a series of case studies to explore the long American tradition of armed resistance to intrusive government. The militias of the 1990s, he argues, were reacting primarily to the rise of paramilitary police tactics. Their causes célèbres—the disastrous standoffs in Waco and in Ruby Ridge, Idaho—were only the most visible examples of what could go wrong when policemen regarded themselves as soldiers rather than peace officers. The militias formed and grew, Churchill writes, as their members "came to the conclusion that the federalization and militarization of law enforcement had created a paramilitary culture of violence." He backs up his interpretation with many quotes from militia figures, including, significantly, denunciations of the beating of Rodney King and the rape of Abner Louima, a Haitian man whom New York police sodomized with a broomstick in 1997. A decade and a half later, paramilitary policing has proven far more deadly than paramilitary dissent. Neither McVeigh nor his accomplices, James and Terry Nichols, turned out to be members of militias. After the Oklahoma City attack, a Michigan Militia spokesman said his group's only contact with the trio had come when James Nichols showed up to speak during the "open forum" portion of a meeting. By that account, Nichols attempted to distribute some literature, urged everyone to cut up their drivers' licenses, and was eventually asked to leave. After Oklahoma City, a few figures on the fringes of the militia milieu were nabbed for planning attacks. These plots—by the most generous definition of militia, there were about a dozen of them—bolstered the anti-militia narrative, but the details of the schemes reveal a much more complicated picture. Several of the plans originated with the government's own infiltrators. Many of the "militias" involved were tiny operations run by hotheads who'd been expelled from more established militia groups. And most important, in at least three cases the conspirators were arrested after militia members themselves got wind of the plans and alerted police. Patriots and Racists While the press sometimes described the militia movement as a simple continuation of the 1980s racist right, the leaders of the older groups weren't so quick to recognize the new crew as their children."They are not for the preservation of the white race," Aryan Nations chief Richard Butler complained to the New York Post reporter Jonathan Karl in Karl's 1995 book The Right to Bear Arms. "They're actually traitors to the white race; they seek to integrate with blacks, Jews, and others." That's not to say that members of the racist right didn't join militias, make an effort to recruit from the militias, or try to capitalize on the militias' notoriety. Some of them appended the word militia to their groups' names in the 1990s, giving us organizations like the tiny Oklahoma Constitutional Militia, led by an anti-Semite who'd been kicked out of the mainline militia movement. But even as bigots sometimes appeared in militia circles, so did blacks, Hispanics, and Jews. Churchill divides the militia movement into two distinct though sometimes overlapping tendencies: the constitutionalists and the millenarians. The former organized in public, emphasized gun rights and other civil liberties, and saw themselves as a deterrent to repression and abuse. The latter often organized in secret cells, emphasized elaborate conspiracy theories, and saw themselves as survivors in the face of a coming apocalypse. The millenarians were more likely to tolerate racists, while groups in the constitutionalist wing sometimes went out of their way to pick political fights with white supremacists. To understand just how oversimplified the story of militia racism was, look back to a nearly forgotten scandal that erupted the same year as the Oklahoma City bombing. For a decade and a half, it was discovered, federal, state, and local law enforcement officials had been attending an event in Tennessee called the Good Ol' Boys Roundup. A Department of Justice investigation found "ample evidence of shocking racist, licentious, and puerile behavior" at the gathering, including a sign saying "No Niggers" and a self-appointed group that stopped drivers to announce that they were "checking cars for niggers." What does this have to do with the militia movement? It was the Alabama-based Gadsden Militia that learned about the event, infiltrated it, and exposed it to the press, eventually triggering the official investigation. Faced with racist cops, those militiamen didn't see allies in the belly of the beast. They saw another government abuse to be exposed. Militia critics nonetheless went through incredible contortions to paint anti-government populists as bigoted thugs. A representative text here is the 1996 book A Force Upon the Plain, written by the liberal attorney Kenneth Stern. Stern essentially argued that when militia members weren't racist themselves, they were racist dupes. When their conspiracy theorists fretted over an international cabal led by Freemasons, the Illuminati, or the Trilateral Commission, Stern suggested, they were really imagining a cabal led by Jews. Their theories, he wrote, were "rooted in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion," the infamous anti-Semitic forgery, because the worldviews were structurally similar. "The militia movement today believes in the conspiracy theory of the Protocols," Stern concluded, "even if some call it something else and never mention Jews." This argument resembled Woody Allen's syllogism: "Socrates is a man. All men are mortal. Therefore, all men are Socrates." And Stern's history was as bad as his logic. The Protocols did not emerge until the late 19th century and was not widely popularized until 1903. Anti-Masonic theories were common throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and the first anti-Illuminati hysteria broke out in 1797. An even odder argument held that the militias were, in effect, a gateway drug. Stern attributed this idea to Ken Toole of the Montana Human Rights Network, who compared the movement to a funnel. People enter it for many reasons, he acknowledged—to protest taxes, regulations, gun control, or some other policy. But as they're sucked in, they begin to embrace conspiracy theories and revolutionary rhetoric. At the far end of the funnel are the hardcore bigots. Not all the militiamen are at the funnel's eye, Stern conceded, but that was where they were heading. This theory would only make sense if white supremacy were the logical conclusion of opposing globalism and federal power. But you'd expect the most radical members of such a movement to embrace a radical decentralism, not racism. Perhaps anticipating this objection, Stern argued that decentralist rhetoric is itself racist—that the idea of states' rights "has always been used to shield local governments from criticism over discriminatory practices." (Yes, he wrote "always." When state officials object to federal raids on medical marijuana clubs, Stern presumably believes they have a veiled racist agenda.) And the dangers of decentralization didn't stop there. Stern warned: "When a political movement rejects the idea of common American values and says, 'Let me do it my own way,' it usually means it wants to do things that are objectionable, and yearns to do them undisturbed and unnoticed." So anyone critical of centralized power, from governors protesting unfunded mandates to eco-conscious locavores, is potentially a part of the problem. That's a mighty big funnel. The Big Funnel of 2009 When you blur the boundaries of a scapegoated group, there's a useful side benefit: You can discredit mainstream as well as radical political opponents. There was a turning point in the mid-'90s standoff between Democratic President Bill Clinton and Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a moment when the White House was able to start setting the terms of the debate and the GOP went on the defensive. In most accounts, the shift came when the Republicans' willingness to "shut down" the federal government backfired during the budget battle at the end of 1995. But the April bombing in Oklahoma City and the militia panic that followed was at least as important in shifting the grounds of the argument. They allowed Clinton's supporters to play up the "extreme" anti-government rhetoric coming from Gingrich's supporters in the talk radio right, and to link it to the "extremism" of McVeigh and the militias. A similar dynamic is at work in 2009. When pundits weave a small number of unrelated incidents into a "pattern" of crime, then link it to the rhetoric of Obama's opponents, it becomes easier to marginalize nonviolent, noncriminal critics on the right, just as a red scare makes it easier to marginalize nonviolent, noncriminal figures on the left. Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security issued a report on the threat of "rightwing extremism." Depending on whose interpretation you prefer, the paper either defined extremism far too broadly or failed to define it at all. "Rightwing extremism in the United States," the department said, "can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration." The charitable reading of this passage is that it's a sloppily phrased attempt to list the ideas that drive different right-wing extremists, not a declaration that anyone opposed to abortion or prone to "rejecting federal authority" is a threat. But even under that interpretation, the report is inexcusably vague. It focuses on extremism itself, not on violence, and there's no reason to believe its definition of extremist is limited to people with violent inclinations. (The department's report on left-wing extremism cites such nonviolent groups as Crimethinc and the Ruckus Society.) As Michael German, a policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, wrote after the document surfaced, the bulletin focuses "on ideas rather than crime." One practical effect, German noted, is that the paper "cites an increase in 'rhetoric' yet doesn't even mention reports that there was a dirty bomb found in an alleged white supremacist's house in Maine last December. Learning what to look for in that situation might actually be useful to a cop. Threat reports that focus on ideology instead of criminal activity are threatening to civil liberties and a wholly ineffective use of federal security resources." Unfortunately, the Homeland Security report wasn't an anomaly. Government-run "fusion centers" in several states have produced similar papers aimed at identifying "potential trends or patterns of terrorist or criminal operations"; the subjects range from anarchists to Odinists to "Illicit Use of Digital Music Players." The most infamous dossier, produced by the Missouri Information Analysis Center, was devoted to the remnants of—what else?—the militia movement, plus a host of other dissidents it roped in with the militiamen. The fact sheet, which was distributed to police throughout the state, declared that "it is not uncommon for militia members to display Constitution Party, Campaign for Liberty, or Libertarian material. These members are usually supporters of former Presidential Candidate: Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin, and Bob Barr." Not content to engage in political profiling, the document warned that the Gadsden flag, that familiar historical banner bearing the slogan "Don't Tread on Me" below a coiled rattlesnake, "is the most common symbol displayed by militia members and organizations." Watch out, highway patrolman: That history buff with the flag on his bumper just might be a terrorist! The Validators When panicky centrists aren't willing to draw an unbroken line from peaceful conservatives to the violent fringe, they posit a somewhat subtler link. The killers, they acknowledge, aren't taking their marching orders directly from Fox News and AM radio. But by giving serious attention to theories associated with the fringe right—that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is preparing concentration camps, that Barack Obama is not a natural-born U.S. citizen—Glenn Beck and other broadcasters are validating the grievances of potential killers, giving them the impression that they aren't alone. This validation is buttressed by the sweeping, sometimes violent rhetoric about "liberals" that you hear from partisan celebrities, such as Ann Coulter's joke that McVeigh should have blown up the New York Times building instead. In The Eliminationists and on his blog, David Neiwert tries to establish a chain linking "eliminationist" behavior in American history (lynchings of blacks and Asians, the slaughter of American Indians), eliminationist rhetoric on the mainstream right (the Coulter wisecrack), and von Brunn–style efforts to eliminate people directly. The theory is interesting, but it has two enormous problems. The first is that it ignores the autonomy of people on the fringe. Not just the radicals who commit the crimes, but the radicals who don't commit crimes. There's a complex ecology at work here, one demonstrated most clearly in those cases when militiamen alerted authorities to terrorist plots in their midst. Words have influence, but they influence different people in different ways; you can't reduce media effects to simple push-pull reactions. Accusing Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly of validating right-wing violence isn't so different from accusing pornography of validating rape, Ozzy Osbourne of validating teen suicide, or Marilyn Manson of validating school massacres. The second problem is the implicit version of history. Neiwert has uncritically embraced the idea that the militia movement began in 1992, so it's easy for him to imagine a progression from the old lynch mobs to the right-wing '80s underground to the '90s militias to Republicans who tolerate militia-style arguments. But if Churchill is right about the origins of the militia movement, the original eliminationists might have a different, more dangerous set of descendants. The 1997 documentary Waco: The Rules of Engagement includes footage of camouflage-clad cops gathered outside David Koresh's compound before the final assault on the Branch Davidians. One officer declares himself "honed to kill." A buddy of his compares him to Rambo. A Klansman turns up in the middle of the standoff to offer his services in stopping Koresh. "Give him an ultimatum, give him a deadline," he suggests. Who exactly were the eliminationists here? The reporters and officials who stigmatized a sect and launched an attack that ended with most of the Davidians dead? Or the people who were moved to defend the rights and the memory of a multi-racial community associated with unusual beliefs and sexual practices? If the Oklahoma City bombing stands out, that is because it is unique in American history. Eliminationist rhetoric may flower in some of the fringes, but the violence that sometimes follows is usually petty stuff. The most formidable eliminationists have always been in the American center, not on the margins. They aim to preserve or extend the existing social order, not to subvert it. And they have the most guns. The eradication of the Indians would have been impossible without the support of the federal government. When the second Ku Klux Klan was at its most powerful, in the early 1920s, it controlled the governments of Colorado, Indiana, and Oregon. In the South, lynch mobs and night riders served as a sort of para-state: A man who wore a policeman's badge by day could don a Klansman's hood by night. In the 1960s it was possible for urban cops to engage in extralegal violence in one moment and to call for "law and order" in the next. You could view that as a contradiction. Or you could view it as an especially ugly idea of what law entails. It's comforting to imagine that violence and paranoia belong only to the far left and right, and that we can protect ourselves from their effects by quarantining the extremists and vigilantly expelling anyone who seems to be bringing their ideas into the mainstream. But the center has its own varieties of violence and paranoia. And it's far more dangerous than anyone on the fringe, even the armed fringe, will ever be. Managing Editor Jesse Walker (jwalker@reason.com) is the author of Rebels on the Air: An Alternative History of Radio in America (NYU Press).

So how do you think Claiborne Pell fits into this entire JFK conundrum? Was he a deliberate and witting participant in the cover-up or was he somehow involved in joining in with the likes of J. Strom Thurmond, John Tower, Barry Goldwater, Jesse Helms, James Eastland, et al in the actual plot to kill JFK? You are obviously implying that Senator Pell was involved somehow in this entire plot in some sort of nefarious, fully complicit and/or conspiratorial manner. Would you care to elaborate? This should be rich if you have the guts to respond. How does Pell's wife's relationship to Hale Boggs figure into this entire picture? Are you implying that she used her influence to get Boggs to do something illegal or immoral or unethical or that her familial relationship to a member of the Warren Commission somehow taints her with guilt by association? Tom, you are stooping pretty low here, I hope you realize this. Do you know how close the Pells were (and still are) to the Kennedys and how physically and emotionally distraught they were about his death? Do you know about the Bouvier and the Auchincloss families from Rhode Island and how close Jackie was to George deMohrenshildt as a child? She used to call him "Uncle George", in fact while bouncing on his knee in Newport. Can you be totally oblivious to how preposterous your statements and your implied claims actually are? Do you know how distraught George was about how how his association with Oswald made him look like an insensitive, callous and vindictive agent contributing indirectly or directly to the misery and suffering of Jackie Kennedy? And you call this "research?" I call this clueless, feckless, careless and callous beyond belief. You gotta get out of the house more, dude.

Here is a link to the PBY aircraft site on Wikipedia... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PBY I never knew what the heck a PBY actually was. PB stands for Patrol Bomber and the letter Y was assigned to Consolidated Aircraft.

Typing too fast: (correcting typos) Now that I take a closer look at those people Baldinger had files on, I think he is even more a more likely choice than Carlson/Dernounian. Baldinger is one of the only ones who ever followed and spied upon the likes of Major George "Racey" Jordan from 1956-1963. Notice how many people had files running up to 1963-64 collected by Baldinger and then he just stopped collecting info after JFK was killed by them? He was onto The Congress of Freedom where Milteer and Somersett had their taped conversations, The Consitituion Party of Gerald L. K. Smith and Col. Wm. Potter Gale from California and a bunch of other Manchurian Candidate cronies and bastidges. Most of you will not want to hear this, but if you want to know who really killed JFK just look at Wilbur Baldinger's watch lists and Richard Condon's novel, The Manchurian Candidate, plus John Roy Carlson's books and you will have the whole bunch of bastidges delineated and defined and aligned to perpetuity. Add in Russ Bellant's works, and the work of Mae Brussell, Bill Turner and David Emory plus the 4-5 books by Epstein and Forster and you will have it all in one neat package. Do not forget Inside the League by Jon and Scott Anderson either about the World Anti-Communist League, plus The Russian Fascists by John Roy Carlson and all the recent works by about Wickliffe Preston Draper since 1994. The whole world only figured out Draper by the 21st Century and I am proud to say that I was the main driving force behind the entire plot to expose Draper and The Pioneer Fund and their campaigns against humanity. Get the files from Group Watch in Washington, DC another research think tank sponsored by the AFL-CIO and UAW intelligence gathering groups. These guys were powerless against the likes of Morris, Willoughby, Draper, Angleton, Cline and Buckley though. Totally powerless. Especially when they had the likes of Thurmond, Helms, Eastland, Tower, Goldwater and company were on their side.

My take is that Baldinger was the left-wing equivalent of a Sarah McClendon in the typical Spy-vs-Spy, Left vs. Right counter intelligence detection, mis-direction and defection subterfuges which were always going on between those two sides. In fact Baldinger is one of only 2 or 3 possible sources for all the information which was given to Richard Condon to be used in The Manchurian Candidate to write his "historical novel". The other one, of course, is John Roy Carlson who wrote "Undercover" and the NY Times Best Seller for 1944 called "Under Cover" assuming Carlson was still alive then which I believe he was in fact. (Carlson was really Armen Dernounian I think it was spelled.) Now that I take a closer look at those people Baldinger had files on, I think he is even more a more likely choice than Carlson/Dernounian. Baldiner is one of the only ones who ever followed and spied upon the likes of Major George Rackey Jordan from 1956-1963. Notice how many people had files running up to 1963-64 collected by Baldinger and then he just stopped collecting info after JFK was killed by them? He was onto The Congress of Freedom where Milteer and Somersett had their taped conversations, The Consitituion Party of Gerald L K Smith and Col. Wm. Potter Gale from California and a bunch of other Manchurian Candidate cronies and bastidges. Just take a look at Baldinger's short list of villains: 9-26 Defenders of American Liberties, Robert Morris, 1962-64 9-27 Defenders of the American Constitution, 1956-75 General Pedro A. del Valle who was a constant Draper correspondent 9-29 Appeal to Reason, The, Lawrence Dennis, 1957-62 One of the few black Nazis in the history of that movement 9-3 Human Events; clippings, correspondence, 1957-73 The paper sponsored by Wickliffe P. Draper and Frank Hanighen 9-30 Facts Forum, 1954-62 This was Dan Smoot a former FBI man from Texas (Tim Smoot his son attended college with me as a matter of fact.) 9-31 Fascists, 1947-66 Gee, only 20 years chasing down these Nazi bastidges. 10-10 Institute for American Strategy, 1961-71 These guys were written up in my ManCand internet document. Kintner and a bunch of other Nazi bastidges Just about every group or person on Baldinger's lists had something to do with JFK's demise. 9-5 Citizens Committee for a Free Cuba, Spruille Braden, 1966-68 9-6 thru 7 Citizens Councils; clippings, 1954-73 These are The White Citizens Councils 9-8 Citizens Foreign Aid Committee, 1958-67 9-9 Citizens Foreign Relations Committee, Committee of Endorsers, 1956-62 10-11 thru 12 Christian Crusade, Billy James Hargis, 1961-76 Baldinger had a particular interest in the ACL of Willoughby, Hargis, Rorke, McClendon and Edward Hunter 10-13 Church League of America, Major Edgar C. Bundy, 1955-67

This guy Wilbur Baldinger was about as Progressive and Liberal as they come. He wrote for The Nation and The New Republic and was a staunch union advocate, a constant campaigner for civil rights, equal rights and human rights. His papers are stored at the Walter Reuther Library the union leader. He also worked for The National Civil Liberties association. Do you have the right guy here? He was part of Americans for Democratic Action. He also HATED right-wing extremists and the likes of Billy James Hargis and Robert Morris both of whom were on his watch list. (see below) He planned to write an expose of Hargis and Morris in fact. He was NOT rich by any means and certainly could not afford a Connecticut mansion, on the water with a giant yacht. He was a big fan of JFK, Thurgood Marshall and Senator Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island. He was anti-Fascist to the core. 7-19 Baldinger, Wilbur, "The Era of the Fascist Front," 1957 He even had another Manchurian Candidate bastidge on his hit list besides Robert Morris... 9-11 Committee for a Free Gold Market, Major George Racey Jordan, 1956-63 He was even following the Congress of Freedom and Constitution Party psychos.... 9-17 Committee of the States, 1969-73 9-18 Congress of Freedom, 1956-66 9-19 Constitution Party, 1956-66 9-2 Headlines and What's Behind Them, Joseph P. Kamp, 1952-68 6-22 thru 23 Immigration; clippings, 1950-75 6-24 Senate Internal Security Subcommittee; clippings, 1961-76 He was after just about every well known Fascist in the USA 9-22 thru 24 Courtney, Kent, Conservative Society of America, Independent American, 1956-70 9-25 Defenders of American Education, 1957-68 9-26 Defenders of American Liberties, Robert Morris, 1962-64 9-27 Defenders of the American Constitution, 1956-75 9-28 DeMille Foundation, 4956-59 9-29 Appeal to Reason, The, Lawrence Dennis, 1957-62 9-3 Human Events; clippings, correspondence, 1957-73 9-30 Facts Forum, 1954-62 9-31 Fascists, 1947-66 10-10 Institute for American Strategy, 1961-71 10-11 thru 12 Christian Crusade, Billy James Hargis, 1961-76 10-13 Church League of America, Major Edgar C. Bundy, 1955-67 What the heck did he have to do with JFK's assassination? [box 1] OS 4 Baldinger, Wilbur; New York Daily PM articles, 1944-46 [box 2] 2-1 thru 44 National Civil Liberties Clearing House; minutes and meeting material, 1965 May-1970 Dec [box 3] 3-1 thru 2 National Civil Liberties Clearing House; minutes and meeting material, 1971 3-28 thru 58 Civil Liberties Bulletin, 1949 Jun-1971 Jan 3-3 thru 27 National Civil Liberties Clearing House Administrative Committee; minutes and meeting material, 1959 Nov-1971 3-59 Finance reports, 1951-69 3-60 thru 61 National Civil Liberties Clearing House Annual Conference, 1st-22nd; reports and programs, 1949-70 3-62 Conference speeches: Senator John F. Kennedy, Thurgood Marshall, William Douglas, Hon. Harry P. Cain, Richardson Dilworth, Hon. Claiborne Pell, Dore Schary, Rep. John Lindsay, Roy Wilkins, 1959-63 3-63 Certificate of incorporation, 1964 3-64 Mailings, 1960-65 3-65 Baldinger, Mary Alice; personal, 1965-70 3-66 Ford Foundation; clippings, 1955-69 return to contents [box 4] 4-1 thru 2 Scrapbook; "The Guild Years: The Gathering Storm,” 1939-41 4-12 thru 13 Scrapbook; "The Guild Years: Reading From the Left,” 1943-44 4-14 thru 15 Scrapbook; "The Guild Years: Washington and PM,” 1945-55 4-16 thru 18 Scrapbook; Baldinger articles, 1945-65 4-19 thru 23 Scrapbook; "Around City Halls,” 1962-74 4-3 thru 5 Scrapbook; "The Guild Years: The Raging Storm,” 1941 4-6 thru 8 Scrapbook; "The Guild Years: In the Hot Seat,” 1941-44 4-9 thru 11 Scrapbook; "The Guild Years: Political Action Fronts,” 1943-44 [box 5] 5-1 thru 6 Scrapbook; "Around City Halls,” 1971-76 5-10 Labor--general; clippings, report, 1950s-70s 5-11 Labor law; clippings, reports, 1950s-70s 5-12 Teamsters; clippings, 1960s-70s 5-13 thru 14 International labor; clippings, 1950s-70s 5-15 Maritime, docks; clippings, 1960s-70s 5-16 thru 17 Press; clippings, 1960s-70s 5-18 Steel; clippings, 1960s-70s 5-19 thru 20 Autos; clippings, 1960s-70s 5-21 thru 22 Coal; clippings, 1960s-70s 5-23 Electrical; clippings, 1960s-70s 5-24 Farm; clippings, 19660s-70s 5-25 AFL-CIO; clippings, 1960s-70s 5-7 USCM; press releases, pamphlets, 1963-71 5-8 Jansen, Don, Political Color of the Guild Reporter, The; graduate thesis, University of Minnesota, 1948 5-9.A Labor Department; clippings, 1950s-70s [box 6] 6-1 ADA (Americans for Democratic Action); clippings, 1960s-70s 6-11 thru 20 Supreme Court of the United States; clippings, 1958-76 6-2 thru 6 Civil rights; clippings, 1957-75 6-21 Communists; clippings, 1965-75 6-22 thru 23 Immigration; clippings, 1950-75 6-24 Senate Internal Security Subcommittee; clippings, 1961-76 6-25 Reapportionment; clippings, essays, 1964-73 6-7 Business political action, 1950s-60s 6-8 Politics; clippings, 1960s-70s 6-9 thru 10 Congressional voting record; ADA press, 1950s-76 7-1 Reapportionment; clippings, 1962-64 7-10 Mafia; "The Honored Society," New Yorker series, 1960s 7-11.A Harris, Richard, "New Justice," New Yorker, 1972 return to contents [box 7] 7-12 thru 13 Justice Department; clippings, 1950s-70s 7-14 thru 15 Nixon, Richard; clippings, 1971-76 7-16 Autographs, 1920s-60s 7-17 Baldinger, Wilbur, Newsweek article drafts, correspondence, 1949-55 7-18 Baldinger, Wilbur, "The Union Wreckers;" Communist history of United Electrical Workers Local 447, 1955 7-19 Baldinger, Wilbur, "The Era of the Fascist Front," 1957 7-2 thru 3 Natural resources; clippings, 1950s-70s 7-20 Baldinger, Wilbur, "The Faces of Children;" integration in District of Columbia, 1956 7-21 Baldinger, Wilbur; miscellaneous manuscripts, 1955-56 7-22 USCM; presidents reports, 1963-70 7-23 USCM; speech drafts, 1962-68 7-24 Baldinger, Wilbur, "New CATV Frontiers,” 1961 7-25 thru 26 CATV (Community antenna television), 1960-62, 1971-76 7-27 Electronic design; correspondence, 1961-62 7-28 Magazine correspondence, 1956-61 7-29 Baldinger, Wilbur, New Leader, Nation, New Republic; articles, correspondence, 1946-50 7-30 Progressive correspondence, drafts, 1947-59 7-31 Police; clippings, 1971-76 7-32 Revenue sharing; clippings, 1969-76 7-4 thru 5 Nixon, Richard; clippings, 1962-71 7-6 Agnew, Spiro; clippings, 1968-74 7-7 Anti-trust; clippings, 1954-75 7-8 Ford, Gerald; clippings, 1974-76 7-9 Congress; clippings, 1971-75 [box 8] 8-1 National Urban Coalition; clipping, publications, 1969-71 8-10 thru 11 Housing; clippings, 1971-76 8-12 Lobbies; clippings, 1970-75 8-13 Manpower, poverty; clippings, 1971-76 8-14 Obituaries, 1970s 8-15 thru 17 Mayors; clippings, 1967-76 8-18 Urban issues; clippings, 1970-71 8-19 Internal Security Subcommittee (Senate); clippings, 1956-61 8-2 USCM; memos, 1969-74 8-20 thru 21 Loyalty oath; clippings, 1957-75 8-22 Spies, Wennerstrom; New Yorker series, 1966 8-23 thru 24 Spies; clippings, 1961-76 8-25 SACB (Subversive Activities Control Board); clippings, 1963-73 8-26 HUAC; clippings, 1960-75 8-27 Freedom School; clippings, correspondence, pamphlets, 1956-67 8-28 Freedoms Foundation; clippings, correspondence, pamphlets, 1957-70 8-3 USCM; publication material, 1971 8-4 USCM; publications, 1960s 8-5 Welfare; clippings, 1970-75 8-6 Consumer finance; clippings, 1971-75 8-7 thru 8 Metropolitan areas; clippings, 1960-71 8-9.A Common Cause; clippings, 1970-75 return to contents [box 9] 9-1 Herald of Freedom, Freedom Club, First Congregational Church, 1964 9-10 "Closer Up,” Don Bell Reports, 1947-61 9-11 Committee for a Free Gold Market, Major George Racey Jordan, 1956-63 9-12 thru 13 Committee for Constitutional Government, 1956-59 9-14 Committee for the Monroe Doctrine, 1962-63 9-15 thru 16 Committee of the 1,000,000, 1963-75 9-17 Committee of the States, 1969-73 9-18 Congress of Freedom, 1956-66 9-19 Constitution Party, 1956-66 9-2 Headlines and What's Behind Them, Joseph P. Kamp, 1952-68 9-20 Coordinating Committee for Fundamental American Freedoms, Inc., 1963-64 9-21 Counterattack, 1959-62 9-22 thru 24 Courtney, Kent, Conservative Society of America, Independent American, 1956-70 9-25 Defenders of American Education, 1957-68 9-26 Defenders of American Liberties, Robert Morris, 1962-64 9-27 Defenders of the American Constitution, 1956-75 9-28 DeMille Foundation, 4956-59 9-29 Appeal to Reason, The, Lawrence Dennis, 1957-62 9-3 Human Events; clippings, correspondence, 1957-73 9-30 Facts Forum, 1954-62 9-31 Fascists, 1947-66 9-32 Federation for Constitutional Government, 1955-65 9-4 Information Digest; clippings, 1976 9-5 Citizens Committee for a Free Cuba, Spruille Braden, 1966-68 9-6 thru 7 Citizens Councils; clippings, 1954-73 9-8 Citizens Foreign Aid Committee, 1958-67 9-9 Citizens Foreign Relations Committee, Committee of Endorsers, 1956-62 [box 10] 10-1 Fighting Homefolks of Fighting Men, Captain Eugene Guild, 1956-63 10-10 Institute for American Strategy, 1961-71 10-11 thru 12 Christian Crusade, Billy James Hargis, 1961-76 10-13 Church League of America, Major Edgar C. Bundy, 1955-67 10-14 Harvard Veritas Foundation, Alliance Inc., Archibald Roosevelt, 1955-63 10-15 American Academy of Public Affairs, 1962 10-16 American Association of Small Business, 1956-61 10-17 American Challenge, American States Rights Association, 1958-62 10-18 American Coalition, 1956-65 10-19 American Conservative Union, 1964-71 10-2 For America, 1956-73 10-20 American Council of Christian Laymen, Verne P. Kaub, 1957-64 10-21 thru 23 American Economic Foundation, 1956-73 10-24 American Education Association, 1948-62 10-25 American Enterprise Association, 1950-61 10-26 American Enterprise Institute, 1964-66 10-27 American Good Government Society, 1956-61 10-28 American Jewish League Against Communism, 1958-62 10-29 Washington Observer, 1965-70 10-3 Foundation for American Principles and Traditions, 1955-62 10-30 American National Research Inc., Karl Baarslag, 1958-62 10-31 thru 32 American Nazi Party, George Lincoln Rockwell, 1952-75 10-4 Foundation for Economic Education, 1950-57 10-5 Freedom in Action, 1958-60 10-6 Freedom School, 1965-68 10-7 thru 9 Circuit Riders, Inc., 1957-64 return to contents [box 11] 11-1 American Security Council, 1962-76 11-10 Aware Inc., 1955-73 11-11 thru 13 John Birch Society, Robert Walsh, 1956-76 11-14 Black Muslims, 1960-69 11-15 Book Publishers and shops, 156-74 11-16 thru 17 Buckly, William F. Jr., Young Americans for Freedom, Conservative Party, etc., 1957-76 11-18 Campaign for the 48 States, 1955-59 11-19 Caucasian League, 1963 11-2 thru 5 Americans for Constitutional Action, Men Moreell, 1958-76 11-20 Christian Anti-Communist Crusade, Dr. Fred Schwarz, 1960-72 11-21 USCM; Municipal Employee Safety program, 1962 11-22 USCM; What Mayors Want: Policy Positions of the US Conference of Mayors, 1973 11-23 USCM; The Mayor and Economic Opportunity Programs, 1970 11-24 USCM; The Mayor and Manpower, 1970 11-25 USCM; The Mayor and Federal Aid, 1968 11-26 Colburn, Kenneth, Southern Black Mayors: Local Problems and Federal Responses, 1973 11-27 thru 28 USCM; Community Relations Service reports, 1967 11-6 Americans for National Security, 1963-69 11-7 Americas Future Inc., 1957-73 11-8 Anti-Communist League, 1956-61 11-9 Anti-Communist Liaison, 1963-65 1-2 thru 58 National Civil Liberties Clearing House; minutes and meeting material, 1949 May-1965 Mar [box 12] 12-1 USCM (United States Conference of Mayors); Community Relations Service reports, 1967 12-11 AFL-CIO; clippings, 1947-61 12-12 CIO Councils; clippings, 1946-60 12-13 thru 14 CIO; clippings, 1947-57 12-2 thru 3 International labor; clippings, reports, 1946-50 12-4 thru 7 Wallace, Henry A.; clippings, reports, 1947-65 12-8 thru 10 Progressive Citizens of America; clippings, 1946-47 [box 13] 13-1 AFL; clippings, 1947-55 13-12 Intelligence Digest, Kenneth de Courcy, 1957 13-13 thru 14 International Council of Christian Churches; clippings, 1960-75 13-15 thru 16 Katanga Freedom Fighters, American Afro-Asian Educational Exchange, Marvin Liebman, 1961-70 13-17 thru 19 Ku Klux Klan; clippings, 1946-76 13-2 thru 4 Citizens Committee on the Fair Labor Standards Act; correspondence, reports, 1955-59 13-20 Liberty Amendment Committee, Willis E. Stone, National Committee for Economic Freedom, 1958-71 13-5 thru 8 Politics; clippings, 1948-55 13-9 thru 11 International labor, Lovestone; clippings, 1949-65 return to contents [box 14] 14-1 thru 2 Liberty Lobby, 1968-76 14-10 National Association for the Advancement of White People; clippings, 1962-64 14-11 National Association of Pro-America, 1956-59 14-12 National Citizens Protective Association, White Sentinel, 1959 14-13 National Economic Council, Mervin K. Hart, 1956-73 14-14 National Education Program, 1958-73 14-15 National Labor-Management Foundation, 1956-63 14-16 National Renaissance Party, 1957-75 14-17 National Right to Work Committee, 1963-76 14-18 National States Rights Party, 1958-68 14-19 National Youth Alliance, 1969 14-20 Nix in '56, Sally Stratton, 1953-57 14-21 Northern World (Northern Europe), 1951-65 14-22 Philbrick, Herbert A.; Americanism Educational League, Constructive Action, US Anti-Communist Congress, 1965-70 14-23 Right-To-Write Committee, 1960-62 14-24 Smith, Gerald L. K., Sam Cook Jr., 1957-75 14-25 Smoot, Dan, 1958-69 14-26 Southern States Industrial Council, 1957-65 14-27 SPX Research Associates, Col. Tom R. Huttono, 1962 14-28 Unification Church, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, 1974-76 14-29 U.S.A., 1956-63 14-3 Life Lines; clippings, 1960-75 14-30 Virginian, The, William Stephenson, 1956-59 14-31 Walker, General Edwin A., 1961-76 14-32 Women's Voice, We the Mothers Mobilize for America, 1956-64 14-33 We the People!, Council of 100, Free Enterprise Federation, 1955-63 14-34 thru 35 Right wing; clippings, 1956-73 14-36 Right wing project; correspondence, 1956-71 14-4 thru 5 Manion Forum, 1956-75 14-6 Liberty Lobby, Trade Policy Committee, 1960-68 14-7 Liberty and Property Inc., Right, Alert Americans Association, 1956-67 14-8 Minutemen; clippings, 1961-73 14-9 Minute Women; clippings, 1962 [box 15] 15-1 Group Research Inc.; clippings, correspondence, 1958-75 15-18 Loyalty statements for press releases, 1947-52 15-19 Fund for the Republic, B. Carroll Reece, 1955-61 15-2 Group Investigation Associates, 1965-72 15-3 Institute for American Democracy, 1966-75 15-4 Right wing index draft, 1956 15-5 thru 8 Internal Security Subcommittee (Senate); clippings, 1952-56 15-9 thru 17 Loyalty; clippings, 1947-56 [box 16] 16-1 Reece, B. Carroll, 1953-55 16-10 Loyalty; clippings, 1956-57 16-11 thru 17 Communists; clippings, 1951-65 16-2 thru 5 HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee); clippings, 1953-63 16-6 thru 9 Subversive Activities Control Board; clippings, 1950-63 return to contents [box 17] 17-1 thru 9 Communists; clippings, 1946-51 17-10 thru 17 Spies; clippings, 1948-67 [box 18] 18-1 thru 2 Spies; clippings, 1947-48 18-10 thru 16 Civil Rights; clippings, reports, 1949-57 18-17 thru 19 McCarthy, Joseph R.; clippings, 1954-68 18-3 thru 9 Supreme Court of the United States; clippings, 1947-58 [box 19] 19-1 thru 14 McCarthy, Joseph R.; clippings, 1950-54 19-15 American Flag Committee, W. Henry MacFarland, Jr.; newsletters, clippings, 1967-72 19-16 thru 17 Task Force, Defenders of the American Constitution, 1955-75 19-18 thru 19 Manion Forum, Clarence E. Manion 1957-60 [box 20] 20-1 thru 8 Manion Forum, Clarence E. Manion, 1961-75 20-10 Cain, Mary, Summit Sun; clippings, Cain editorials, 1956-63 20-11 thru 13 Economic Council Letter, National Economic Council, Inc., 1946-73 20-14 thru 16 National Renaissance Bulletin, National Renaissance Party, James H. Madole, ed., 1953-75 20-17 Liberty Letter, Liberty Lobby, 1963-70 20-9 Dan Smoot Speaks, 1955-63 [box 21] 21-1 Liberty Letter, Liberty Lobby, 1970-75 21-11 Party platforms, Republican and Democrat, 1932-52 21-12 American Opinion, Robert Welch, 1961 April, May 21-13 Right: The National Journal of Forward-Looking Americanism (also ...Forward-Looking Nationalism, and A Monthly Newsletter Of, by and For the American Rightwing), 1956-60 21-14 Citizen, The, Citizens' Council of America, W.J. Simmons, 1961-63 21-15 Tax Fax pamphlets, The Independent American, 1960-67 21-16 Freeman: Ideas on Liberty, The Foundation for Economic Education, Inc., 1967 21-17 thru 19 America's Future: A Weekly Review of News, Books, and Public Affairs, Rosalie M. Gordon, R.K. Scott, 1962-67 21-2 thru 3 Citizens Foreign Aid Committee News, 1960-67 21-20 Things We "Know" That Are Not So, American Economic Foundation, 1963-67 21-4 "Rightists" Groups, Publications, and Some Individuals in the United States (And Some Foreign Countries), First National Directory of; 2nd-6th editions, published by Liberty and Property, 1955-68 21-5 Homefront, Institute for American Democracy, 1967-69 21-6 thru 8 National Right to Work Committee, 1955-63 21-9 thru 10 Subversive Activities Control Board, 1951-55 return to contents [box 22] 22-1 Behind the Headlines, John Flynn, 1957-59 22-10 Christian Crusade: The National Christian Americanism Monthly, Christian Echoes National Ministry, Inc., Billy James Hargis, L.E. White, 1959-61 22-11 Virginian, The, William Stephenson, Lacy Jeffreys, 1956-58 22-12 CSG Spotlight (Committee for Constitutional Government), 1956-66 22-2 Labor booklets, 1950s-60s 22-3 Communism booklets, 1929-62 22-4 thru 5 Subversive Activities Control Board, Communist Party, 1950-56 22-6 Welch, Robert; American Opinion, One Man's Opinion, The Life of John Birch, 1954, 1956-58 22-7 American Opinion, Robert Welch, 1959 22-8 thru 9 American Mercury, Russell MaGuire, William LaVarre, Natasha Boissevain, Maurine Halliburton, 1958-60 [box 23] 23-1 Right to Work National Newsletter, 1956-64 23-10 American Progress, Willis E. Stone, 1956-63 23-11 Freedom Magazine, Willis E. Stone, 1963 23-12 thru 13 Freedom Club, First Congregational Church, 1956-72 23-14 Freedom Club Bulletin, James Fifield, Jr., 1956-72 23-15 What's Happening in America?, American Heritage Protective Committee, 1956 23-16 American Heritage Protective Committee, Blue Book for Patriots, 1956 23-17 Greater Nebraskan, The, George J. Thomas, 1958-62 23-18 Cross and the Flag, The, Gerald K. Smith, 1957, 1960 23-19 Hoke, Henry, It's a Secret, 1946 23-2 FEE, Notes From, Foundation for Economic Education, 1956-67 23-20 Martin, Lawrence, Faceless Informers and Our Schools, 1954 23-21 Operation Abolition, National Council of the Churches of Christ, 12961 23-22 Bagdikian, Ben, What Price Security, 1955 23-23 Taft, Robert Alphonso (US Senator-Ohio), 1950s 23-24 Watts, Rowland, The Draftee and Internal Security: A Study of the Army Military Personnel Security Program, n.d. 23-3 Christian Anti-Communism Crusade Newsletter, Dr. Fred Schwarz, 1961-65 23-4 thru 5 Facts Forum, Robert Dedman, 1955-56 23-6 thru 7 USA: An American Bulletin of Fact and Opinion, Alice Widener, 1954-62 23-8 thru 9 Human Events, Frank Hanighen 1955-63 return to contents [box 24] 24-1 Taft-Hartleyism in Southern Textiles: Feudalism With a New Face, 1950 24-10 thru 11 Steel unions; clippings, 1947-65 24-12 Railroad unions; clippings, 1954-65 24-13 Telephone unions; clippings, 1962-64 24-14 International Union of Mines, Mill, and Smelter Workers; clippings, 1947-65 24-15 United Packinghouse Workers; clippings, 1949-59 24-16 Maritime unions; clippings, 1946-65 24-17 thru 19 International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union; clippings, 1947-65 24-2 Internal security, 1950s 24-3 Transport Workers Union; clippings, 1947-63 24-4 Textiles Workers Union of America; clippings, 1947-65 24-5 thru 8 Teamsters; clippings, 1947-63 24-9 Teachers unions; clippings, 1947-60 [box 25] 25-1 Government unions; clippings, 1947-64 25-12 UAW Convention, PM clippings, 1946 25-13 American Communication Association; clippings, 1952-60 25-2 International Fur and Leatherworkers Union; clippings, 1948-57 25-3 Farm unions; clippings, 1953-61 25-4 Electrical unions; clippings, 1947-65 25-5 Coal unions; clippings, 1952-65 25-6 Building trade unions; clippings, 1947-64 25-7 thru 11 Automobile unions; clippings, 1945-61

The Stork Club's owner and operator, John Sherman Billingsley, is even more closely identified with the speakeasy era and his story is that of a Horatio Alger with a twist. As sometimes happens, the owner is far more colorful than the club itself. Sherm, as his intimates know him, was born in the back room of a grocery store at a former whistle stop called Enid, Oklahoma ("Dine" spelled backwards, he explains)—one of a family of nine children. He has been identified with the liquor business, one way or another, since (the story goes) he started selling booze to the Indians at the age of 7. This future arbiter of New York's cafe society quit school at the fifth grade and started on an adventurous career that brought him via Detroit to New York in the middle of the Prohibition period. He sold Bronx real estate, operated a drugstore and dispensed liquor (on prescription). Until he opened his first speakeasy in 1926 his nearest approach to being a restaurateur was as a sandwich counterman. His first Stork Club (he still can't remember just what suggested the name) at 152 W. 58th St. was demolished by prohibition agents. The one next was the New Stork Club at 51 1/2 E. 51st St. The third and current club of that name was started in 1934, about a year after repeal, at 3 E. 53rd St. Originally popular only with theatrical and professional people, the STORK was taken up by the debutantes and youthful collegiate set largely because of a class magazine article by then society columnist Inez Robb. The youngsters, most of them from our "better" families, lent glamor to the place and they in turn loved it because "good, old Sherm" never let them pay a check. And the STORK CLUB'S vast popularity with newspaper people, it must be confessed, has been due mostly to Sherm's largesse. Billingsley's giveaways—a surefire bid for patronage —have included raffles; gay "balloon nites," with many balloons containing $100 bills; free champagne and perfume (N.B. Sherm owns the perfume company)—and cost as high as $250,000 a year. Sherm's generosity with his clientele included gifts of suspenders and neckties to the gentlemen, gold compacts for the ladies and even diamond-studded bracelets to certain of his favorites. All this paid off in free publicity (Sherm 34 frowns on conventional advertising) and started the STORK CLUB on the road to success. The STORK expanded many times within the 8-story building owned by Billingsley and is now a series of rooms on several floors. The famous Cub Room, of limited capacity, is the hardest to get into and that could be its chief attraction. The main room lost some of its popularity with dancers because Sherm, who doesn't dance, insists on the bands playing his choice of tempo instead of that preferred by them. Sherm himself is something of a paradox. His blue eyes, ruddy cheeks, sandy hair, shy, soft-spoken manner and conservative dress suggest an English country squire. But his placid appearance is misleading. Actually, Sherm is more temperamental than a grand opera tenor, with a flamboyant imagination and a positively Machiavellian gift for intrigue, with the imbalance of a total lack of humor. Barring customers from his club for real or fancied grievances—sometimes for nothing more offensive than having been photographed in a rival restaurant or carrying matches other than the STORK CLUB'S—is part of his stock in trade. (Some suspect it is another way of milking the press for publicity.) His written memoranda to his employees are collector's items and the stories about the alleged espionage and counter-espionage that goes on behind the scenes at the STORK-tapped telephones, hidden tape recorders, etc.—are hilarious, though to some extent fictional. Actually,only the important areas—check room, entrance way to the Cub Room, main room, kitchen, etc.—were wired for sound, a push-button system enabling Billingsley to eavesdrop at any time from his office up-stairs. Although not a restaurateur, per se, Billingsley does know the restaurant business. He is a perfectionist, as any employee—or former employee—can attest. Firing help, for no apparent reason, seems to have been a favorite indoor sport of the STORK CLUB'S boss and many a rival restaurant, staffed by STORK-trained former employees, prospers because of it. Fired with-out notice, after a 24 years' association with Billingsley, was Frank Harris, now manager of the highly successful EDEN Roc. Other STORK CLUB alumni at EDEN Roc are Gregory (22 years with Sherm) ; Jack Spooner, Leo Spitzel, Jimmy Coulias, Andrew—Ole Anderson (20 years apiece), and Red Cronin (6.) Ed Wynne of the HARWYN CLUB served his apprenticeship at the STORK and so did Maurice D'Euphemia, who now has his own place, MAURICE. Scatti of the MONT D'oR was with Billingsley about a dozen years, and Jack Entratter, who later went from the COPACABANA to make a great name for himself at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. This is only a partial list; actually enough employees have been fired from the STORK to staff a half dozen other clubs. One waiter was summarily discharged for presenting gardenias to dames whom Sherm didn't fancy; a bartender was dropped merely for getting his name in a Broadway column. However, none would deny the value of his training under the most unpredictable man in the restaurant business. Several years ago Billingsley launched a television program from the STORK with himself as star, using his cafe society customers as window dressing. But close-ups revealed Sherm as something less than the polished personality that he had been reputed to be. In fact he pulled so many verbal boners that he became known as the "Sam Goldwyn of TV." This type of public exposure for a club that had always played up its exclusiveness was probably a mistake in the first place. Many people who had watched the show on TV found they couldn't get into the Club itself, so the publicity backfired. For several years now there has been a picket line outside the STORK due to some union trouble and this, too, has somewhat dimmed the popularity of Billingsley's boite. But those who know Sherm best predict eventual vindication and victory for his side of the argument. Anyone who could survive the gangster wars of the bootlegging era would have to be courageous, tenacious and tough. Sherman Billingsley is all three. Prices are actually not too high and a visit to the STORK is indicated for out-of-town visitors, for the sake of curiosity if nothing more. They may get their feelings hurt to find the velvet rope up, but that should be considered part of the experience. Many of our best people enjoy the distinction of having been barred at the STORK. Billingsley's restaurant at 94 Park Ave. is operated by Fred Billingsley, one of Sham's brothers, but is in no way connected with the STORK CLUB.

Hi Sherry, May I suggest you check out Wilbur Baldinger? James Hi James, Long time no hear. Or long time no here, either. Would you please send Sherry an eMail to sassully@roadrunner.com with your contact information? She has some really old photos with some unidentified suspects and/or perps which she would like you to review and then circulate through back channels as privately as possible among some of your contacts and friends. Can you tell us more about this Wilbur Baldinger character you mentioned? Turns out that Sherman Billingsley used to pay Sherry's father in cash for his piloting duties, and the Billingsley Connecticut home was somewhere between Darien and New Haven on the Connecticut coast. Billingsley owned The Stork Club in Manhattan but lived in Connecticut apparently. I am still trying to track down the address of his former residence. He apparently owned a yacht as well. There is an actor named Billingsley still alive today also from Connecticut who might be Sherman's son. Sherry thinks that it is pretty likely that Sherman Billingsley's home and yacht were the usual destination of both Alexander Rorke, Billingsley's son-in-law, and Geoffrey Sullivan on their Connecticut road trips. Thanks, John B

Hi Sherry, Good to see you on this forum. The person who comes to mind who was living on or near the coast in Connecticut at that time is none other than William F. Buckley, Jr. the founder of Young Americans for Freedom and a member of one of the first American families ever to call on the U.S. military to bail them out of a sticky situation when their properties had been seized by a foreign power. In his case, Pantapec Oil was seized by the Mexican government when Pancho Villa was very active in that region and Gen. John J. Pershing went after them with a full expeditionary force. I have actually traced the history of the following persons and their involvement in that infamous Pancho Villa campaign which set the standard for various military interventions in the ensuing years. 1) Major General Charles A. Willoughby as a young Army officer who later made his immense fortune by using his knowledge about the start of the ending Korean War to profit immensely on the international soybean futures market. He and H. L. Hunt had cornered the soybean market just weeks or months in advance of the Korean War then Willoughby dressed a company of South Korean regulars in North Korean uniforms on some ruse and had them shot dead in order to use that as justification for the outbreak of the Korean War. All this is documented in The Origins of the Korean War Volumes I and II by a professor from Northwester whose name escapes me now. (Prof. Bruce Cumings, is the spelling I think with one M.) 2) William F. Buckley Jr.'s father William F. Buckley, Sr. who lost millions when Pantapec Oil was expropriated. Richard Condon wrote about Buckley by referencing: "...that fascinating young man who wrote about man and God at Yale." In fact the title was God and Man at Yale. Condon really meant: "...that FASCIST bastidge, William F. Buckley, Jr. from Yale." 3) George Otis Draper, the cousin of Wickliffe Preston Draper who lived in nearby Hopedale, MA (Wickliffe was also the 1st cousin of Andrew Preston who started The Boston Fruit Company which later became United Fruit which had holdings not only in Cuba but throughout Central America and the Caribbean islands.) United Fruit originated the concept of "The Banana Wars" which resulted in at least 5 military interventions after World War One. Both the Forbes, the Drapers, the Prestons, the Cabots and the Dulles brothers were MAJOR stockholders in United Fruit of course and when Castro took over Cuba United Fruit lost millions of dollars worth of properties. Regards, John Of course, there was always Sherman Billingsley, who was Alexander Rorke's father in law as I recall. He owned The Stork Club in Manhattan but lived on the shore in Connecticut as well as far as I can determine. The Buckley's were from Darien which had miles of beachfront property. Could have been either one of them your father visited or even someone else. More likely to have been Billingsley but it could have been that Fascist bastidge Buckley, too. http://www.acontinuouslean.com/2009/03/02/...club/#more-6452

Hi Sherry, Good to see you on this forum. The person who comes to mind who was living on or near the coast in Connecticut at that time is none other than William F. Buckley, Jr. the founder of Young Americans for Freedom and a member of one of the first American families ever to call on the U.S. military to bail them out of a sticky situation when their properties had been seized by a foreign power. In his case, Pantapec Oil was seized by the Mexican government when Pancho Villa was very active in that region and Gen. John J. Pershing went after them with a full expeditionary force. I have actually traced the history of the following persons and their involvement in that infamous Pancho Villa campaign which set the standard for various military interventions in the ensuing years. 1) Major General Charles A. Willoughby as a young Army officer who later made his immense fortune by using his knowledge about the start of the ending Korean War to profit immensely on the international soybean futures market. He and H. L. Hunt had cornered the soybean market just weeks or months in advance of the Korean War then Willoughby dressed a company of South Korean regulars in North Korean uniforms on some ruse and had them shot dead in order to use that as justification for the outbreak of the Korean War. All this is documented in The Origins of the Korean War Volumes I and II by a professor from Northwester whose name escapes me now. (Prof. Bruce Cumings, is the spelling I think with one M.) 2) William F. Buckley Jr.'s father William F. Buckley, Sr. who lost millions when Pantapec Oil was expropriated. Richard Condon wrote about Buckley by referencing: "...that fascinating young man who wrote about man and God at Yale." In fact the title was God and Man at Yale. Condon really meant: "...that FASCIST bastidge, William F. Buckley, Jr. from Yale." 3) George Otis Draper, the cousin of Wickliffe Preston Draper who lived in nearby Hopedale, MA (Wickliffe was also the 1st cousin of Andrew Preston who started The Boston Fruit Company which later became United Fruit which had holdings not only in Cuba but throughout Central America and the Caribbean islands.) United Fruit originated the concept of "The Banana Wars" which resulted in at least 5 military interventions after World War One. Both the Forbes, the Drapers, the Prestons, the Cabots and the Dulles brothers were MAJOR stockholders in United Fruit of course and when Castro took over Cuba United Fruit lost millions of dollars worth of properties. Regards, John

I think I've got it. Check out the October 5, 1962 issue of Life starting on page 53. "Cuba and the Unfaced Truth", by Claire Booth Luce http://books.google.com/books?id=eVUEAAAAM...;q=&f=false Steve Thomas I found this too, while... umm... browsing... not brousing. Is that like bruising? Hit on 16. Hold on 17. On This Day October 10, 1987 OBITUARY Clare Boothe Luce Dies at 84: Playwright, Politician, Envoy By ALBIN KREBS Clare Booth Luce, whose richly varied career encompassed the editorship of Vanity Fair magazine, the writing of hit Broadway plays and service in Congress and as Ambassador to Rome, died yesterday morning at her home in Washington. Mrs. Luce, who was 84 years old, had been gravely ill with cancer for some time. Clare Booth Luce, whose richly varied career encompassed the editorship of Vanity Fair magazine, the writing of hit Broadway plays and service in Congress and as Ambassador to Rome, died yesterday morning at her home in Washington. Mrs. Luce, who was 84 years old, had been gravely ill with cancer for some time. She was widely known as the sharp-tongued wife of one of the nation's most influential publishers, Henry R. Luce, whose magazines included Time, Life and Sports Illustrated. But she won fame on her own as magazine writer and editor, author of ''The Women'' and other hit plays, controversial Republican member of the House of Representatives from Connecticut, and, finally, in the Eisenhower Administration, a hardworking and often praised Ambassador to Italy. She had enough careers to satisfy the ambitions of several women, but none tied her down for long. She was often on lists of the world's 10 most admired women, but her glamorous existence and tart tongue drew criticism, sometimes partisan, sometimes envious. Clare Boothe was born in New York City on April 10, 1903, the daughter of William Franklin Boothe, a pit orchestra violinist and sometime businessman, and the former Anna Clara Snyder, who had been a chorus girl. The child was christened Ann Clare, but she never used the Ann. When Parents Separated Her parents separated when Clare was 8 years old. She was brought up in genteel poverty by her mother, who still managed to take her to France for a year and send her to the Cathedral School of St. Mary in Garden City, L.I., and the Castle School at Tarrytown-on-Hudson, N.Y. In 1919, her mother married Dr. Albert Elmer Austin, a prominent physician in Greenwich, Conn. On a trip to Europe in 1920, the 18-year-old Clare met Elsa Maxwell among other social figures. ''I'll have her to one of my parties,'' Miss Maxwell said. ''Whatever happens then, she'll get a rich husband.'' That happened, but not because of a Maxwell party. Clare Boothe met her future husband in church: George Tuttle Brokaw, millionaire-playboy son of a clothing manufacturer. They married in 1923 in a wedding called ''the most important social event of the season.'' It was not to last. Mr. Brokaw, 23 years older than his bride, was a heavy drinker, according to one of his biographers, and was prone to abuse his wife. After six years of marriage she won a divorce on grounds of mental cruelty and was awarded $425,000 plus education expenses for her daughter, Ann Clare Brokaw. The Job at Vanity Fair Declining to rest on her money, Clare Boothe importuned a society friend, Conde Nast, publisher of Vogue and Vanity Fair, for a job. After proving she was not another idle society matron whiling away her time between husbands, she did a stint writing photo captions for Vogue. Vanity Fair's editor, Frank Crowninshield, hired her after demanding that she draw up a list of 100 ideas. She rose quickly to assistant editor and wrote satirical pieces about society that were later collected in a book, ''Stuffed Shirts.'' Her penthouse apartment on East 57th Street, Manhattan, drew the social, artistic and political types who peopled Vanity Fair's pages. She became managing editor, injecting more political material in an effort to revive the magazine. She left in 1934. She had written three plays, none produced. She once said reading the plays of George Bernard Shaw was the impetus for her interest in the theater. Much later she met Shaw and is said to have gushed, ''Except for you, I wouldn't be here.'' Shaw supposedly replied, ''And now, let me see, dear child, what was your mother's name?'' Her first produced play, ''Abide with Me,'' in 1935, was unanimously deemed a disaster. It concerned a drunken, sadistic husband who is shot in the last act. Several critics commented on how quickly she responded to almost indiscernible cries of ''Author.'' She never went to another opening night. Sparks at First Sight of Luce Two days after the opening, the author became the wife of Henry R. Luce, publisher of Time and Fortune. The two independent personalities had struck sparks on their first meeting, when they were seated together at a dinner party and Mr. Luce ignored her. The next time they met, at a party at the Waldorf-Astoria, his future wife resolved to pay Mr. Luce back by asking rude questions. This time he was enthralled by her. He ordered her to accompany him to the Waldorf's lobby, where he said, ''You are the great love of my life, and some day I'm going to marry you.'' The marriage lasted, although there were rumored difficulties - perhaps inevitable in a marriage between two such strongminded personalities. She had her separate careers and Mr. Luce had his magazines - Life, the picture magazine, was reportedly her idea. The Successful Plays Mrs. Luce returned to writing plays and with ''The Women,'' in 1936, recovered admirably from her maiden flop on Broadway. The play was an apotheosis of feminine bitchiness, concerning a devoted wife, the only sympathetic character, trying to win back her husband, who had been poached by a saleswoman. It earned her $2 million. In 1938, Mrs. Luce was represented by ''Kiss the Boys Goodbye,'' a satire on the hoopla surrounding the search for the feminine lead in the movie of ''Gone With the Wind.'' It was a box-office success, as was her next play, ''Margin for Error,'' which purveyed a modish anti-Nazism. With World War II, Mrs. Luce sought to involve herself on a larger stage. In February 1940, she sailed for Europe as an accredited correspondent for Life for a firsthand look at the war. One result was a book, ''Europe in the Spring.'' Dorothy Parker called it ''All Clare on the Western Front.'' In 1943 Mrs. Luce decided to run for the House of Representatives from Fairfield County, Conn. Criticism of Roosevelt Despite her friendships with early New Dealers, she was by now a Republican and made speeches critical of the Roosevelt Administration's handling of the war effort. Riding an off-year tide of anti-Administration sentiment, she defeated a Democratic incumbent by 7,000 votes. In her first speech in the House, she attacked a proposal by Vice President Henry A. Wallace calling for postwar freedom of the air. Mrs. Luce wrapped up the Wallace proposal in a single word, ''globaloney.'' In Congress she frequently spoke out on foreign policy as well as for racial equality in the armed forces and war production. Despite her own brief infatuation with Communism in the 1930's, Mrs. Luce emerged as an early hardline anti-Communist (although as early as 1964 she was calling for more normal relations with China). She won re-election in 1944, campaigning with fire but concealing sorrow. Her 19-year-old daughter was killed in an automobile accident that year. A Jesuit priest put her in touch with the Rev. Fulton J. Sheen, who was becoming known for his broadcasts. Before Sheen had talked three minutes, she demanded, ''Listen, if God is good, why did He take my daughter?'' ''In order that you might be here in the faith,'' Sheen replied. Became a Catholic Their sessions, with Mrs. Luce arguing and Sheen explaining, resulted in her conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1946. After that a friend noticed a gradual change in her: ''Twenty years ago she was like a diamond - beautiful, brilliant and cold. Now she is beautiful, brilliant and compassionate. She has become a kind and remarkably unselfish woman.'' Because of personal problems and long separations from her husband that her duties entailed, Mrs. Luce did not seek re-election in 1946. She remained politically active, in addition to writing a column for McCall's, and in 1952 she campaigned for Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. He offered her the post of Secretary of Labor, but she demurred. He then named her Ambassador to Italy, stirring controversy because of Mrs. Luce's Catholicism, her lack of diplomatic experience and because she was a woman. But she waded into her job with customary energy and contempt for obstacles. She helped lay the diplomatic groundwork for an international conference that worked out a compromise on the status of Trieste, a dispute that threatened war between Yugoslavia and Italy. Effective Diplomacy She made strongly anti-Communist speeches and warned of cutoffs of American aid to Italian industry: Communists dominated the labor unions. She drew fire from leftists. Once her chauffeur misunderstood her directions and took her to the residence of President Giovanni Gronchi. Unable to back out, Mrs. Luce, whose relations with the President had been somewhat strained, took the occasion to persuade him to permit the stationing of American troops on Italian soil. In Italy she caught a mysterious illness finally diagnosed as arsenic poisoning. The Central Intelligence Agency was called in. The cause was paint dust from her bedroom ceiling. A Controversy Over Brazil In 1959 she was nominated Ambassador to Brazil. A determined one-man opposition to her appointment was mounted in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon. Mrs. Luce was confirmed both by the committee and the Senate, but she could not resist a final jab at Morse. ''My difficulties, of course, go back some years,'' she said, ''when Senator Morse was kicked in the head by a horse.'' (He was once kicked by a horse, but not in the head.) In the resultant furor, Eisenhower defended her while Mr. Luce publicly urged her to resign, which she did. In 1964 she announced that she was running for the Senate in New York State as a Conservative Party candidate and supporter of Senator Barry Goldwater, whose nomination for President she had seconded at the Republican convention. Under pressure from the party's liberal wing and finally Senator Goldwater himself, she withdrew from the race on the eve of the Conservative convention. Moved to Honolulu In later years she devoted herself to social life in Phoenix, where the Luces had a house - skindiving, doing mosaics and needlepoint, painting and writing. After Mr. Luce died in 1967, she moved to Honolulu, where she lived until 1983, when she moved into an apartment at the Watergate complex in Washington.''It's a city of human proportions,'' she said. In recent years Mrs. Luce served on President Reagan's unpaid Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. Of her writing she once said, ''I have been too involved with living to write much - or well - about life.'' A biographer, Alden Hatch, summed her up this way: ''Brilliant, yet often foolish; idealistic, yet realistic to the verge of cynicism; tough as a Marine sergeant, but almost quixotically kind to unfortunates; with the mind and courage of a man and exceedingly feminine instincts; the complexities of her character are as numerous as the facets of her career. Probably the reason no one understands her completely is because she does not even understand herself.'' Mrs. Luce is survived by two stepsons, Henry Luce 3d and Peter Paul Luce. Interment will be private, A High Mass will be offered at noon Tuesday in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York and a memorial service Wednesday at 11 A. M. at the Church of St. Stephen Martyr in Washington.

"Biggest single outlay: $36,750 salary and $18,000 expenses for cold-eyed President Jouett Shouse. Biggest single item of income: a $79,750 "loan" from Irenee du Pont. League lenders in the $10,000 class included Lammot, Pierre, S. Hallock and William du Pont, John J. Raskob, Alfred P. Sloan Jr., Ernest T. Weir, Joseph E. Widener, all good haters of the New Deal. In the $5,000 class were Phillips Petroleum Co. and Edward F. ("Let's Gang Up") Hutton." Another nice scoop, Tom. It was in fact, this entire Liberty League contingent who were behind the FIRST president coup d'etat documented in "The Plot to Seize the White House." by Jules Archer. I have long contended that the JFK coup followed this same structure laid out by Draper's cronies in the 1930's. Liberty League became the Liberty Lobby and the rest is history. Draper used his J.P. Morgan trust account against both FDR and JFK and to fund the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission, too. Are you familiar with the saga of Maverick Marine Gen. Smedley Butler and company? By all means everyone should try to get a copy of The Plot to Seize the White House from abebooks.com or elsewhere as well as Maverick Marine about Butler, who spilled the beans on the Liberty Leaguers plot against FDR. At the JFK conference in Cambridge in the 1990's a journalist (a REAL journalist) described what she had discovered about this plot in the 1930's against FDR involving William Dudley Pelley from The pro-Nazi Silver Shirts who was GLK Smith's mentor and hero. So GLK Smith learned the business of presidential coups from one of the very best of the best and he carried out the plot against JFK. This has to be written and placed into the public record for future generations to read. The forces of evil will always influence the democratic process given enough money and enough truly dedicated and devoted miscreants with sinister intentions unless you learn from the past and prevent them from succeeding in the future. "A democracy has no real way to deal with those of the likes of Rev. Gerald L K Smith and William Dudley Pelley." - author unknown "When Fascism comes to America it will be under the guise of Patriotism while hiding behind the waving of the American flag." - Senator Huey Long, the first victim of Rev. Gerald L K Smith and Co.

John Wickless Bevilvonsiatsky wrote: "And Vonsiatsky? He had a newspaper published and distributed by a Major Pease from Coral Gables, Florida but it was only to rally support and raise money for his nefarious deeds and acts. Wonder if this Pease was related to the infamous "JFK researcher" with the same surname? She never confirmed nor denied it." Have you ever asked her? I don't think you have even asked her. And if so, is she the enemy too? I don't think so. Lisa recently commented on my blog, http://jfkcountercoup.blogspot.com/ , unintimidated by your incoherent ramblings, and she uses her real name, unlike those who try to hide behind a false identity, but can't hide their idiocy. BK Well, OK then, how about YOUR false claims of being a professional writer and journalist? Can you finally admit to everyone that you have never made a dime on your so called journalism career and that you are or were just a full-time blackjack dealer in Atlantic City? The truth comes out sooner or later. You are a blogger. Nothing but a blogger.

John Wickliff Bevilatasky, This is the third time you have complained about the spelling of Valkarie in the title of this thread, and the third time you are being told that only administrators can change the title. Maybe if you ask John Simkin or Andy Walker, they will correct the spelling of the title to amuse you, though now that I know really bothers you I will try to do it more often. I don't pretend to be a an expert on anything, or seek any throne, and any peer review won't come from you, someone who spells his own name ten different ways. You pissed all over my blog [ http://jfkcountercoup.blogspot.com/ ] using the name Patrick Henry, as if you could hide your idiocy, and I can't erase your excessive, repetitive monologues. Vilhelm Kelly Should be spelled Wickcliffe not Wickliff. Please get something right in your lifetime. Dealer hits on 16, holds on a soft or hard 17, OK? Life does not get any more complex than that. Will you ever admit that you are NOT a professional journalist, but just an Atlantic City blackjack dealer after all? The truth hurts but facts are the facts. Come on fess up and stop pretending. Hit on 16, hold on 17. http://www.google.com/search?q=wickcliffe+...mp;sourceid=ie7

Which was supposed to mean what? It's too bad that Hemming had an aversion to speaking plain English whenever sharing inside info. (An exception: when he told Weberman that E. Howard Hunt went down the TSBD elevator shaft by rope. Sturgis, too, as I recall, I'm not sure, though how can I forget such vital information.) Hemming told Twyman, in what Twyman describes as an emotional moment, that "the Patriots did it." Was he referring to the eventual Super Bowl champs, or whom? Oddly enough, both Joseph A. Milteer, from Senator J. Strom Thurmond's National States Rights Party, the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party said the SAME THING, while being tape recorded by Willie Somersett, an informant for the Miami Police Dept. Intellignece Unit during a Congress of Freedom rally where the pending assassination of over 300 liberals was not only discussed but openly cited, disseminated and later quoted. This hit list of liberals was circulated at that meeting as well. "The Patriots are in the clear. It will be blamed on a Communist." And do not forget what Dick Russell's informant wrote on the letterhead of the King Edward Sheraton stationery in an anonymously mailed missive from the mid-1970's I believe it was: "EVEN THE PATRIOTS CAN NOT TAKE THE LAW INTO THEIR OWN HANDS." He used ALL CAPS for emphasis, too. He also referred to Adolph Tscheppe-Weidenbach (Charles Willoughby) as well and placed the blame for the organization of the plot squarely on the shoulders of both Willoughby and Gen. Douglas MacArthur who were both ignominiously severed from service with the U.S. Military by President Truman, Rusk, Acheson. The latter two were later appointed by JFK to high level cabinet positions. The day he did that marked him for assassination by these "Super-Patriots". And one other very critical point validated by Twyman while interviewing Hemming was this one. I suggested to Twyman that he should pursue the issue of Robert J. Morris's sinister efforts with Gen. Charles Willoughby over the decades to change the course of history and to mold America into a place where the resurgence of the Fourth Reich would be welcomed and accommodated. I stated that if Hemming attempted to either deny or minimize the efforts of Morris and Willoughby in the plot to kill JFK, he should just continue to pursue the topic as if he had some inside knowledge about Morris and Willoughby (as I in fact did.) Finally Hemming said that he would reveal all he knew about Morris, the South Florida Soldiers of Fortune, the ant-Castro Cuban exiles and their roles in the JFK hit. Twyman asked Hemming to sleep on it before he proceeded. (Why I am not certain.) The next morning Hemming, after serious reconsideration, decided against such a move and other subjects were explored instead. Twyman later noted to me that it was quite apparent that Hemming wanted to spill the beans on Morris, Willoughby and company, following in the footsteps of Dick Russell's informant, and expanding on the works of both Bill Turner and Mae Brussell. And Dave Emory I might add as well. Check out his website, this guy Emory followed up on Brussell's works with some great tape recordings, and transcripts of his radio programs. Jack Ruby joined the anti-Dallas John Birch Society crew when he implicated Maj. Gen. Edwin A. Walker in front of the Warren Commission. And yet you folks continue to ignore ALL of this evidence against Army Intel, the Dallas JBS, these right wing extremists and this entire former MacArthurite crowd. Even Sherri Seymour extracted a confession from Col. Wm. Potter Gale about the role of his California Bombers, the Constitution Party of the USA, and the Wesley A. Swift thugs from the west coast in the JFK conundrum, including Edgar Eugene Bradley, Rev. Carl McIntyre and Gene Brading. Swift was the bodyguard of Rev. Gerald L K Smith for years by the way who was physically present at the Giesbrecht Winnipeg Airport Incident in case you forgot. Hemming's friend Roy Hargraves also implicated Eugene Brading (a/k/a Eugene Braden), Homer Echevarria, Col. Robert F. Baird, Czarist Mitch Werbell III who was a cavalry officer during the Russian Revolution as was Anastase Vonsiatsky, another Winnipeg meeting attendee. Hargraves also implicated Harold B. Chaitt of Baltimore, one of the main CIA bagmen into the South Florida SOF community as one of the primary funders of domestic espionage and covert activity. It is almost as if no one want to accept the roles of either Army Intel or the JBS in the JFK conundrum thinking that Army Intel is a total oxymoron and that psychotics like Gale, Morris, Walker and Willoughby were somehow incapable of pulling it all off. Well think again my friends. Someone is pulling the wool over your eyes and brainwashing you to avoid the real perps and let them get off scott free.