JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000800170140-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 30, 1999
• Sequence Number: 140
• Content Type: OPEN

STATINTL
Sanitized - App~pq`fF1reR It Rea
JOHN BIRCH SOCIETr
Mr. YOUNG of Ohio. Mr. President,
for more than 10 years certain congres-
sional committees have vigorously con-
centrated their fire on internal com-
munism. Ignored in recent years has
been the development of fascism in
America in the worm of a. secretive or-
ganization known as the John Birch
Society. This fascist group numbers in
its ranks former officials of the National
Association of Manufacturers, retired
military leaders and a wide assortment'
of out-and-out crackpots. Its leader, a
former candy manufacturer from Mas-
sachusetts, has written his equivalent to
Hitler's "Mein Kampf," in which he
ridicules democracy. He charges that
former President Eisenhower is a Com-
munist sympathizer, and he maligns
many other highly respected American
leaders.
Its every action and policy Is con-
trary to the traditions of our Republic.
From promoter Welch right down the
line into every cell, the rightwing active
members--termed by the St. Louis Post
Dispatch "Birchsaps"-not only pass out
disturbing comments and false-charges
against neighbors, against leaders in
parent-teacher association groups, and
even against members of the clergy and
against loyal, elect*ti and appointed gov-
ernment. State aid local, official. But
the principles %Vy advocate, If adopted,
would turn balk the clock 90 years;
would repeal silt rescind the 20th cen-
Birch Society,
keeping inviolate some
He will not disclose
uy members there are
not inform th
cells in the Jol,
Above ever
who paid $1,
John Birch(
appoinL14',4 fue'
accounA t for
'.
life rri mt rrit' Olf,-d in dues.
lie tut, 1.4 tdWls Intake at $24 per
year let` ! who become members.
For wcti'?n allows a cut rate of $12
per x,.,w,
Mr- Pi111irlf , Robert Welch, retired
lawyer nr:t; manufacturer of Bel-
mont, nias? eritly addressed an
audit!,(.., d .00 , c% li one of whom
agw
paid i slop Sl of his de
ago is last 'r$ib,;riit) . he was
as
well "r ;i~ One o'f mem-
b. r 1' Jo di iloclety, which
nc from their.lead-
.e e.c who disagree
*' I t ei q Goinmunlst
s. c;:i at mi y these brave
charg :ration nor
threat come:; from Red China with Its
populai ion o= 6:i0 million ,and from the
Soviet Union with a population of more
than 200 mil pion. Members of the Birch
Society claim to see Communists under
-neighbor's br'ds Their dictator Welch,
who is a self-appointed vigilante play-
ing Clod witli other people's patriotism
declaims he is anti-Communist. He
alleges that there are 7,000 ministers
of the Gospr 1 In the United States who
are Communists or Communist sympa-?
thisers- He could not name 70 nor even
7. He is guilty of uttering demagogic,
untruthful, and wildly fantastic charges.
Mr President, 'ictator Franco of
Spain. is also anti-Communist. Hitler
and Mussolini were anti-Communists up
to the time they met violent deaths.
Does anticommunism alone qualify a
man as a loyal Americnr}? What can
serious- minded Americana really think
of this man Welch who inade money as
a lawyer anc ass dy manufacturer
and now rrake'ig rASch more money as
a promoter and den. ciator? This fel-
low has termed former Presidents Eisen-
hower and Truman as "Communist
sympatnizers He denounced the late
John Foster Duller and his brother,
Allen Dulles, wlvo is presently Director
of our Cent-a1 Intelligence Agency as
pro-Conimurist and Communist. He is
urging the : mtreacnment of the Chief
Justice of the United States, Earl War-
ren, who is a thoroughly great and loyal
American and who was vice presidential
candidate of the Republican Party.
What can Ame ?icans think of a fellow
such as this, other than that he has a
wicked tongue and is a crackpot or an
unscrupulous, mercenary demagog and
slick promoter? -
Mr. President. the facts are that we
who are rank and file Americans can
well consider Welch and those active in
his John Birch $octety as being sub-
versive of the worst kind. While pre-
tending to be loyal Americana, they are
In reality fomenting suspicion against
their neighbors, in the churches, and in
the universities
When Robert Welch states the im-
peachment of Chief JustloeZL l Warren
is "just one of our specific objectives,"
he is seeking to undermine the confi-
dence of people in a loyal and dedicated
American leader while at the slime time
pretending that he himself is a loyal
American.
Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy
is correct to his statement that the John
Birch Society "is ridiculous" and that'ita
members "make no contribution to the
fight again'. 'wmtnunism here In the
United States, and in fact-tf anything.
they are a Lindrancie." The California
State Senate' factfnding committee on
Un-American activities has announced'
that it has started an inquiry into the
John Birch Society. Personally my view
is that as not one of the members of this
society, nor its leader. Welch. has com-
mitted any overt act of force and vio-
lence against constituted authority in
this country. I feel there Is no ooosston
for any congressional or lee