YOU HAVE PROBABLY READ IN THE PAPERS, OR HEARD OVER THE AIR, OF THE FORMATION OF THE LARSON COMMITTEE, MORE FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, DESCRIBED IN NEWSPAPER HEADLINES AS THE "ANTI-BIRCH COUNCIL," AND W

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73-00475R000400680001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 30, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 1, 1964
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

leclassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/12/30 : CIA-RDP73-00475R000400680001-9
EATZ*
JOHN BrRai SOO= NEWS
OCTOBER 1964
,You have probably read in the papers, or heard over the air, of the
formation of the Larson Committee, more formally known as the
? National Council for Civic Responsibility, described in newspaper head-
lines as the "Anti-Birch Council, " and with the stated purpose of telling
l'c'''i'"the truth about The John Birch Society and related radical reactionary
groups." But let's allow the -New York Times to give you, on Page 12,
the world-shaking details, in a news article which began on their Page ?
. 'And below you will find the news release on the same subject which
' was issued immediately by John Rousselot. .
,
1.1
Statement Given by John H. Rousselot to UPI, September 22, 1964
Re: UPI Release on Arthur Larson's Council for Civic Responsibilities
The following are observations of John H. Rousselot, National
; Director of Public Relations for the John Birch Society. concerning
the announcement of the newly formed committee, the Council for
Civic Responsibilities headed by Dr. Arthur Larson
(1) The John Birch Society welcomes the so-called "exposure" of
its activities. The John Birch Society is proud of its record as a strong
pro-constitutional, anti-communist organization. The Society finds it-
self in sympathy with and cooperating with many other Americanist
groups who are effectively communicating the truth about the evil force0
of collectivism running rampant in our country. The activities of this,.
newly formed organization will present an opportunity for the American
people to see first-hand which organizations deal in truth and which
organizations deal in fiction. ,* ? ? -
(2) I will be happy to meet Arthur Larson on television or in a ?, .
public forum and let the American people decide for themselves which
organizations deal in truth. : ; -
, (3) The John Birch Society is delighted that the "standards of pub;i:7:
lie discussiem and responsible behavior" are to be opened to public' 4.1
perusal because the purposes and programs of the JohnBirch SocietY,':- ? .:;;-!.
have proven to be right courses of action time and time again. The
John Birch Society is alwayki pleased to have a chance... to compare Its,
standards with the standards of any other-orga-niz'atiOn- inanding this ? ?
newly formed committee because' the Society's Beliefs and Principles : ? '
are based on the highest concepts of American Constituticmallaw,
spiritual values, and human decency. ?
(4) It will be interesting to see if Dr. Larson and his committee
will be equally desirous of "exposing" the semi-secret activities of
the Council on Foreign Relations of which he is a leading member and
which organization has been privately guiding our American foreign
policy down the road to ruin for many years. The mistaken policies
of the Council on Foreign Relations are fully documented in a book
called The Invisible Government by Dan Smoot, (former Adminis-
trative Assistant to J. Edgar Hoover.) Many members of the newly
formed committee headed by Dr. Larson are also members of the
semi-secret Council on Foreign Relations which in its own by-laws
does not permit representatives of the press to attend its meetings
and does not allow council members to comment publicly on what they-
have heard and/or discussed at council meetings. " ??
(5) We are extremely pleased that Dr. Larson and his group have...
,
raised the issue concerning our American form of government. The.
John Birch Society agrees with former President Harry S. Truman
that "this is a Constitutional Republic, not a democracy-." We would
he, happy to debate this issue in depth with Dr. Laranni ? ??. '
rnnv Annroved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/12/30 : CIA-RDP73-00475R000400680001.:E
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