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Behind the Bastards

Part One: How The John Birch Society Invented The Modern Far Right

Dec 15, 2020

01:29:30

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Jordan Holmes and Dan Friesen from Knowledge Fight join to discuss the John Birch Society's origins and far-right influence. They explore the society's controversial beginnings, its impact on prominent figures, and propagation of conspiracy theories. The podcast also delves into the founder's vision, organizational tactics, and deceptive strategies, shedding light on the society's growth amidst public skepticism.

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Quick takeaways

The John Birch Society used extreme anti-communist rhetoric to attract thousands of members.

Founder Robert Welch accused President Eisenhower of being a communist, aiming to impeach Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren.

John Birch had his ideologies shaped by his missionary upbringing, educational experiences, and evolving racial perceptions.

Deep dives

Bob Welch's Discontent with Political Landscape

In 1950, Bob Welch ran for Lieutenant Governor, positioning himself against socialism and taxation for public benefit like highways, branding Truman a communist. His loss led to his conviction that party politics were hopeless against communism.

1.

Introduction

3min

2.

Exploring Origins of the Modern Right-Wing Movement and Political Figures

2min

3.

Exploring the Controversial Origins of the John Birch Society and its Influence on the Far Right

2min

4.

The Candy Man Chronicles

24min

5.

The Battle of Ideologies and the Specter of a New Dark Age

5min

6.

Radical Transformation: From Candy Man to Political Firebrand

20min

7.

Analyzing the Tragic Life and Legacy of a WWII Veteran

10min

8.

Unveiling the Origins of a Radical Political Group

10min

9.

Founder's Vision and Organizational Tactics

18min

10.

The Deceptive Tactics of the John Birch Society

4min

Robert is joined by Jordan Holmes ·& Dan Friesen of Knowledge Fight to discuss The John Birch Society.

1. https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2017/04/rise-fall-john-birch-society-50-years-ago/

2. https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.saturdayeveningpost.com/uploads/reprints/Mutiny_in_the_Birch_Society/index.html?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAI3QGKNAHC7QBOIAA%2F20201124%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20201124T035411Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-Signature=92cd53a347ae1447de3854390a1897837ddcb4d04ffe347af9c98f7f81453bc7

3. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/01/11/a-view-from-the-fringe

4. https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/growing-john-birch-society/

5. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/07/16/the-john-birch-society-is-alive-and-well-in-the-lone-star-state-215377

6. https://www.history.com/news/barry-goldwater-1964-campaign-right-wing-republican

7. https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2017/07/18/hunter-s-thompson-origins-of-his-fear-and-loathing/

8. https://sites.google.com/site/ernie1241/

9. https://www.amazon.com/World-John-Birch-Society-Conservatism/dp/0826519814

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