Charles Koch Was a John-Bircher Just Like His Dad
New Documents show that Charles Koch (of the notorious Koch brothers) was more than just a rank and file member of The John Birch Society. He was an active participant.
The John Birch Society was founded in 1958 by Robert W. Welch, Jr. and (among others), Charles’ father, Fred Koch. It was the notorious radical right-wing group who fought against social programs and the civil rights movement throughout the 1960’s and in support of a eliminating things like public school education and Social Security.
Their main tactic was claiming that all who opposed their radical agenda were Communists and guilty of treason. Among the many accused of being Communist traitors by the group were Presidents Dwight David Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. Even George Marshall, the hero of World War II and designer of the Marshall Plan for European post war reconstruction, was not exempt from their wrath.
“I defy anybody, who is not actually a Communist himself, to read all of the known facts about his career and not decide that since at least sometime in the 1930′s George Catlett Marshall has been a conscious, deliberate, dedicated agent of the Soviet conspiracy,” wrote Welch Jr. in a letter signed off on by (among others) Fred Koch.
Lisa Graves, president of The Progressive Inc. explained the new documents showing links between Charles Koch and the John Birch Society.
“Charles Koch was not simply a rank and file member of the John Birch Society in name only who paid nominal dues. He purchased and held a “lifetime membership” until he resigned in 1968. He also lent his name and his wealth to the operations of the John Birch Society in Wichita, aiding its “American Opinion” bookstore — which was stocked with attacks on the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King, and Earl Warren as elements of the communist conspiracy. He funded the John Birch Society’s promotional campaigns, bought advertising in its magazine, and supported its distribution of right-wing radio shows.”
Graves made some interesting correlations to the Koch Brother’s current agenda on Democracy Now:
Click here for reuse options!“[Charles Koch] has learned to use other language than calling people communists. For example, in his op-ed in The Wall Street Journal earlier this year, he used the term “collectivists” to describe anyone who basically opposes his agenda. In many ways, what Charles Koch has done is put a more sophisticated gloss on the John Birch Society through the organizations that he and his brother have helped fund and fuel and, in fact, really proliferate across this country to try to push these ideas into the mainstream, these ideas that anything that is—anything other than free market fundamentalism is somehow communist or collectivism.”
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Eric Trommater
A liberal living in Northern Virginia. Father of Two great kids. Former sports writer and movie critic.
42 responses to Charles Koch Was a John-Bircher Just Like His Dad
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Eric Trommater July 9th, 2014 at 13:09
Anyone else see a trend?
Anomaly 100 July 9th, 2014 at 13:17
Whatever do you mean???
Eric Trommater July 9th, 2014 at 13:25
Lol! I know it’s a stretch right?
crc3 July 9th, 2014 at 13:18
Yep. Right wing hate runs deep and has been for decades…
Eric Trommater July 9th, 2014 at 13:36
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GBW9rdGeEI&list=PLXhzmGjmhHTTlQf0rfXvuCP-M5Y5rMHbH
arc99 July 9th, 2014 at 13:29
Still crazy after all these years
– Paul Simon –
m2old4bs July 9th, 2014 at 13:35
Oh man, don’t be ruining a perfectly good song by associating it with the RWNJ, although I do admit the title fits perfectly.
Eric Trommater July 9th, 2014 at 13:42
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYOtPjc1a5M
M D Reese July 9th, 2014 at 15:13
Actually a lot. I was about 9 when JFK was running for President and I remember the religious angle very clearly. He actually had to go cap in hand to talk to “real” christian preachers to assure them that if he were elected, the Pope would not be running the country. It really left an impression on me. I’m a life-long atheist and am old enough to have learned the Pledge of Allegiance without the words “under god” in it, and that is how I say it to this day. I actually agree with our Constitution that there should be no religious test to run for office and that there should be no religious influence in the writing of our laws.
Eric Trommater July 9th, 2014 at 13:09
Anyone else see a trend?
Anomaly 100 July 9th, 2014 at 13:17
Whatever do you mean???
Eric Trommater July 9th, 2014 at 13:25
Lol! I know it’s a stretch right?
crc3 July 9th, 2014 at 13:18
Yep. Right wing hate runs deep and has been for decades…
Eric Trommater July 9th, 2014 at 13:36
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GBW9rdGeEI&list=PLXhzmGjmhHTTlQf0rfXvuCP-M5Y5rMHbH
arc99 July 9th, 2014 at 13:29
Still crazy after all these years
– Paul Simon –
m2old4bs July 9th, 2014 at 13:35
Oh man, don’t be ruining a perfectly good song by associating it with the RWNJ, although I do admit the title fits perfectly.
Eric Trommater July 9th, 2014 at 13:42
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYOtPjc1a5M
M D Reese July 9th, 2014 at 15:13
Actually a lot. I was about 9 when JFK was running for President and I remember the religious angle very clearly. He actually had to go cap in hand to talk to “real” christian preachers to assure them that if he were elected, the Pope would not be running the country. It really left an impression on me. I’m a life-long atheist and am old enough to have learned the Pledge of Allegiance without the words “under god” in it, and that is how I say it to this day. I actually agree with our Constitution that there should be no religious test to run for office and that there should be no religious influence in the writing of our laws.
m2old4bs July 9th, 2014 at 13:39
We, meaning us progressives, independents and liberals, really need to take the terms of debate back from the RWNJ for their is nothing “right” about them and how they mis-use basic terminology.
Eric Trommater July 9th, 2014 at 13:48
What we need is another moment like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1eA5bUzVjA
M D Reese July 9th, 2014 at 15:07
Yes–we do! And never mind that the “communist” party was the only one that supported workers and unions.
ShelleysLeg July 10th, 2014 at 10:19
The ‘communist’ party was the one who helped unions organize since they had experience in that area.
Why do you think unions are such a target? Other than the fact that they helped BUILD the middle class?
I remember hearing awful things about the Teamsters back in the 60s when I went to college with a bunch of guys from Jersey. And their fathers WERE members of the teamsters, dock workers etc.
These yahoos think they are tainted by association…..that is how simple minded they are.
m2old4bs July 9th, 2014 at 13:39
We, meaning us progressives, independents and liberals, really need to take the terms of debate back from the RWNJ for their is nothing “right” about them and how they mis-use basic terminology.
Eric Trommater July 9th, 2014 at 13:48
What we need is another moment like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1eA5bUzVjA
M D Reese July 9th, 2014 at 15:07
Yes–we do! And never mind that the “communist” party was the only one that supported workers and unions.
ShelleysLeg July 10th, 2014 at 10:19
The ‘communist’ party was the one who helped unions organize since they had experience in that area.
Why do you think unions are such a target? Other than the fact that they helped BUILD the middle class?
I remember hearing awful things about the Teamsters back in the 60s when I went to college with a bunch of guys from Jersey. And their fathers WERE members of the teamsters, dock workers etc.
These yahoos think they are tainted by association…..that is how simple minded they are.
Pilotshark July 9th, 2014 at 14:05
the Kochroaches seem to show us who we knew they were.
we need to continue to shine the light on them so they can not hide in the dark.
Wells July 9th, 2014 at 14:32
Kochroaches with an agenda. First steal, then sell livelihoods to others who don’t want the change but don’t have much choice. Rule entire communities.
Oil/coal/gas is the Koch specialty. Big buddy Buffett also into coal/globalization.
“Thank you Merika for heat coal cook dinner then choke, not your fault.”
Pilotshark July 9th, 2014 at 14:05
the Kochroaches seem to show us who we knew they were.
we need to continue to shine the light on them so they can not hide in the dark.
Wells July 9th, 2014 at 14:32
Kochroaches with an agenda. First steal, then sell livelihoods to others who don’t want the change but don’t have much choice. Rule entire communities.
Oil/coal/gas is the Koch specialty. Big buddy Buffett also into coal/globalization.
“Thank you Merika for heat coal cook dinner then choke, not your fault.”
M D Reese July 9th, 2014 at 15:06
Oh surprise me again! that was fun!
M D Reese July 9th, 2014 at 15:06
Oh surprise me again! that was fun!
dmcrane July 9th, 2014 at 15:56
I was 9th grade when the JB society was founded, and like everyone else afraid of the Communist Boogey-Man. Very quickly figured out it was a McCarthist, racist, hate group and dropped it. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if I still showed up on a list for it somewhere. It didn’t take me 10 years to drop it; more like 2 meetings. Guess the Koch’s are slow learners as well as fast-talking war profiteers. JB Society, like all the GOP war-scare stuff, was just to gin up fear and make the Kochs more money on wars they never would personally go to fight in.
dmcrane July 9th, 2014 at 15:56
I was 9th grade when the JB society was founded, and like everyone else afraid of the Communist Boogey-Man. Very quickly figured out it was a McCarthist, racist, hate group and dropped it. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if I still showed up on a list for it somewhere. It didn’t take me 10 years to drop it; more like 2 meetings. Guess the Koch’s are slow learners as well as fast-talking war profiteers. JB Society, like all the GOP war-scare stuff, was just to gin up fear and make the Kochs more money on wars they never would personally go to fight in.
Cainer July 9th, 2014 at 21:03
Birchers and Birthers are America’s greatest enemies today.
Cainer July 9th, 2014 at 21:03
Birchers and Birthers are America’s greatest enemies today.
ShelleysLeg July 10th, 2014 at 10:22
I lived in Ft. Worth when JFK was murdered and did not go to Dallas to see his motorcade although my mother and other siblings did. I remember NOT only the leaflets but the full page ads in the Dallas and FW papers that morning and was shocked.
My parents told me the JB society was behind the whole thing and how crazy and dangerous those zealots were. A few hours later, our world shifted on its axis and innocence was altered forever.
ShelleysLeg July 10th, 2014 at 10:22
I lived in Ft. Worth when JFK was murdered and did not go to Dallas to see his motorcade although my mother and other siblings did. I remember NOT only the leaflets but the full page ads in the Dallas and FW papers that morning and was shocked.
My parents told me the JB society was behind the whole thing and how crazy and dangerous those zealots were. A few hours later, our world shifted on its axis and innocence was altered forever.
Ramona July 11th, 2014 at 15:07
Claire Conner’s father was a top John Bircher in the Midwest and was intimate friends with Robert Welch. She writes about the Koch connection extensively in her book about the Birchers, “Wrapped in the Flag”. I’ve read it and the correlation between now and then is chilling. It’s happening again.
http://claireconner.com/
Eric Trommater July 12th, 2014 at 00:48
The long knives were out for Connor after that too. It is amazing what men with that much money can do. I liked her book but it never got the traction of Sons of Wichita because the right palms weren’t greased and the right publishing company wasn’t chosen to release it.
Ramona July 11th, 2014 at 15:07
Claire Conner’s father was a top John Bircher in the Midwest and was intimate friends with Robert Welch. She writes about the Koch connection extensively in her book about the Birchers, “Wrapped in the Flag”. I’ve read it and the correlation between now and then is chilling. It’s happening again.
http://claireconner.com/
Eric Trommater July 12th, 2014 at 00:48
The long knives were out for Connor after that too. It is amazing what men with that much money can do. I liked her book but it never got the traction of Sons of Wichita because the right palms weren’t greased and the right publishing company wasn’t chosen to release it.