Notes and Comments

1.Robert Welch was a well-to-do American businessman who believed that America was constantly threatened by communism and collectivism.For this,he founded Robert Welch,Inc.and John Birch Society which,unlike most other right-wing extremist groups,have been well funded by American industries,and have member chapters throughout the United States,even when cold war was long over.

2.John Birch Society was founded by Robert Welch in 1959 in commemoration of John Birch,American military intelligence officer and a Baptist missionary in China during the Japanese War.Born in China,Birch was extremely anti-Communism.He was killed by communist troop shortly after the War ended when he refused to surrender his pistol trying to pass a military post.He was called “the first victim of the cold war.”

Robert Welch (1899～1985)

John Birch (May 28,1918～ August 25,1945)