Anyway, the John Birch Society obviously does need to be dealt with. It is such a huge force in current American politics.
Next we need to address know-nothings, graingers, and whigs.
Leaving aside your sarcasm — I think all Americans should be interested in any organization which is very well-funded, has existed for decades, and has obtained support from very prominent and wealthy individuals.
From its inception (1958), multi-millionaires and billionaires have joined or endorsed the JBS.
Examples include: Fred and Charles Koch, Nelson Bunker Hunt, Harry L. Bradley, Seth Milliken.
Many prominent or influential Americans joined or endorsed the JBS. Examples include those listed below. Consequently, it is absurd to claim that the JBS has never been a significant actor within our national political life.
Actor Adolphe Menjou
Actor Walter Brennan
Actor Zasu Pitts
Archibald B. Roosevelt (Teddy Roosevelt’s grandson)
Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice M.T. Phelps
Clarence E. Manion (former Dean of Notre Dame Law School)
Author Taylor Caldwell
Cong. Ron Paul (TX)
Cong. Thomas H. Werdel (CA)
Cong. Wint Smith (KS)
Cardinal Richard Cushing (Boston)
Cong. Edgar Hiestand (CA)
Cong. James B. Utt (CA)
Cong. James Simpson (IL)
Cong. John G. Schmitz (CA)
Cong. John Rousselot (CA) Cong. Kit Clardy (MI)
Cong. Larry McDonald (GA)
D.B. Lewis (Dr. Ross Pet Foods)
Dave Dravecky (San Diego Padres pitcher)
Eric Snow (San Diego Padres pitcher)
James C. Quayle (father of former VP Dan Quayle; Chairman, Huntington Newspapers, Inc.)
Phillip Chandler (publisher of Los Angeles Times)
Robert W. Stoddard (publisher, Worcester MA Telegram & Gazette)
Ezola B. Foster (2000 VP nominee, Reform Party)
Ezra Taft Benson (Mormon Church and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture)
Former FBI Special Agent Dan Smoot
Former FBI Special Agent W. Cleon Skousen
Fred and Charles Koch
George S. Schuyler
Gov. Charles Edison (former Secretary of Navy and Governor of NJ)
Gov. Meldrim Thompson (NH)
Hedda Hopper
Lt. Gen. Sumter L. Lowry
Lt. Gen. Charles B. Stone
Lt. Gen. Edward M. Almond
Maj. Gen. Robert Blake
Mark Thurmond (San Diego Padres pitcher)
Phyllis Schlafly (Eagle Forum, Stop ERA movement)
Rear Adm. Paulus P. Powell
Rev. Francis E. Fenton
T. Coleman Andrews (former IRS Commissioner)
U.S. Ambassador Spruille Braden
U.S. State Dept historian Bryton Barron
Utah Governor J. Bracken Lee (and former Mayor of Salt Lake City)
Vice Admiral C.S. Freeman
Vice Admiral T.G.W. Settle
Westbrook Pegler
Nelson Bunker Hunt (billionaire)
Harry L. Bradley (co-founder Allen-Bradley Co.)
Are there any living members of the John Birch Society still around? I saw them 20 years ago in Chicago trying to sell books - the members looked to be in their late 80’s