y inan tv interviewed mullo providence, rhode island. this is about 10 minutes. >> what is the john birch society? prof. mulloy: the john birch society is a political organization formed in 1958 in indianapolis, and has headquarters in massachusetts. it was very prominent in the 1960's in particular. >> what was the purpose behind the society? prof. mulloy: they were an anti-communist organization. thatopposed and feared communism would subvert the united states. globally, they opposed collectivism of all times, so they were opposed to many manifestations of the welfare state. they opposed what they saw as excessive governmental appearance -- governmental interference in the economy. in foreign policy, they wanted the united states to take a more active role in trying to win the ind war, to defeat communism cuba, vietnam, those cons of places. >> who was john birch? prof. mulloy: he was an american missionary and a soldier who was killed at the end of the second world war in china. the president of the john birch society discovered his s