The Most Successful John Bircher in Politics: John Rousselot
Although the 1960 election was a loss for Richard Nixon against John F. Kennedy, House Republicans made gains in Congress, a minor rebound from the disastrous 1958 midterm elections. One of the victors was John Rousselot (1927-2003) of San Marino, California, director of a successful public relations firm and formerly head of public information for the Federal Housing Administration under President Eisenhower. Rousselot quickly became regarded as one of the most conservative members of Congress and was one of two at the time who were members of the John Birch Society. From educational television to accelerated public works spending, he opposed just about everything John F. Kennedy was for, and the conservative interest group Americans for Constitutional Action scored him a 100, based on 23 votes for the House that session, and his DW-Nominate score was a 0.601, among the highest in the House in his time. On foreign policy, Rousselot called for ending diplomatic relations with the USSR as he observed our embassies behind the Iron Curtain had been of little use and held that the Soviet embassy in Washington "only provides a base for spying activities" (Russin). Although a baseball enthusiast, Rousselot had suffered polio in childhood and walked with a limp as a result, which meant that he could only manage the Congressional baseball team. He was a rising star in the conservative movement at the time, but his vigorous defense of the John Birch Society, of which he was a member, and redistricting cost him reelection in 1962.
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