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Congressman Larry McDonald succeeded Bob Welch as head of the John Birch Society. Dr. McDonald was tall, handsome and respected as a leader. Many called him a patrician. As a Member of Congress, he knew government from the inside. He was a consummate organizer and administrator. He was tireless in his efforts to expose what he viewed as the Conspiracy.

Contents 1 Scandal 2 Highway 3 Tribute 4 Thanks 5 6th or 7th district 5.1 Moved material about KAL 007 to the correct article 5.2 Cleanup 5.3 Liberal in his economic policies? 5.4 NPOV 5.5 Sources

[edit] Scandal

Why is there nothing in this article on his sex scandal? "In 1976, Flynt was inspired by those scandals to take out an ad in The Washington Post offering an up-to-$1-million reward to anyone who could provide “documentary evidence of illicit sexual relations with a Congressman, Senator or other prominent officeholder.” Nothing much turned up, at least that became public. (Flynt does have a McCarthy-like habit—or maybe it’s Barnumesque—of insisting he has ripe, drippingly scandalous goods he can’t quite show yet.) A few years later, Flynt published pictures of Representative Larry McDonald, a Georgia Republican, in bed with a mistress; alas, this scoop was undercut in 1983 when McDonald was killed as a passenger on Korean Air Lines Flight 007, which was shot down by the U.S.S.R. when it strayed into Russian airspace." http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/12/flynt200712 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.76.38.17 (talk) 01:09, 23 December 2007 (UTC)

• Politically motivated attack. McDonald was divorced at the time so there could not have been any scandal.Wordup 10 (talk) 15:15, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Vanity Fair has messed up in its fact checking and reporting.

• McDonald was a Democrat and not a Republican as reported.
• the Feb. 1984 Hustler article contained Flynt's speculation about the KAL 007 shoot down and not McDonald's private life.

Hasta Nakshatra (talk) 05:28, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Highway

The Larry McDonald Memorial Highway is Interstate 75 from the Chattahoochee River to the Tennessee state line. It includes several counties, not just Cobb.

ToddCrowder 19:16, 6 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Tribute

Larry was an impressive figure. He was tall, had deep black hair and handsome good looks that owed to his Scottish (on fathers side) and Cherokee (on mothers side) lineage. However, it was his cheerful, gregariousness but deeply committed personality that made him stand out among his fellow men. His sound judgement and courageous stand on many difficult social issues set him apart from others who took a more popular position. Due to his views he became very controversial, and his political opponents frequently resorted to derision when discussing him, although not knowing much if anything about him.

Politically, Larry McDonald may be seen as a precursor of the Reagan Revolution that swept through Washington and the world in the 1980s. While a Democrat, he was essentially a Dixie-crat. He did not approve of Jimmy Carters politics, even if they hailed from the same state and belonged to the same party. At one point, Carter´s son, Chip, tried to vie for his seat in Congress, but failed.

Larry, albeit a medical doctor by training, was a student of Austrian economics, notably the works of Ludwig Von Mises. As such, he believed in the ability of free markets and limited government to deliver a rising living standard for all. He also took a commonsensical position on economic policy questions of his day. He was of the view that the growth of the money supply was the source of inflation. As such, he was in favour of Paul Volckers hike in interest rates to bring down inflation and get rid of the twin evils of stagnation and inflation - stagflation. He also felt that big government and welfare spending needed to be curtailed, to avoid welfare dependency and the creation of a permanent underclass dependent on handouts. At that time, most Democrats held tight to the Keynesian orthodoxy that government spending and intervention was the solution to all economic and social ills.

His 1976 book "We Hold These Truths" was a paean to the US constitution and the original views of the founders about freedom of action and limited government. Larry wanted to roll back the burgeoning government to make room for private business activity to raise living standards. His vision was a decent and prosperous America for coming generations. He was in favour of a strong military to defend the hard-earned freedoms and served on the Armed Services Committee during the 93rd until the 98th Congress of the USA. He was dead set in his fight against the spread of Communism and was active in the John Birch Society to that end. President Reagan later termed Soviet Communism "the Evil Empire". Larry would have agreed and the vast majority of the liberated people of Russia and neighboring states now all agree.

A man of such outstanding caliber doesn´t appear often and is always missed.

20:03, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Thanks

For not putting that in the article. 208.61.124.252 21:02, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 6th or 7th district

The intro says 6th district, the infobox and succession box say 7th (and the wikilinks to 7th district are red). I'm guessing there was a gerrymander at some point... - RJASE1 17:42, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

• In 1978 he represented the 6th district, including the city of Roswell in Fulton County. A gerrymander of his district evidently occurred after that.

[edit] Moved material about KAL 007 to the correct article

There was a long paragraph about KAL 007. I've moved it to Korean Air Flight 007, where it belongs. Chip Unicorn 05:38, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cleanup

The death section should be rewritten. It is full of run-on sentances and does not look right.

I cleaned it up, I hope..I hope..!

[edit] Liberal in his economic policies?

CLASSICALLLY liberal, maybe, but just calling his economics "liberal," is very confusing. If he was liberal, then what's a conservative? 68.219.72.102 23:22, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

Liberal as in laizzes faire, a common terminology for economic conservatism. Ramayan 23:31, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

It may be common terminology for much of the world, but in terms of US politics, Liberal Economics refers to socialism. It is annoying I know, but seeing that this article describes a US politician, we should try to use terms that are accurate for US polotics. Seeing that you said "a common terminology for economic conservatism", I will change liberal to conservative because it will be more accurate and less confusing.Mantion 06:52, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] NPOV

This article's biography section is clearly anti-Communist and pro-McDonald in its POV. I tried to fix it a little, but there should be some discussion on it.

The article only states McDonald was anti-communist. How does this make the article anti-communist? How is it "Pro-McDonald"? The article simply and accurately describes McDonald? For example he opposed government aiding Homosexuals to some this would be a good thing to others this would be a bad thing. He is also associated with Joseph McCarthy, to some this also is a good thing and to others this is a bad thing.Mantion 07:09, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sources

What's the actual source of that conspiracy quote? It's bandied all around the internets, certainly, but I haven't been able to find where and when McDonald actually said it. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 16:48, 23 February 2008 (UTC)

The 4 boxes quote? It's origin is most likely "Democracy is defended in 3 stages. Ballot Box, Jury Box, Cartridge Box.", Ambrose Bierce[1]. Fellow anti-communist Steven Symms is also "credited" with the "4 boxes" variant[2] Some have even called it the "Armed Citizen's Signature". Even so the editor that added it has provided a citation are you saying it not WP:RS? Hutcher (talk) 07:55, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

Actually, I said "that conspiracy quote" -- the one about the Rockefellers. So, no, there's not a reliable source for it yet, but I'm sure one can be found. I don't really think the first quotations's source is any good either; it's just Some Guy's Collection of Quotes, and doesn't supply any acceptable sources with which to verify that McDonald actually said any such thing. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 00:24, 25 February 2008 (UTC)