FACTOIDS FROM BEFORE THE STORM

- Robert Welch, the founder of the John Birch Society, was intellectually gifted and entered college when he was 12. (page 111)

- South Carolina did not get the secret ballot until 1950. (page 46) I didn't believe this one so I did a little Googling and found this from 1952:

THE SOUTH: No Bolt, No Enthusiasm
Monday, Aug. 18, 1952
TIME Magazine

In 1950, South Carolina became the last state to adopt the secret ballot with all candidates' names on one sheet.

- Barry Goldwater had a regular column in the Los Angleles Times, ghost written by Steve Shadegg. (page 59)

- Max Rafferty, a Bircher who won the 1962 race for California State School Superintendent, recommended to the entire board that the teaching of evolution be challenged. (page 264) -