Ron Paul
Ron Paul is an American physician and politician who served as the United States representative from Texas. He was a candidate for the presidency and a leading figure of the libertarian movement.
Early Life and Education
Ron Paul was born in 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father ran a dairy and the family was of the German descent.
He studied biology at Gettysburg College and took his medical degree at Duke University. He became an obstetrician and a gynecologist.
He served as a flight surgeon in the United States Air Force. He moved to Texas and established his medical practice.
The Political Career
Ron Paul was elected to the House of Representatives in 1976. He served for the several terms and became known for the libertarian views.
He ran for the presidency as the candidate of the Libertarian Party in 1988. He received about half a per cent of the popular vote.
He returned to the House and served from 1997 to 2013. He was a member of the committees on the banking and the foreign affairs.
He ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2012. The campaigns attracted a devoted following and raised the record sums.
The Political Views
Ron Paul has argued for the limited government and the free market. He has called for the abolition of the Federal Reserve and the income tax.
He has opposed the interventionist foreign policy and called for the non-intervention. The position is known as the paleolibertarianism.
He has criticised the surveillance and the drug laws. He has argued for the civil liberties and the sound money.
He has written the books on the economics and the politics. The works include End the Fed and The Revolution.
The Legacy
Ron Paul retired from the House in 2013. He was succeeded by his son Rand Paul in the Senate.
The movement that he inspired became known as the Paul revolution. The supporters continue to promote the libertarian ideas.
He is one of the most influential of the American libertarians. His campaigns inspired a new generation of the activists.
He is regarded as the consistent defender of the liberty and the constitution. His work continues to influence the debate on the economic and the foreign policy.
The Medical Career
Ron Paul trained as an obstetrician and a gynecologist. He delivered more than four thousand babies.
He served as a flight surgeon in the air force. He moved to Texas and established his practice.
He entered the political life in the 1970s.
The Congress
Ron Paul was elected to the House of Representatives in 1976. He served for the several terms.
He was known for the libertarian views. He was a member of the committees on the banking and the foreign affairs.
He was known as Doctor No for the votes against the spending bills.
The Presidential Campaigns
Ron Paul ran for the presidency in 1988. He received about half a per cent of the popular vote.
He ran for the Republican nomination in 2008 and 2012. The campaigns attracted a devoted following.
The campaigns raised the record sums from the small donors.
The Political Views
Ron Paul argued for the limited government. He called for the abolition of the Federal Reserve.
He opposed the interventionist foreign policy. He called for the non-intervention.
He criticised the surveillance and the drug laws.
The Books
Ron Paul wrote the book End the Fed in 2009. The book calls for the abolition of the central bank.
He wrote the book The Revolution. The book sets out his political philosophy.
He wrote the books on the economics and the liberty.
The Legacy
Ron Paul retired from the House in 2013. He was succeeded by his son Rand Paul in the Senate.
The movement that he inspired became known as the Paul revolution. The supporters continue to promote the ideas.
He is one of the most influential of the American libertarians.
The Personal Life
Ron Paul married Carol Wells in 1957 and the couple had five children. The family was active in the libertarian politics.
He was known for his frugality and his consistency. He voted against the bills that he considered unconstitutional.
He retired from the public life and continued to write and to lecture.
The Influence
Ron Paul was one of the most influential of the American libertarians. The campaigns inspired a new generation of the activists.
He was known for his consistency and his integrity. The supporters admired his commitment to the principles.
He continued to write and to lecture after his retirement. He received the honours from the libertarian organisations and the medical associations for his long public service.
See also
- Libertarianism
- Federal Reserve
- Limited government
- Free market