Ron Paul

Ron Paul
Name	Ron Paul
Caption	Official congressional portrait
Office	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas
Term start	January 3, 1997
Term end	January 3, 2013
Predecessor	Greg Laughlin
Successor	Randy Weber
Constituency	14th district
Term start2	January 3, 1979
Term end2	January 3, 1985
Predecessor2	Robert Casey
Successor2	Greg Laughlin
Constituency2	22nd district
Party	Republican (1976–1988, 1996–present)
Otherparty	Libertarian (1988–1996)
Birth name	Ronald Ernest Paul
Birth date	20 August 1935
Birth place	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Spouse	Carol Wells, 1957
Children	5, including Rand Paul
Education	Gettysburg College (BA), Duke University (MD)
Occupation	Physician, author, politician
Known for	Libertarian political advocacy

Ron Paul. Ronald Ernest Paul is an American author, physician, and retired politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas for multiple non-consecutive terms. A prominent advocate for libertarian principles, he is known for his strict adherence to a non-interventionist foreign policy, advocacy for Austrian School economics, and criticism of the Federal Reserve System. He has been a significant, though often controversial, figure within the Republican Party, influencing a generation of activists through his presidential campaigns.

Early life and education

Ronald Ernest Paul was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and spent his formative years in the suburb of Dormont. He attended Gettysburg College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in biology in 1957. He subsequently pursued his medical degree at the Duke University School of Medicine, graduating in 1961. His educational background in the sciences preceded his later political focus on monetary policy and individual liberty, influences he has attributed to early readings of economists like Ludwig von Mises.

Medical career

After completing his medical internship at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, he served as a flight surgeon in the United States Air Force from 1963 to 1965 and in the Air National Guard until 1968. He then established a private obstetrics and gynecology practice in Lake Jackson, Texas. Board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, he personally delivered over 4,000 babies during his medical career, which he often cited as foundational to his belief in the sanctity of life and personal responsibility.

Political career

His political career began with his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in a 1976 special election for Texas's 22nd congressional district, though he lost the general election later that year. He won a full term in 1978 and served until 1985. After an unsuccessful bid for the United States Senate in 1984, he returned to his medical practice. He re-entered Congress in 1997, representing Texas's 14th congressional district until his retirement in 2013. In Congress, he was known as "Dr. No" for his consistent votes against legislation he believed violated the United States Constitution or increased the national debt.

Political positions

His political philosophy is a blend of paleoconservatism and libertarianism. He is a staunch advocate for sound money, having authored numerous bills to audit and ultimately abolish the Federal Reserve System. He is a leading non-interventionist, opposing the Iraq War, the War in Afghanistan, and foreign aid. He supports the repeal of the USA PATRIOT Act, an end to the War on Drugs, and a radical reduction in the size and scope of the federal government. His views on Austrian business cycle theory and the gold standard have been influential in certain circles of the GOP.

Presidential campaigns

He sought the presidency three times: as the nominee of the Libertarian Party in 1988, and as a candidate for the Republican nomination in 2008 and 2012. His 2008 campaign, noted for its grassroots "Ron Paul Revolution," gained a significant following and set online fundraising records. The 2012 campaign further amplified his message, with strong performances in early states like Iowa and New Hampshire. These campaigns were pivotal in popularizing libertarian ideas within the American political spectrum.

Personal life and legacy

He married Carol Wells in 1957, and they have five children, including Rand Paul, the United States Senator from Kentucky. An avid author, he has written several books including *End the Fed* and *The Revolution: A Manifesto*. His legacy is that of a political iconoclast who championed civil liberties, free-market economics, and a restrained foreign policy. He inspired a lasting political movement, with organizations like the Campaign for Liberty and Young Americans for Liberty continuing to promote his ideas, significantly impacting the Tea Party movement and the modern libertarian-conservative coalition.

Category:American libertarians Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas Category:American anti-war activists