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Ron PaulMember of the US House of Representatives
Date of Birth: 20.08.1935
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Ron Paul
Ronald "Ron" Ernest Paul was born on August 20, 1935 in Pittsburgh or its suburb, Green Tree. He was one of five sons in the family of farmer Howard Caspar Paul and his wife Margaret Dumont. Paul excelled academically in Dormont High School and was passionate about running, even winning the state championship in the 200-meter dash. In 1953, he used his own money earned from newspaper delivery, lawn mowing, and other odd jobs to attend Gettysburg College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 1957. In 1961, Paul graduated from Duke University School of Medicine with a medical degree and served as a military otolaryngologist in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1965, including assignments in Iran and Ethiopia. After leaving the service, he worked as a doctor in the Air National Guard and trained as an obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1968, Paul moved to Texas and began working as an OB-GYN.
Political Career
Paul became interested in politics while serving in the Air Force and participated in the 1964 presidential campaign of Republican candidate Barry Goldwater. Influenced by the Austrian School of Economics, the works of Friedrich von Hayek, Ayn Rand, and Ludwig von Mises, Paul became more critical of U.S. government policies, particularly the Vietnam War and the abandonment of the gold standard under Richard Nixon. He believed in minimal government intervention in society. In his medical practice, he refused to treat patients with government insurance but provided free services to the poor.
In 1974, Paul first ran for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican candidate in Texas' 22nd district, but incumbent Robert Casey won the party's nomination. However, in 1976, when Casey was appointed head of the Federal Maritime Commission, Paul won a special election to the House. He lost reelection a few months later but became the Secretary of Labor in the "shadow cabinet" formed by the conservative wing of the Republican Party. In 1978, Paul won back his seat and served in the House from 1979 to 1985, where he gained recognition for his support of a flat income tax, opposition to the draft, and banning taxpayer-funded trips for members of Congress. In 1985, Paul ran for the U.S. Senate but lost the Republican primary to Phil Gramm. In 1988, he ran for President of the United States as the Libertarian Party candidate, receiving only 0.5% of the vote. After the election, he returned to the Republican Party, practiced medicine, and owned a precious metals investment firm until 2000. In 1996, he was elected back to the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas' 22nd district, a position he held until his retirement in 2013.
Political Views
Paul advocated for individual gun rights, ending the war on drugs, and opposed federal funding for abortions. He was a vocal critic of the Federal Reserve and believed it manipulated the price of gold. He called for a significant overhaul of the U.S. government, including the elimination of the Department of Education. Paul opposed the Iraq War and called for an immediate withdrawal of troops, arguing that the United States could no longer sustain its imperial status. He faced criticism for suggesting that the U.S. foreign policy contributed to the 9/11 attacks. Paul supported free trade and opposed sanctions against Cuba. Known as "Dr. No" for consistently voting against bills he deemed unconstitutional, Paul was praised for his honesty and integrity in Congress. He argued for a return to strict constitutional principles and rejected campaign donations from lobbyists. Paul proposed withdrawing the United States from the United Nations and consistently introduced legislation to that effect.
Presidential Campaigns
In 2007, Paul announced his candidacy for the Republican Party presidential nomination. Although he was often ignored by traditional media, his supporters online consistently placed him as a top contender in internet polls, and his videos on YouTube gained significant popularity. Paul raised enough funds to expand his campaign and set a record for Republican candidates by collecting $4.3 million in one day in November 2007. While he did not secure the nomination, Paul continued to advocate for his principles and founded the Campaign for Liberty. In 2011, he officially announced his candidacy for the 2012 presidential election but was ultimately unsuccessful.
Personal Life
Paul is married to Carol Wells, and they have five children: Ronald, Lori, Rand, Robert, and Joy. He refused government grants for his children's education and paid for it out of his own pocket. While Paul is a Baptist, his children are members of the Episcopal Church. He is a numismatist and keeps his savings, estimated to be between $1.5 to $3.5 million, in gold.
