In addition to founding and running the Christian Crusade (see: Christian Crusade litter bag for more information), Billy James Hargis was a prominent member of numerous organizations that aligned with his policies. These included the John Birch Society and “We, the People!,” an organization that advocated for a reduction in government power, lower taxes, and rejection of US membership in internati onal organizations like the United Nations.
Such intimate connections between supposedly distinct organizations were common (the John Birch Society was often the link; for example, see: The Treason Cycle) for somewhat marginalized conservatives, and they are quite clearly on display in this item. The reel-to-reel tape for which this image served as a cover featured a speech given at the 1961 Christian Crusade annual convention by Robert Welch, the founder and leader of the John Birch Society. Hargis is pictured on the cover, in which the images of a cross and crown of thorns blend neatly with the stars and stripes. These design elements typify both Hargis’ message that the US should fundamentally be a Christian nation and his penchant for self-promotion.