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'''G. Edward Griffin''' (born November 7, 1931) is an [[United States|American]] filmmaker and author. He is perhaps best known as the author of ''The Creature from Jekyll Island'' (1994), which promotes his views about the [[Federal Reserve System]]. He is also known for advocating the scientifically-unsupported view that [[cancer]] is a [[metabolic disease]] that can be cured by consuming more [[amygdalin]], and for his unsupported arguments that scientists and politicians are covering up this cure.


Starting as a [[child actor]] for radio, he became an announcer and assistant station director. In the 1960s he began a career of producing [[documentaries]] and books on topics like cancer, the historicity of [[Noah's Ark]], and the [[Federal Reserve System]], the [[Supreme Court of the United States]], terrorism, [[subversion]], and [[foreign policy]]. Since the 1970s, Griffin has promoted [[Amygdalin#Laetrile|laetrile]] as a [[cancer treatment]], a view considered [[quackery]] by the medical community.<ref name="ajcn">{{cite journal |author=Herbert V |title=Laetrile: the cult of cyanide. Promoting poison for profit |journal=Am. J. Clin. Nutr. |volume=32 |issue=5 |pages=1121–58 |date=May 1979 |pmid=219680 |doi= |url=http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=219680}}</ref><ref name="Lerner1984">{{cite journal |author=Lerner IJ |title=The whys of cancer quackery |journal=Cancer |volume=53 |issue=3 Suppl |pages=815–9 |date=February 1984 |pmid=6362828 }}</ref> He has also said that the original Noah's Ark is located in the [[Durupınar site]]. He has opposed the Federal Reserve since the 1960s, saying it constitutes a banking [[cartel]] and an instrument of war and [[totalitarianism]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Thomas, Kenn|title=Popular Paranoia: A Steamshovel Press Anthology|publisher=Adventures Unlimited Press|year=2002|page=298|url=http://books.google.com/?id=bkGrNwr04VkC&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=federal+reserve+%22instrument+of+totalitarianism%22|isbn=1-931882-06-1}}</ref>
'''G. Edward Griffin''' (born November 7, 1931) is an American author, [[Documentary film|documentary filmmaker]] and lecturer. His writings focus on a diverse range of controversial topics such as [[alternative medicine]], politics, foreign policy and banking. Griffin began his [[Media (communication)|media]] career as a child actor, and later became an assistant announcer for the [[NPR]] station [[WUOM]] located at the [[University of Michigan]] where he graduated in 1953 with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree.<ref name=mww>{{cite book|title=Who's Who in America 1994|publisher=[[Marquis Who's Who]]|date=December 1993|edition=48th}}</ref> His career as an author began with his first book ''Fearful Master'' which was published in 1964. The book focuses on the [[United Nations]] (UN) and what Griffin theorizes as the structure of the UN and how it functions.<ref name=WIP>{{cite book|url=http://www.amazon.com/Fearful-Master-Second-United-Nations/dp/0882791028|ISBN=978-0882791029|publisher=Western Islands Publishers|title=Fearful Master|author=G. Edward Griffin|date=June 1964|accessdate=February 9, 2015}}</ref> He also started producing documentary-style video adaptations about the same controversial topics he covered in his books, such as the structure of the [[Federal Reserve System]], the [[Supreme Court of the United States]], [[amygdalin]] (B17) wherein he advocates an individual's freedom to choose,{{efn-ua|Griffin stated, "The end result is that there
now is a crisis much more serious and real than all the others put together. It is a crisis of personal freedom.<ref name=WWC/>}}<ref name=WWC>{{cite web|url=http://journeytoforever.org/bflpics/WorldWithoutCancer.pdf|publisher=American Media|author=G. Edward Griffin|title=World Without Cancer, The Story of Vitamin B17|date=April 2001|accessdate=February 9, 2015}}</ref> the historicity of [[Noah's Ark]], terrorism, [[subversion]], and [[foreign policy]].

Griffin has since published several books but his most notable is ''The Creature From Jekyll Island'' (1994),<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2004/11/28/the_man_who_shaped_the_federal_reserve/|title=The man who shaped the Federal Reserve|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|author=Gavin, Robert|date=2004-11-28|accessdate=2008-03-02}}</ref> a business best-seller.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bestselling business books|work=[[Calgary Herald]]|date=2006-07-04|page=F5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/apr/14/best-selling-business-books-april-14/|title=Best-selling business books, April 14|work=[[Rocky Mountain News]]|date=2007-04-14|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> The book explores the [[Federal Reserve System]] which has long been embroiled in controversy because of its influence on the American economy.<ref name="USFinance">{{cite book | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=JhYclE-xymoC&lpg=PP1&dq=isbn%3A9781563242311&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false | title=The Evolution of U.S. Finance: Restructuring Institutions and Markets | publisher=M.E. Sharpe | author=Jane W. D'Arista | year=1994 | pages=253 | isbn=9781563242311}}</ref> Prior to writing the book, Griffin attended the [[College for Financial Planning]] in Denver, Colorado, and in 1989 received designation as a [[Certified Financial Planner]] (CFP).<ref name="GoldSeek">{{cite web | url=http://radio.goldseek.com/edwardgriffingronvall.php | title=G. Edward Griffin, Author of ''The Creature From Jekyll Island'' | publisher=Gold Seek LLC | work=Radio Interview With G. Edward Griffin | date=June 6, 2010 | accessdate=December 9, 2014 | author=Chris Waltzek}}</ref> Griffin has been interviewed on several radio programs, internet pod casts, and television news programs. In March 2011, he was interviewed on [[Fox News]] by [[Glenn Beck]] who recommended Griffin's book ''The Creature from Jekyll Island'' calling it a "fascinating read."<ref name=TNA>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewamerican.com/economy/commentary/item/3988-beck-interviews-griffin-exposes-fed | publisher = The New American | title = Beck Interviews Griffin, Exposes Fed | author = Raven Cabough | date = March 26, 2011 | accessdate = February 6, 2015}}</ref> Sean Easter of ''[[Media Matters For America]]'' wrote a critical review of that interview stating, "Griffin has an extensive history of promoting wild conspiracy theories."<ref name=MM>{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2011/03/26/who-is-g-edward-griffin-becks-expert-on-the-fed/177986|publisher=Media Matters for America | title=Who Is G. Edward Griffin, Beck's Expert On The Federal Reserve? | author=Sean Easter|date=March 26, 2011|accessdate=February 6, 2015}}</ref>

In the 1970s, Griffin authored ''[[World Without Cancer]]'' (1974), a book he wrote after the "persistent hammering away on
the significance of vitamin therapy" by his friend John A. Richardson, a physician from San Francisco, CA.{{efn-ua|Quoted from Griffin's Note of Appreciation and Gratitude in the Dedication <ref name=WWC/>}}<ref name=WWC/> The book is about the drug Laetrile, a chemically modified form of [[amygdalin]] ([[Vitamin B17]]) which was once used in combination with other alternative therapies in the treatment of cancer but subsequently banned in the US as it is scientifically unsupported and not approved by the [[FDA]].<ref name=ACS>{{cite web | url= http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/pharmacologicalandbiologicaltreatment/laetrile | publisher = American Cancer Society | title = Laetrile | work = Complementary and Alternative Medicine&nbsp;— Pharmacological and Biological Treatment&nbsp;— Laetrile | date = December 11, 2012 | accessdate = December 14, 2014}}</ref> Griffin includes a disclaimer in his book that states "This story is not approved by orthodox medicine. The FDA, the [[AMA]], and [[The American Cancer Society]] have labeled it fraud and [[quackery]]."<ref name=WWCpg6>{{cite web|url=http://journeytoforever.org/bflpics/WorldWithoutCancer.pdf|publisher=American Media|author=G. Edward Griffin|title=World Without Cancer, The Story of Vitamin B17|page=8|date=April 2001|accessdate=February 9, 2015}}</ref><ref name=Disclaim>{{cite web | url=http://worldwithoutcancer.org.uk/important-warning-disclaimer/ | publisher=American Media | title = World Without Cancer | author = G. Edward Griffin | accessdate=February 9, 2015}}</ref>


==Early life, education and career==
==Early life, education and career==
Griffin was born in [[Detroit, Michigan]], on November 7, 1931, and became a [[child actor|child]] [[voice actor]] on local radio from 1942 to 1947. He later [[emcee]]d at [[WJR]] ([[CBS]]), and continued as an assistant announcer at the public radio station [[WUOM]]. He earned his [[bachelor's degree]] from the [[University of Michigan]] in [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]] in 1953, majoring in speech and communications. In 1954, he served in the [[United States Army]], and in 1956 was discharged as a [[Sergeant#Army 13|sergeant]]. Griffin worked as a writer for Curtis LeMay, vice presidential running mate for [[George Wallace]] during his 1968 presidential campaign.<ref name=mww>{{cite book|title=Who's Who in America 1994|publisher=[[Marquis Who's Who]]|date=December 1993|edition=48th}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, he began writing and producing documentary-style videos about the same controversial topics covered in his books, such as cancer, the historicity of [[Noah's Ark]], the [[Federal Reserve System]], the [[Supreme Court of the United States]], terrorism, [[subversion]], and [[foreign policy]].{{cn|date=February 2015}}
Griffin was born in [[Detroit, Michigan]], on November 7, 1931, and became a [[child actor|child]] [[voice actor]] on local radio from 1942 to 1947. He later [[emcee]]d at [[WJR]] ([[CBS]]), and continued as an assistant announcer at the public radio station [[WUOM]]. He earned his [[bachelor's degree]] from the [[University of Michigan]] in [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]] in 1953, majoring in speech and communications. In 1954, he served in the [[United States Army]], and in 1956 was discharged as a [[Sergeant#Army 13|sergeant]]. Griffin worked as a writer for Curtis LeMay, vice presidential running mate for [[George Wallace]] during his 1968 presidential campaign.<ref name=mww>{{cite book|title=Who's Who in America 1994|publisher=[[Marquis Who's Who]]|date=December 1993|edition=48th}}</ref> Shortly thereafter, he began writing and producing documentary-style videos about the same controversial topics covered in his books, such as cancer, the historicity of [[Noah's Ark]], the [[Federal Reserve System]], the [[Supreme Court of the United States]], terrorism, [[subversion]], and [[foreign policy]].{{cn}}


==Political advocacy==
==Advocacy==
⚫
In 1964, Griffin wrote his first book, ''The Fearful Master'', on the [[United Nations]], a topic that recurs throughout his writings. During the [[United States presidential election, 1968|1968 United States Presidential election]], Griffin was a writer for [[George Wallace]]'s running mate, [[Curtis LeMay]].<ref name=mww/> Starting 1969, Griffin began producing films for American Media of [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]].<ref name=mww/> While he describes his work as the output of "a plain vanilla researcher", Griffin also agrees with the ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'''s characterization of him as "[[Crusader Rabbit]]".<ref name=DNLA>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66C410AA28A70&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=T.O.'s Griffin All Booked Up With Writing, Film Projects|work=[[Daily News of Los Angeles]]|date=1995-05-22|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref>


Griffin has been a member and officer of the [[John Birch Society]] (JBS) for much of his life<ref>{{cite book|author=Aune, James Arnt|title=Selling the Free Market: The Rhetoric of Economic Correctness|publisher=Guilford Press|year=2001|pages=140–1|url=http://books.google.com/?id=QdtqtoVvutkC&pg=PA140&dq=%22G.+Edward+Griffin%22|isbn=1-57230-757-9}}</ref> and a [[contributing editor]] to its magazine, ''[[The New American]]''.<ref name=spokane>{{cite news|author=Steele, Karen Dorn; Morlin, Bill|title=Get-rich pitch 'bogus': Seven states have determined Global Prosperity is an illegal pyramid scheme|work=[[The Spokesman Review]]|date=2000-09-02|url=http://www.kycnews.com/message_board_detail.asp?id=15001&page=1|accessdate=2008-03-05}}{{deadlink|date=August 2014}}</ref> Since the 1960s, Griffin has spoken and written about the Society's theory of history involving "communist and capitalist conspiracies" over [[banking system]]s (including the Federal Reserve System), American foreign policy, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the United Nations.<ref name=sayre>{{cite book|author=Sayre, Nora|title=Sixties Going on Seventies|publisher=[[Rutgers University Press]]|year=1996|page=98|url=http://books.google.com/?id=3YuMmqgA6hwC&pg=PA98&dq=%22G.+Edward+Griffin%22|isbn=0-8135-2193-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Stone, Barbara S.|date=February 1974|title=The John Birch Society: A Profile|journal=The Journal of Politics|volume=36|issue=1|pages=184–197|doi=10.2307/2129115|jstor=2129115}}</ref> In 1975, he wrote a biography of JBS founder [[Robert W. Welch]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Bourgoin, Suzanne Michele; Byers, Paula K.|title=Encyclopedia of World Biography|publisher=[[Thomson Gale|Gale]]|year=1998|url=http://books.google.com/?id=XksYAAAAIAAJ&q=G.+Edward+Griffin&dq=G.+Edward+Griffin|isbn=0-7876-2556-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jbs.org/index.php/robert-welch|title=Remembering Robert Welch|author=Thornton, James|publisher=[[John Birch Society]]|date=1993-12-13|accessdate=2008-03-06}}</ref>
Griffin has been a member and officer of the [[John Birch Society]] (JBS) for much of his life<ref>{{cite book|author=Aune, James Arnt|title=Selling the Free Market: The Rhetoric of Economic Correctness|publisher=Guilford Press|year=2001|pages=140–1|url=http://books.google.com/?id=QdtqtoVvutkC&pg=PA140&dq=%22G.+Edward+Griffin%22|isbn=1-57230-757-9}}</ref> and a [[contributing editor]] to its magazine, ''[[The New American]]''.<ref name=spokane>{{cite news|author=Steele, Karen Dorn; Morlin, Bill|title=Get-rich pitch 'bogus': Seven states have determined Global Prosperity is an illegal pyramid scheme|work=[[The Spokesman Review]]|date=2000-09-02|url=http://www.kycnews.com/message_board_detail.asp?id=15001&page=1|accessdate=2008-03-05}}{{deadlink|date=August 2014}}</ref> Since the 1960s, Griffin has spoken and written about the Society's theory of history involving "communist and capitalist conspiracies" over [[banking system]]s (including the Federal Reserve System), American foreign policy, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the United Nations.<ref name=sayre>{{cite book|author=Sayre, Nora|title=Sixties Going on Seventies|publisher=[[Rutgers University Press]]|year=1996|page=98|url=http://books.google.com/?id=3YuMmqgA6hwC&pg=PA98&dq=%22G.+Edward+Griffin%22|isbn=0-8135-2193-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Stone, Barbara S.|date=February 1974|title=The John Birch Society: A Profile|journal=The Journal of Politics|volume=36|issue=1|pages=184–197|doi=10.2307/2129115|jstor=2129115}}</ref> From 1962 to 1975, he completed nine books and seven film productions; his 1969 video lecture, ''More Deadly Than War: The Communist Revolution in America'', was printed in English and [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. In 1974, he published ''World Without Cancer'', and in 1975, he wrote a sympathetic biography of JBS founder [[Robert W. Welch]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Bourgoin, Suzanne Michele; Byers, Paula K.|title=Encyclopedia of World Biography|publisher=[[Thomson Gale|Gale]]|year=1998|url=http://books.google.com/?id=XksYAAAAIAAJ&q=G.+Edward+Griffin&dq=G.+Edward+Griffin|isbn=0-7876-2556-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jbs.org/index.php/robert-welch|title=Remembering Robert Welch|author=Thornton, James|publisher=[[John Birch Society]]|date=1993-12-13|accessdate=2008-03-06}}</ref> Six of his documentaries from the early period were re-released in 2001 as ''Hidden Agenda: Real Conspiracies that Affect our Lives Today''.


In 2002, Griffin founded Freedom Force International, whose members state that they value individual freedom above government power.<ref name=FFI/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5232639329002339531|title=Fiat Empire: Why the Federal Reserve Violates the U.S. Constitution|publisher=Matrixx Productions|date=2006-12-05|accessdate=2008-03-31}}{{deadlink|date=December 2014}}</ref> The organization's position that the exclusive role of government is to protect people's [[Individual rights|rights]] and property, not to provide services like [[welfare]], reflects Griffin's view that [[collectivism]] and freedom "are mortal enemies." One of the organization's stated goals is to elect people with such views to government offices and onto the boards of [[nonprofit organization]]s&nbsp;– true to its motto, "Don't fight city hall when you can ''be'' city hall."
In 2002, Griffin founded Freedom Force International, whose members state that they value individual freedom above government power.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5232639329002339531|title=Fiat Empire: Why the Federal Reserve Violates the U.S. Constitution|publisher=Matrixx Productions|date=2006-12-05|accessdate=2008-03-31}}{{deadlink|date=December 2014}}</ref> The organization's position that the exclusive role of government is to protect people's [[Individual rights|rights]] and property, not to provide services like [[welfare]], reflects Griffin's view that [[collectivism]] and freedom "are mortal enemies." One of the organization's stated goals is to elect people with such views to government offices and onto the boards of [[nonprofit organization]]s&nbsp;– true to its motto, "Don't fight city hall when you can ''be'' city hall."

Griffin served on the board of directors for the [[National Health Federation]], a [[lobbying group]] that promotes [[alternative medicine]], and The International Association of Cancer Victors and Friends. He is founder and president of The Coalition for Visible Ballots and The Cancer Cure Foundation which was established "in December of 1976 as a non-profit organization dedicated to research and education in alternative cancer therapies." The foundation expanded its mission in March, 2002 to include disseminating information about other medical conditions, and changed its name to The Cure Research Foundation.<ref name=CCF>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancure.org/about-us|publisher=The Cancer Cure Foundation|title=About|date=March 2002|accessdate=February 9, 2010}}</ref>

==Literary work and video adaptations==

Griffin is the president of American Media, a publishing and video production company located in Southern California.<ref name=FFI>{{cite web|url=http://www.freedomforceinternational.org/freedom.cfm?fuseaction=founder|publisher=Freedom Force International | title=About |accessdate=February 9, 2015}}</ref> His 1969 video lecture, ''More Deadly Than War: The Communist Revolution in America'', was printed in both English and [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. According to the February 2015 statistics on Goodreads.com, a free internet library, 16 distinct works of G. Edward Griffin received an average rating of 4.26 out of 2,137 ratings, 305 reviews, and were shelved 5,537 times.<ref name=GR>{{cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/37518.G_Edward_Griffin|publisher=Goodreads Inc. | title=G. Edward Griffin | accessdate=February 9, 2015}}</ref>

===''The Fearful Master''===

⚫
In 1964, Griffin wrote his first book, ''The Fearful Master'', on the [[United Nations]], a topic that recurs throughout his writings. During the [[United States presidential election, 1968|1968 United States Presidential election]], Griffin was a writer for [[George Wallace]]'s running mate, [[Curtis LeMay]].<ref name=mww/> Starting 1969, Griffin began producing films for American Media of [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]].<ref name=mww/> While he describes his work as the output of "a plain vanilla researcher", Griffin also agrees with the ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]''' characterization of him as a "[[Crusader Rabbit]]".<ref name=DNLA>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66C410AA28A70&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=T.O.'s Griffin All Booked Up With Writing, Film Projects|work=[[Daily News of Los Angeles]]|date=1995-05-22|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref>


==Fringe science and conspiracy theories==
===''The Creature from Jekyll Island''===
===''The Creature from Jekyll Island''===

[[Image:The Creature from Jekyll Island WND.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Griffin's 1994 book, ''The Creature from Jekyll Island'', draws parallels between the [[Federal Reserve]] and a bird of prey.]]
[[Image:The Creature from Jekyll Island WND.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Griffin's 1994 book, ''The Creature from Jekyll Island'', draws parallels between the [[Federal Reserve]] and a bird of prey.]]
Griffin presented his views on the U.S. money system in his 1993 movie and 1994 book on the [[Federal Reserve System]], ''The Creature from Jekyll Island''.<ref name=mww/><ref>The title refers to a 1910 meeting at [[Jekyll Island#Role in the history of the Federal Reserve|Jekyll Island, Georgia]], of six bankers and economic [[policymaker]]s. The meeting was recounted by ''[[Forbes]]'' founder [[B. C. Forbes]] in 1916, (see: {{cite news|title=Men Who Are Making America|author=Forbes, B. C.|work=[[Leslie's Weekly]]|date=1916-10-19|page=423|quote=I am giving to the world, for the first time, the real story of how the famous Aldrich currency report, the foundation of our new currency system, was written.|authorlink=B. C. Forbes}}) and recalled by participant [[Frank Vanderlip]] as "the actual conception of what eventually became the Federal Reserve System". (See:{{cite news|title=From Farm Boy to Financier|author=Vanderlip, Frank A.|work=[[Saturday Evening Post]]|date=1933-02-09|pages=25, 70|authorlink=Frank Vanderlip}} Also, {{cite book|title=From Farm Boy to Financier|author=Vanderlip, Frank A.|location=[[New York City, New York]]|publisher=Appleton-Century Company|year=1935|pages=210–219|authorlink=Frank Vanderlip}} In {{cite news|author=Gurumurthy, S.|title=US Fed: an enigma wrapped in mystery|work=Business Line|date=2007-12-28|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/12/28/stories/2007122850110800.htm|accessdate=2008-09-02}})</ref> The book was a business-topic bestseller.<ref>{{cite news|author=USA Daily Staff|title=Paul Out to Slay The Creature from Jekyll Island|work=USA Daily|date=2007-08-22|url=http://www.usadaily.com/article.cfm?articleID=63368|accessdate=2008-03-02|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071016170111/http%3A//www.usadaily.com/article.cfm%3FarticleID%3D63368 |archivedate = October 16, 2007|deadurl=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bestselling business books|work=[[Calgary Herald]]|date=2006-07-04|page=F5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/apr/14/best-selling-business-books-april-14/|title=Best-selling business books, April 14|work=[[Rocky Mountain News]]|date=2007-04-14|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> The book also influenced [[Ron Paul]] when he wrote a chapter on money and the Federal Reserve in his ''[[New York Times]]'' bestseller, ''[[The Revolution: A Manifesto]]''.<ref> Paul listed Griffin's book on his "Reading List for a Free and Prosperous America". See: {{cite book|title=[[The Revolution: A Manifesto]]|author=Paul, Ron|isbn=0-446-53751-9|date=2007-04-30|pages=169–70|publisher=[[Grand Central Publishing]]|location=[[New York City]], NY|authorlink=Ron Paul}}</ref>
Griffin presented his views on the U.S. money system in his 1993 movie and 1994 book on the [[Federal Reserve System]], ''The Creature from Jekyll Island''.<ref name=mww/><ref>The title refers to a 1910 meeting at [[Jekyll Island#Role in the history of the Federal Reserve|Jekyll Island, Georgia]], of six bankers and economic [[policymaker]]s. The meeting was recounted by ''[[Forbes]]'' founder [[B. C. Forbes]] in 1916, (see: {{cite news|title=Men Who Are Making America|author=Forbes, B. C.|work=[[Leslie's Weekly]]|date=1916-10-19|page=423|quote=I am giving to the world, for the first time, the real story of how the famous Aldrich currency report, the foundation of our new currency system, was written.|authorlink=B. C. Forbes}}) and recalled by participant [[Frank Vanderlip]] as "the actual conception of what eventually became the Federal Reserve System". (See:{{cite news|title=From Farm Boy to Financier|author=Vanderlip, Frank A.|work=[[Saturday Evening Post]]|date=1933-02-09|pages=25, 70|authorlink=Frank Vanderlip}} Also, {{cite book|title=From Farm Boy to Financier|author=Vanderlip, Frank A.|location=[[New York City, New York]]|publisher=Appleton-Century Company|year=1935|pages=210–219|authorlink=Frank Vanderlip}} In {{cite news|author=Gurumurthy, S.|title=US Fed: an enigma wrapped in mystery|work=Business Line|date=2007-12-28|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/12/28/stories/2007122850110800.htm|accessdate=2008-09-02}})</ref> The book was a business-topic bestseller.<ref>{{cite news|author=USA Daily Staff|title=Paul Out to Slay The Creature from Jekyll Island|work=USA Daily|date=2007-08-22|url=http://www.usadaily.com/article.cfm?articleID=63368|accessdate=2008-03-02|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071016170111/http%3A//www.usadaily.com/article.cfm%3FarticleID%3D63368 |archivedate = October 16, 2007|deadurl=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bestselling business books|work=[[Calgary Herald]]|date=2006-07-04|page=F5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/apr/14/best-selling-business-books-april-14/|title=Best-selling business books, April 14|work=[[Rocky Mountain News]]|date=2007-04-14|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> The book also influenced [[Ron Paul]] when he wrote a chapter on money and the Federal Reserve in his ''[[New York Times]]'' bestseller, ''[[The Revolution: A Manifesto]]''.<ref> Paul listed Griffin's book on his "Reading List for a Free and Prosperous America". See: {{cite book|title=[[The Revolution: A Manifesto]]|author=Paul, Ron|isbn=0-446-53751-9|date=2007-04-30|pages=169–70|publisher=[[Grand Central Publishing]]|location=[[New York City]], NY|authorlink=Ron Paul}}</ref>
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Edward Flaherty, an academic economist writing for [[Political Research Associates]], characterized Griffin's description of the secret meeting on Jekyll Island as "conspiratorial", "amateurish", and "suspect".<ref>{{cite web|author=Flaherty, Edward|title=Debunking the Federal Reserve Conspiracy Theories: Myth #1: The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was crafted by Wall Street bankers and a few senators in a secret meeting. |publisher= [[Political Research Associates]] |location=Somerville, MA |url=http://www.publiceye.org/conspire/flaherty/flaherty1.html|accessdate=2008-05-10}}</ref> Griffin's response was "[t]here is nothing about my work that merits being classified as a conspiracy theory...." and "until specifics [of error] are brought to my attention, I stand on everything I have written."<ref>{{cite web|author=Griffin, G. Edward|title=Meet Edward Flaherty, Conspiracy Poo-Pooist|year=2004|url=http://www.freedomforceinternational.org/freedomcontent.cfm?fuseaction=meetflaherty&refpage=issues|accessdate=2008-04-07}}</ref>
Edward Flaherty, an academic economist writing for [[Political Research Associates]], characterized Griffin's description of the secret meeting on Jekyll Island as "conspiratorial", "amateurish", and "suspect".<ref>{{cite web|author=Flaherty, Edward|title=Debunking the Federal Reserve Conspiracy Theories: Myth #1: The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was crafted by Wall Street bankers and a few senators in a secret meeting. |publisher= [[Political Research Associates]] |location=Somerville, MA |url=http://www.publiceye.org/conspire/flaherty/flaherty1.html|accessdate=2008-05-10}}</ref> Griffin's response was "[t]here is nothing about my work that merits being classified as a conspiracy theory...." and "until specifics [of error] are brought to my attention, I stand on everything I have written."<ref>{{cite web|author=Griffin, G. Edward|title=Meet Edward Flaherty, Conspiracy Poo-Pooist|year=2004|url=http://www.freedomforceinternational.org/freedomcontent.cfm?fuseaction=meetflaherty&refpage=issues|accessdate=2008-04-07}}</ref>


===''World Without Cancer===
===Cancer and AIDS denial===
⚫
In 1974, Griffin wrote and published the book ''World Without Cancer'' and released it as a documentary video;<ref name=wsj>{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB953678292240796576.html?mod=googlewsj|title=Laetrile Makes a Comeback Selling to Patients Online|work=[[Wall Street Journal]]|author=Lagnado, Lucette|date=2000-03-22|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref><ref name=mdn>{{cite news|url=http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=glpnews&img=\\na0023\6799503\57073949.html|title=Controversial Cancer Drug Laetrile Enters Political Realms|work=Middlesboro Daily News|date=1977-08-10|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> its second edition appeared in 1997. In the book and the video, Griffin asserts that cancer is a [[metabolic disease]] facilitated by the insufficient dietary consumption of [[laetrile]]. He contends that "eliminating cancer through a nondrug therapy has not been accepted because of the hidden economic and power agendas of those who dominate the medical establishment"<ref name=gfh>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=GF&s_site=grandforks&p_multi=GF&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FC4A32DE2007AA5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=New Library Books|publisher=[[Grand Forks Herald]]|work=Books|page=4|date=2003-07-13|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> and he wrote, "at the very top of the world's economic and political pyramid of power there is a grouping of financial, political, and industrial interests that, by the very nature of their goals, are the natural enemies of the nutritional approaches to health".<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/?id=bw63_lxnPtwC&pg=PA94|title=From Darkness to Light|author=Kenadjian, Berdj, Ph.D.|page=94|year=2006|others=Zakarian, Martin, illus.|edition=2d|publisher=Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists|isbn=978-1-933538-24-2|accessdate=2009-03-17}}</ref> Since the 1970s, the use of laetrile to treat cancer has been described in the scientific literature as a canonical example of [[quackery]] and has never been shown to be effective in the treatment or prevention of cancer.<!--<ref name="ajcn"/><ref name="Lerner1984" />--><ref>{{cite journal |author=Nightingale SL |title=Laetrile: the regulatory challenge of an unproven remedy |journal=Public Health Rep |volume=99 |issue=4 |pages=333–8 |year=1984 |pmid=6431478 |pmc=1424606 }}</ref> Emanuel Landau, then a Project Director for the [[APHA]], wrote a book review for the ''[[American Journal of Public Health]]'', which noted that Griffin "accepts the 'conspiracy' theory&nbsp;... that policy-makers in the medical, pharmaceutical, research and fund-raising organizations deliberately or unconsciously strive not to prevent or cure cancer in order to perpetuate their functions". Landau concludes that although ''World Without Cancer'' "is an emotional plea for the unrestricted use of the Laetrile as an anti-tumor agent, the scientific evidence to justify such a policy does not appear within it".<ref>{{cite journal|author=Landau, Emanuel, Ph.D.|title=''World without Cancer; the Story of Vitamin B<sub>17</sub>''|journal=[[American Journal of Public Health]]|volume=66|issue=7|pages=696|date=July 1976|url=http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/66/7/696-a.pdf|format=PDF|issn=0090-0036|accessdate=2008-03-05|doi=10.2105/AJPH.66.7.696-a}}</ref>


Griffin's websites refer visitors to doctors, clinics, and hospitals with [[alternative cancer treatment]]s, including sellers of laetrile.<ref name=wsj/><ref name=wwub>{{cite news|url=http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=glpnews&img=\\na0020\2569675\14249347.html|title=Cure or fraud?|work=[[List of newspapers in Washington (state)|Walla Walla Union-Bulletin]]|date=1976-10-11|accessdate=2008-02-29|author=Jones, Marianna}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=December 2014}} He does not sell laetrile himself.<ref name=wsj/>
⚫
In 1974, Griffin wrote and published the book ''World Without Cancer'' and also released it as a video adaptation.<ref name=wsj>{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB953678292240796576.html?mod=googlewsj|title=Laetrile Makes a Comeback Selling to Patients Online|work=[[Wall Street Journal]]|author=Lagnado, Lucette|date=2000-03-22|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref><ref name=mdn>{{cite news|url=http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=glpnews&img=\\na0023\6799503\57073949.html|title=Controversial Cancer Drug Laetrile Enters Political Realms|work=Middlesboro Daily News|date=1977-08-10|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> In the book and video, Griffin includes case histories provided by medical professionals, and explains why he believes politics, not science, is the reason [[amygdalin]] has not undergone further research as a treatment for cancer in the US. He contends that "eliminating cancer through a nondrug therapy has not been accepted because of the hidden economic and power agendas of those who dominate the medical establishment"<ref name=gfh>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=GF&s_site=grandforks&p_multi=GF&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FC4A32DE2007AA5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=New Library Books|publisher=[[Grand Forks Herald]]|work=Books|page=4|date=2003-07-13|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> and he wrote, "at the very top of the world's economic and political pyramid of power there is a grouping of financial, political, and industrial interests that, by the very nature of their goals, are the natural enemies of the nutritional approaches to health".<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/?id=bw63_lxnPtwC&pg=PA94|title=From Darkness to Light|author=Kenadjian, Berdj, Ph.D.|page=94|year=2006|others=Zakarian, Martin, illus.|edition=2d|publisher=Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists|isbn=978-1-933538-24-2|accessdate=2009-03-17}}</ref> Since the 1970s, the use of laetrile to treat cancer has been described in scientific literature as a canonical example of [[quackery]] and has not been shown to be effective in the treatment or prevention of cancer.<!--<ref name="ajcn"/><ref name="Lerner1984" />--><ref>{{cite journal |author=Nightingale SL |title=Laetrile: the regulatory challenge of an unproven remedy |journal=Public Health Rep |volume=99 |issue=4 |pages=333–8 |year=1984 |pmid=6431478 |pmc=1424606 }}</ref> Emanuel Landau, then a Project Director for the [[APHA]], wrote a book review for the ''[[American Journal of Public Health]]'', which noted that Griffin "accepts the 'conspiracy' theory&nbsp;... that policy-makers in the medical, pharmaceutical, research and fund-raising organizations deliberately or unconsciously strive not to prevent or cure cancer in order to perpetuate their functions". Landau concludes that although ''World Without Cancer'' "is an emotional plea for the unrestricted use of the Laetrile as an anti-tumor agent, the scientific evidence to justify such a policy does not appear within it".<ref>{{cite journal|author=Landau, Emanuel, Ph.D.|title=''World without Cancer; the Story of Vitamin B<sub>17</sub>''|journal=[[American Journal of Public Health]]|volume=66|issue=7|pages=696|date=July 1976|url=http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/66/7/696-a.pdf|format=PDF|issn=0090-0036|accessdate=2008-03-05|doi=10.2105/AJPH.66.7.696-a}}</ref>


Griffin founded The Cancer Cure Foundation "in December of 1976 as a non-profit organization dedicated to research and education in alternative cancer therapies". The foundation expanded its mission in March, 2002 to include disseminating information about other medical conditions, and it changed its name to The Cure Research Foundation.{{cn|date=December 2014}} In 2010, Griffin engaged in [[HIV/AIDS denialism]], claiming that [[HIV|human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)]] "doesn't exist" and that [[antiretroviral]] medications (rather than the HIV virus) cause [[HIV/AIDS|acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)]].<ref>Easter, Sean (March 26, 2011). [http://mediamatters.org/research/2011/03/26/who-is-g-edward-griffin-becks-expert-on-the-fed/177986 "Who is G. Edward Griffin, Beck's Expert on The Federal Reserve"?] [[Media Matters for America]]. (Noting that Griffin is an AIDS denier who believes the government shot down Flight 93 on 9/11.)</ref>
===''The Discovery of Noah's Ark''===
⚫
In 1992 Griffin wrote and narrated ''The Discovery of Noah's Ark'', based on [[David Fasold]]'s 1988 book, ''The Ark of Noah''.<ref name=Noah>{{cite web|title=The Discovery of Noah's Ark|publisher=Reality Zone|url=http://www.realityzone.com/disofnoahark.html|accessdate=2008-03-06}}</ref> Griffin's film said that the original [[Noah's Ark]] continued to exist in [[fossil]] form at the [[Durupınar site]], about {{convert|17|mi|km}} from [[Mount Ararat]] in Turkey, based on photographic, radar and [[metal detector]] evidence. Griffin also said that towns in the area had names that resembled terms from the [[Deluge (mythology)#Hebrew|Biblical story]] of the flood. He presented a viewpoint that [[Genesis flood narrative|the flood]] might have been the action of massive tides caused by a [[gravitation]]al interaction between Earth and a large [[celestial body]] coming close to it.<ref name=DNLA/>


===Bibliography===
===Noah's Ark search===
⚫
In 1992 Griffin wrote and narrated ''The Discovery of Noah's Ark'', based on [[David Fasold]]'s 1988 book, ''The Ark of Noah''.<ref name=Noah>{{cite web|title=The Discovery of Noah's Ark|publisher=Reality Zone|url=http://www.realityzone.com/disofnoahark.html|accessdate=2008-03-06}}</ref> Griffin's film said that the original [[Noah's Ark]] continued to exist in [[fossil]] form at the [[Durupınar site]], about {{convert|17|mi|km}} from [[Mount Ararat]] in Turkey, based on photographic, radar, and [[metal detector]] evidence. Griffin also said that towns in the area had names that resembled terms from the [[Deluge (mythology)#Hebrew|Biblical story]] of the flood. He presented a viewpoint that [[Genesis flood narrative|the flood]] might have been the action of massive tides caused by a [[gravitation]]al interaction between Earth and a large [[celestial body]] coming close to it.<ref name=DNLA/>


==Works==
===Bibliography===
* {{cite book|title=The Fearful Master: A Second Look at the United Nations|year=1964|publisher=Western Islands Publishers|location=Boston, MA|isbn=0-88279-102-8|oclc=414277}}
* {{cite book|title=The Fearful Master: A Second Look at the United Nations|year=1964|publisher=Western Islands Publishers|location=Boston, MA|isbn=0-88279-102-8|oclc=414277}}
* {{cite book|title=The Grand Design: A Lecture on U.S. Foreign Policy|year=1968|publisher=Grand Design|location=Thousand Oaks, CA|oclc=6207421}}
* {{cite book|title=The Grand Design: A Lecture on U.S. Foreign Policy|year=1968|publisher=Grand Design|location=Thousand Oaks, CA|oclc=6207421}}
Line 75: Line 64:
* {{cite book|title=The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve|edition=1st ed., [http://worldcat.org/oclc/33311372 2d ed.] 1995, [http://worldcat.org/oclc/43400122 3d ed.] 1998 American Media, [http://worldcat.org/oclc/50567478 4th ed.] 2002, now in 6th|year=1994|publisher=American Opinion Publishing|isbn=0-912986-16-6|location=Appleton, WI|oclc=31354943}}
* {{cite book|title=The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve|edition=1st ed., [http://worldcat.org/oclc/33311372 2d ed.] 1995, [http://worldcat.org/oclc/43400122 3d ed.] 1998 American Media, [http://worldcat.org/oclc/50567478 4th ed.] 2002, now in 6th|year=1994|publisher=American Opinion Publishing|isbn=0-912986-16-6|location=Appleton, WI|oclc=31354943}}


===Videos and adaptations===
===Filmography===
* {{cite video|title=The Grand Design: A Lecture on U.S. Foreign Policy|date=1969|oclc=5549063}}
* {{cite video|title=The Grand Design: A Lecture on U.S. Foreign Policy|date=1969|oclc=5549063}}
* {{cite video|title=More Deadly Than War: The Communist Revolution in America|publisher=American Media|oclc=5549058|format=Lecture|date=1969}}
* {{cite video|title=More Deadly Than War: The Communist Revolution in America|publisher=American Media|oclc=5549058|format=Lecture|date=1969}}
Line 99: Line 88:


==References and notes==
==References and notes==
{{notelist-ua}}
{{Reflist|2|30em}}
{{Reflist|2|30em}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* {{cite web|last1=Black|first1=Alexis|title=World Without Cancer author G. Edward Griffin exposes how corrupt politics prevent real cancer cures from reaching the public|url=http://www.naturalnews.com/012923.html#|publisher=[[NaturalNews]]|date=November 3, 2005}}
* {{cite web|last1=Black|first1=Alexis|title=World Without Cancer author G. Edward Griffin exposes how corrupt politics prevent real cancer cures from reaching the public|url=http://www.naturalnews.com/012923.html#|publisher=[[NaturalNews]]|date=November 3, 2005}}
* {{cite web|last1=Neiwert|first1=David|title=As Predicted, Beck Goes Full-bore Bircher With Hour-long Promotion Of Griffin's Anti-Fed Conspiracy Tome|url=http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/predicted-beck-goes-full-bore-birche|publisher=[[Crooks and Liars]]|date=March 26, 2011}}
* {{cite web|last1=Neiwert|first1=David|title=As Predicted, Beck Goes Full-bore Bircher With Hour-long Promotion Of Griffin's Anti-Fed Conspiracy Tome|url=http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/predicted-beck-goes-full-bore-birche|publisher=[[Crooks and Liars]]|date=March 26, 2011}}
* {{cite book | title= Laetrile Case Histories; The Richardson Cancer Clinic Experience | author = Richardson, John A.; Griffin, Patricia Irving [spouse of G. Edward] | publisher = American Media | date = 2005| isbn=978-0912986388}}
* {{cite book | title= Laetrile Case Histories; The Richardson Cancer Clinic Experience | author = Richardson, John A.; Griffin, Patricia Irving [spouse of G. Edward] | publisher = American Media | date = 2005| isbn=978-0912986388}}


Revision as of 23:18, 9 February 2015

For other people named Edward Griffin (disambiguation)|Edward Griffin, see Edward Griffin (disambiguation).
G. Edward Griffin
Born (1931-11-07) November 7, 1931 (age 92)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Michigan
BA
Occupation(s)Author, lecturer, and filmmaker
Known forConspiracy theories
SpousePatricia Irving Griffin
Websitewww.freedomforceinternational.org

G. Edward Griffin (born November 7, 1931) is an American filmmaker and author. He is perhaps best known as the author of The Creature from Jekyll Island (1994), which promotes his views about the Federal Reserve System. He is also known for advocating the scientifically-unsupported view that cancer is a metabolic disease that can be cured by consuming more amygdalin, and for his unsupported arguments that scientists and politicians are covering up this cure.

Starting as a child actor for radio, he became an announcer and assistant station director. In the 1960s he began a career of producing documentaries and books on topics like cancer, the historicity of Noah's Ark, and the Federal Reserve System, the Supreme Court of the United States, terrorism, subversion, and foreign policy. Since the 1970s, Griffin has promoted laetrile as a cancer treatment, a view considered quackery by the medical community.[1][2] He has also said that the original Noah's Ark is located in the Durupınar site. He has opposed the Federal Reserve since the 1960s, saying it constitutes a banking cartel and an instrument of war and totalitarianism.[3]

Early life, education and career

Griffin was born in Detroit, Michigan, on November 7, 1931, and became a child voice actor on local radio from 1942 to 1947. He later emceed at WJR (CBS), and continued as an assistant announcer at the public radio station WUOM. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1953, majoring in speech and communications. In 1954, he served in the United States Army, and in 1956 was discharged as a sergeant. Griffin worked as a writer for Curtis LeMay, vice presidential running mate for George Wallace during his 1968 presidential campaign.[4] Shortly thereafter, he began writing and producing documentary-style videos about the same controversial topics covered in his books, such as cancer, the historicity of Noah's Ark, the Federal Reserve System, the Supreme Court of the United States, terrorism, subversion, and foreign policy.[citation needed]

Political advocacy

In 1964, Griffin wrote his first book, The Fearful Master, on the United Nations, a topic that recurs throughout his writings. During the 1968 United States Presidential election, Griffin was a writer for George Wallace's running mate, Curtis LeMay.[4] Starting 1969, Griffin began producing films for American Media of Los Angeles.[4] While he describes his work as the output of "a plain vanilla researcher", Griffin also agrees with the Los Angeles Daily News's characterization of him as "Crusader Rabbit".[5]

Griffin has been a member and officer of the John Birch Society (JBS) for much of his life[6] and a contributing editor to its magazine, The New American.[7] Since the 1960s, Griffin has spoken and written about the Society's theory of history involving "communist and capitalist conspiracies" over banking systems (including the Federal Reserve System), American foreign policy, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the United Nations.[8][9] From 1962 to 1975, he completed nine books and seven film productions; his 1969 video lecture, More Deadly Than War: The Communist Revolution in America, was printed in English and Dutch. In 1974, he published World Without Cancer, and in 1975, he wrote a sympathetic biography of JBS founder Robert W. Welch.[10][11] Six of his documentaries from the early period were re-released in 2001 as Hidden Agenda: Real Conspiracies that Affect our Lives Today.

In 2002, Griffin founded Freedom Force International, whose members state that they value individual freedom above government power.[12] The organization's position that the exclusive role of government is to protect people's rights and property, not to provide services like welfare, reflects Griffin's view that collectivism and freedom "are mortal enemies." One of the organization's stated goals is to elect people with such views to government offices and onto the boards of nonprofit organizations – true to its motto, "Don't fight city hall when you can be city hall."

Fringe science and conspiracy theories

The Creature from Jekyll Island

Griffin's 1994 book, The Creature from Jekyll Island, draws parallels between the Federal Reserve and a bird of prey.

Griffin presented his views on the U.S. money system in his 1993 movie and 1994 book on the Federal Reserve System, The Creature from Jekyll Island.[4][13] The book was a business-topic bestseller.[14][15][16] The book also influenced Ron Paul when he wrote a chapter on money and the Federal Reserve in his New York Times bestseller, The Revolution: A Manifesto.[17]

Edward Flaherty, an academic economist writing for Political Research Associates, characterized Griffin's description of the secret meeting on Jekyll Island as "conspiratorial", "amateurish", and "suspect".[18] Griffin's response was "[t]here is nothing about my work that merits being classified as a conspiracy theory...." and "until specifics [of error] are brought to my attention, I stand on everything I have written."[19]

Cancer and AIDS denial

In 1974, Griffin wrote and published the book World Without Cancer and released it as a documentary video;[20][21] its second edition appeared in 1997. In the book and the video, Griffin asserts that cancer is a metabolic disease facilitated by the insufficient dietary consumption of laetrile. He contends that "eliminating cancer through a nondrug therapy has not been accepted because of the hidden economic and power agendas of those who dominate the medical establishment"[22] and he wrote, "at the very top of the world's economic and political pyramid of power there is a grouping of financial, political, and industrial interests that, by the very nature of their goals, are the natural enemies of the nutritional approaches to health".[23] Since the 1970s, the use of laetrile to treat cancer has been described in the scientific literature as a canonical example of quackery and has never been shown to be effective in the treatment or prevention of cancer.[24] Emanuel Landau, then a Project Director for the APHA, wrote a book review for the American Journal of Public Health, which noted that Griffin "accepts the 'conspiracy' theory ... that policy-makers in the medical, pharmaceutical, research and fund-raising organizations deliberately or unconsciously strive not to prevent or cure cancer in order to perpetuate their functions". Landau concludes that although World Without Cancer "is an emotional plea for the unrestricted use of the Laetrile as an anti-tumor agent, the scientific evidence to justify such a policy does not appear within it".[25]

Griffin's websites refer visitors to doctors, clinics, and hospitals with alternative cancer treatments, including sellers of laetrile.[20][26][failed verification] He does not sell laetrile himself.[20]

Griffin founded The Cancer Cure Foundation "in December of 1976 as a non-profit organization dedicated to research and education in alternative cancer therapies". The foundation expanded its mission in March, 2002 to include disseminating information about other medical conditions, and it changed its name to The Cure Research Foundation.[citation needed] In 2010, Griffin engaged in HIV/AIDS denialism, claiming that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) "doesn't exist" and that antiretroviral medications (rather than the HIV virus) cause acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).[27]

Noah's Ark search

In 1992 Griffin wrote and narrated The Discovery of Noah's Ark, based on David Fasold's 1988 book, The Ark of Noah.[28] Griffin's film said that the original Noah's Ark continued to exist in fossil form at the Durupınar site, about 17 miles (27 km) from Mount Ararat in Turkey, based on photographic, radar, and metal detector evidence. Griffin also said that towns in the area had names that resembled terms from the Biblical story of the flood. He presented a viewpoint that the flood might have been the action of massive tides caused by a gravitational interaction between Earth and a large celestial body coming close to it.[5]

Works

Bibliography

  • The Fearful Master: A Second Look at the United Nations. Boston, MA: Western Islands Publishers. 1964. ISBN 0-88279-102-8. OCLC 414277.
  • The Grand Design: A Lecture on U.S. Foreign Policy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Grand Design. 1968. OCLC 6207421.
  • The Great Prison Break: The Supreme Court Leads the Way. Boston, MA: Western Islands Publishers. 1968. OCLC 220369.
  • A Memorandum on Supreme Court Decisions: Summaries of Key Decisions of the United States Supreme Court as Related to the Impeachment of the Chief Justice. Belmont, MA. 1968. OCLC 432181.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • More Deadly Than War: The Communist Revolution in America. American Media. 1969. OCLC 71304108. {{cite book}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
  • This is the John Birch Society: An Invitation to Membership (1st ed., 2d ed. 1972, 3d ed. 1981 Western Islands ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: American Media. 1970. OCLC 83825. {{cite book}}: External link in |edition= (help)
  • The Capitalist Conspiracy: An Inside View of International Banking (1st ed., 2d ed. 1982 Huntington Beach Patriots ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: American Media. 1971. OCLC 3263688. {{cite book}}: |format= requires |url= (help); External link in |edition= (help)
  • World Without Cancer: The Story of Vitamin B17 (1st ed., reprinted 1976, 1977, 2d ed. 1997, reprinted 2001, 2006 ed.). American Media. 1974. ISBN 0-912986-09-3. {{cite book}}: External link in |edition= (help)
  • The Life and Words of Robert Welch, Founder of the John Birch Society. E. Merrill Root (introduction). Thousand Oaks, CA: American Media. 1975. ISBN 978-0-912986-07-4. OCLC 1530499.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  • The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve (1st ed., 2d ed. 1995, 3d ed. 1998 American Media, 4th ed. 2002, now in 6th ed.). Appleton, WI: American Opinion Publishing. 1994. ISBN 0-912986-16-6. OCLC 31354943. {{cite book}}: External link in |edition= (help)

Filmography

  • The Grand Design: A Lecture on U.S. Foreign Policy. 1969. OCLC 5549063.
  • More Deadly Than War: The Communist Revolution in America. American Media. 1969. OCLC 5549058. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
  • World Without Cancer: The Story of Vitamin B17 (Visual material). American Media. 1974. OCLC 5604983.
  • Bezmenov, Yuri; Griffin, G. Edward (1984). Soviet Subversion of the Free Press: A Conversation with Yuri Bezmenov (Videotape). Westlake Village, CA: American Media. OCLC 45810551.
  • Griffin, G. Edward; Solis, Willy (1985). The Red Reality in Central America (Videotape). Westlake Village, CA: American Media. OCLC 37023488.
  • The Discovery of Noah's Ark: The Whole Story (Videotape). Westlake Village, CA: American Media. 1992. OCLC 29511807.
  • Griffin, G. Edward; Shurtleff, Howard (1994). The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve (Videotape). John Birch Society. OCLC 36245861.
  • Hidden Agenda: Real Conspiracies that Affect our Lives Today. Venice, CA: Knowledge 20/20. 2001. OCLC 49289908. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
    • Vol. 1 (1971). The Capitalist Conspiracy: An Inside View of International Banking (Documentary). American Media. OCLC 5558340.
    • Vol. 2 (1983). The Subversion Factor: A History of Treason in Modern America (Part 1: Moles in High Places, Part 2: Open Gates of Troy) (Videotape). Westlake Village, CA: American Media. OCLC 36968013.
    • Vol. 3 (1968). The Truth About Communism: Only the Brave are Free (Videotape).
    • Vol. 4 (1966). Anarchy U.S.A.: In the Name of Civil Rights (DVD). John Birch Society.
    • Vol. 5 (1962). Katanga: The Untold Story (Videotape).
    • Vol. 6. WBTV (1982). No Place to Hide: The Strategy and Tactics of Terrorism (Videotape). Alexandria, VA: Western Goals Foundation. OCLC 10744020. Also OCLC 19993388.
  • Griffin, G. Edward (executive producer); Dill, David; Gazecki, William; Harris, Bev; Mercuri, Rebecca; Rubin, Aviel D (2004). Invisible Ballots: A Temptation for Electronic Vote Fraud (Videotape, DVD). Westlake Village, CA: American Media and Reality Zone. ISBN 978-0-912986-43-2. OCLC 65199460. Also OCLC 56844390.
  • Jaeger, James; Baehr, Theodore; Griffin, G. Edward; Paul, Ron; Vieira, Edwin (2007). Fiat Empire: Why the Federal Reserve Violates the U.S. Constitution (DVD). Beverly Hills, CA: Cornerstone-Matrixx Entertainment. OCLC 192133806.
  • What in the World Are They Spraying? Produced by G. Edward Griffin, Michael Murphy, and Paul Wittenberger. (2010). OCLC 682713571

See also

References and notes

  1. ^ Herbert V (May 1979). "Laetrile: the cult of cyanide. Promoting poison for profit". Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 32 (5): 1121–58. PMID 219680.
  2. ^ Lerner IJ (February 1984). "The whys of cancer quackery". Cancer. 53 (3 Suppl): 815–9. PMID 6362828.
  3. ^ Thomas, Kenn (2002). Popular Paranoia: A Steamshovel Press Anthology. Adventures Unlimited Press. p. 298. ISBN 1-931882-06-1.
  4. ^ a b c d Who's Who in America 1994 (48th ed.). Marquis Who's Who. December 1993.
  5. ^ a b "T.O.'s Griffin All Booked Up With Writing, Film Projects". Daily News of Los Angeles. 1995-05-22. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  6. ^ Aune, James Arnt (2001). Selling the Free Market: The Rhetoric of Economic Correctness. Guilford Press. pp. 140–1. ISBN 1-57230-757-9.
  7. ^ Steele, Karen Dorn; Morlin, Bill (2000-09-02). "Get-rich pitch 'bogus': Seven states have determined Global Prosperity is an illegal pyramid scheme". The Spokesman Review. Retrieved 2008-03-05.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)[dead link]
  8. ^ Sayre, Nora (1996). Sixties Going on Seventies. Rutgers University Press. p. 98. ISBN 0-8135-2193-9.
  9. ^ Stone, Barbara S. (February 1974). "The John Birch Society: A Profile". The Journal of Politics. 36 (1): 184–197. doi:10.2307/2129115. JSTOR 2129115.
  10. ^ Bourgoin, Suzanne Michele; Byers, Paula K. (1998). Encyclopedia of World Biography. Gale. ISBN 0-7876-2556-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Thornton, James (1993-12-13). "Remembering Robert Welch". John Birch Society. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  12. ^ "Fiat Empire: Why the Federal Reserve Violates the U.S. Constitution". Matrixx Productions. 2006-12-05. Retrieved 2008-03-31.[dead link]
  13. ^ The title refers to a 1910 meeting at Jekyll Island, Georgia, of six bankers and economic policymakers. The meeting was recounted by Forbes founder B. C. Forbes in 1916, (see: Forbes, B. C. (1916-10-19). "Men Who Are Making America". Leslie's Weekly. p. 423. I am giving to the world, for the first time, the real story of how the famous Aldrich currency report, the foundation of our new currency system, was written.) and recalled by participant Frank Vanderlip as "the actual conception of what eventually became the Federal Reserve System". (See:Vanderlip, Frank A. (1933-02-09). "From Farm Boy to Financier". Saturday Evening Post. pp. 25, 70. Also, Vanderlip, Frank A. (1935). From Farm Boy to Financier. New York City, New York: Appleton-Century Company. pp. 210–219. In Gurumurthy, S. (2007-12-28). "US Fed: an enigma wrapped in mystery". Business Line. Retrieved 2008-09-02.)
  14. ^ USA Daily Staff (2007-08-22). "Paul Out to Slay The Creature from Jekyll Island". USA Daily. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-02. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Bestselling business books". Calgary Herald. 2006-07-04. p. F5.
  16. ^ "Best-selling business books, April 14". Rocky Mountain News. 2007-04-14. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  17. ^ Paul listed Griffin's book on his "Reading List for a Free and Prosperous America". See: Paul, Ron (2007-04-30). The Revolution: A Manifesto. New York City, NY: Grand Central Publishing. pp. 169–70. ISBN 0-446-53751-9.
  18. ^ Flaherty, Edward. "Debunking the Federal Reserve Conspiracy Theories: Myth #1: The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was crafted by Wall Street bankers and a few senators in a secret meeting". Somerville, MA: Political Research Associates. Retrieved 2008-05-10.
  19. ^ Griffin, G. Edward (2004). "Meet Edward Flaherty, Conspiracy Poo-Pooist". Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  20. ^ a b c Lagnado, Lucette (2000-03-22). "Laetrile Makes a Comeback Selling to Patients Online". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  21. ^ "Controversial Cancer Drug Laetrile Enters Political Realms". Middlesboro Daily News. 1977-08-10. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  22. ^ "New Library Books". Books. Grand Forks Herald. 2003-07-13. p. 4. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  23. ^ Kenadjian, Berdj, Ph.D. (2006). From Darkness to Light. Zakarian, Martin, illus. (2d ed.). Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-933538-24-2. Retrieved 2009-03-17.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Nightingale SL (1984). "Laetrile: the regulatory challenge of an unproven remedy". Public Health Rep. 99 (4): 333–8. PMC 1424606. PMID 6431478.
  25. ^ Landau, Emanuel, Ph.D. (July 1976). "World without Cancer; the Story of Vitamin B17" (PDF). American Journal of Public Health. 66 (7): 696. doi:10.2105/AJPH.66.7.696-a. ISSN 0090-0036. Retrieved 2008-03-05.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Jones, Marianna (1976-10-11). "Cure or fraud?". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  27. ^ Easter, Sean (March 26, 2011). "Who is G. Edward Griffin, Beck's Expert on The Federal Reserve"? Media Matters for America. (Noting that Griffin is an AIDS denier who believes the government shot down Flight 93 on 9/11.)
  28. ^ "The Discovery of Noah's Ark". Reality Zone. Retrieved 2008-03-06.

Further reading

External links

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