John A. Stormer facts for kids

John Anthony Stormer (born February 9, 1928 – died July 10, 2018) was an American author and pastor. He was well-known for his 1964 book, None Dare Call It Treason. This book warned Americans about the dangers of communism. Stormer was also a Christian school leader. His books sold millions of copies, sharing his ideas about how communism might affect American society, politics, and culture.

About John Stormer

John Stormer was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on February 9, 1928. His parents were Regis and Mary Ann Stormer. He went to Pennsylvania State University. During the Korean War, he worked as an editor and historian for the Air Force. After the war, he earned a degree in journalism from San Jose State University in California.

For several years, he worked as an editor and manager for an electrical magazine. In 1962, he decided to focus on studying and writing about communism. He started his own publishing company, Liberty Bell Press, in 1963.

Stormer was also active in politics. He was part of the Republican Party in Missouri. From 1962 to 1964, he led the Young Republicans in Missouri. In 1964, he was part of the group that chose Barry Goldwater to run for president.

In 1965, Stormer became a Christian and began to preach. He also wrote for a Christian newspaper called the Christian Beacon. For 31 years, he was the pastor of Heritage Baptist Church and the leader of Faith Christian School in Florissant, Missouri. He also led the Missouri Association of Christian Schools for 10 years. Starting in 1977, he taught weekly Bible studies to members of the Missouri State Legislature.

He published a newsletter called Understanding the Times. This newsletter talked about world events, politics, education, religion, and money matters. Even after he retired, he continued to speak at Bible conferences and seminars.

Stormer gave credit to George S. Benson for helping him understand more about politics. He believed that many people who read his book None Dare Call It Treason were influenced by Benson's work.

John Stormer received special degrees from Manahath School of Theology (1965) and Shelton State Community College (1976). He was a member of the John Birch Society. However, he focused on a "conspiracy of shared values" rather than some of the more unusual ideas the society was known for.

He traveled to Vietnam twice in 1965. He also visited other places around the world to gather information.

John Stormer married Elizabeth in 1954. They lived in Florissant, Missouri, and had one daughter. He passed away on July 10, 2018, in Troy, Missouri, at the age of 90.

Books by John Stormer

Cover of None Dare Call It Treason

Stormer's most famous book was None Dare Call It Treason. It was published in 1964. The book suggested that America was losing the Cold War because some leaders were not loyal. The title comes from an old saying: "Treason doth never prosper. What's the reason? Why if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

This book came out when Barry Goldwater was running for president. It sold over one million copies in just six months. During the election campaign, six million copies were given out. It became very important to many conservative groups in America. Even though it sold so many copies, it didn't appear on best-seller lists because it was published by a small company.

In 1968, Stormer wrote a follow-up book called The Death of a Nation. This book connected the idea of collectivism (where the group is more important than the individual) to religious ideas about the end of the world.

In 1990, he released None Dare Call It Treason... 25 Years Later. This book included the original text plus a new section that updated his ideas. In 1989, he also wrote that changes happening in the Soviet Union, like perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness), were just tricks. He based this idea on the writings of a former KGB agent named Anatoliy Golitsyn.

His 1998 book, None Dare Call It Education, looked at how changes in schools might be hurting learning and traditional values. Stormer used facts and figures to argue that American public schools were not doing their job well.

Another book, Growing Up God's Way, was published in 1984. It is a guide for parents on how to prepare children for school and life from birth. This book has been printed many times and is available in Spanish and Russian. His last book, Betrayed by the Bench, talked about how court decisions have changed the U.S. Constitution, the legal system, and American culture.