Ron Paul was born August 20, 1935, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received a medical degree from Duke University in 1961. After five years in the U.S. Air Force, he began practice as an obstetrician in Texas. He was elected to Congress over three different periods of time beginning in 1976. Although a Republican, Paul's political views are closely aligned with those of the Libertarian Party, and he was the Libertarian nominee for president in 1988. Paul's actions in Congress frequently set him apart from the rest of the membership. He never takes part in overseas fact-finding trips, and he does not participate in the generous pension plan created for members of Congress.
International Experience
I was unable to determine if Paul's Air Force service included time overseas. Paul currently serves on the House International Relations Committee and its subcommittees on the Western Hemisphere and Asia/Pacific. He is the author of "A Foreign Policy of Freedom."
Ron Paul's Foreign Policy Positions
Congressman Paul is the only Republican presidential candidate to vote against the Iraq war authorization in 2002. He consistently opposes legislation supporting America's role in international agreements and organizations including the North American Free Trade Agreement, the International Criminal Court, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations, and more. His Web site says, "We must withdraw from any organizations and trade deals that infringe upon the freedom and independence of the United States of America."
Ron Paul's Statements on Foreign Policy
- American Independence and Sovereignty, statement from the Ron Paul 2008 Web site
- War and Foreign Policy, statement from the Ron Paul 2008 Web site
- Iran: The Next Neocon Target, remarks by Ron Paul to the U.S. House of Representatives (April 5, 2006)
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