Ron Paul

Ron Paul was born on August 20, 1935, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a Lutheran family and went on to study at Gettysburg College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in biology. He later received a Doctor of Medicine degree from Duke University's School of Medicine.

Ron Paul was elected to the United States House of Representatives in a special election on April 3, 1976, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district. This marked the beginning of his political career in Congress, where he developed a reputation for advocating for limited government, personal liberty, and free market economics.

In 1988, Ron Paul ran for President of the United States as the Libertarian Party's candidate. His campaign focused on issues related to civil liberties, non-interventionist foreign policy, and a reduction in government spending. Although he did not win, he received approximately 432,179 popular votes, reflecting his influence in the libertarian movement.

Ron Paul returned to the U.S. House of Representatives on January 3, 1997, after winning election to represent Texas's 14th congressional district. This marked the beginning of his second period in Congress, during which he continued to advocate for policies such as a return to the gold standard and a non-interventionist foreign policy.

On March 12, 2007, Ron Paul announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination for the 2008 election. His campaign gained significant attention and a devoted following due to his strong opposition to the Iraq War, advocacy for a return to the gold standard, and his calls for the abolition of the Federal Reserve.

On February 5, 2008, known as Super Tuesday, Ron Paul received a substantial amount of support in several states as he competed for the Republican presidential nomination. Despite being considered a long-shot candidate, his campaign energized many young voters and those dissatisfied with mainstream candidates, leading to a noticeable grassroots movement.

Ron Paul announced his presidential campaign for the 2012 election on May 13, 2011. Running once again as a Republican candidate, he emphasized policies such as ending foreign wars, reducing federal spending, and protecting individual liberties. His campaign was noted for its enthusiastic support base and significant grassroots fundraising efforts.

By February 29, 2012, Ron Paul's presidential campaign had seen success in several states' primaries and caucuses, including a win in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and a strong showing in other areas. His campaign strategy focused heavily on grassroots organizing and targeting caucus states, reflecting his non-traditional approach to the nomination process.

On January 3, 2013, Ron Paul officially retired from the United States Congress after serving multiple terms over the years. Known for his consistent stance on various issues including free-market economics and non-interventionism, his retirement marked the end of a significant era in libertarian politics, although his influence persisted through his writings and public speaking.

On September 25, 2020, Ron Paul experienced a medical emergency while live-streaming on his YouTube channel. During the broadcast, he appeared to suffer a stroke but was quickly hospitalized. Later, he reassured his supporters of his recovery, demonstrating his ongoing engagement with current affairs even in retirement.