Background

Early Life

Paul was born and raised near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1935. He graduated from Gettysburg College and later attended the Duke University School of Medicine where he specialized in obstetrics and gynecology. While in medical school, Paul was drafted into the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon during the Cuban Missile Crisis and remained on active duty throughout the 1960s.

After his military service, Paul moved to San Antonio, Texas where he worked in the emergency room of a church hospital for minimal pay. He later took over an obstetrician and gynecologist practice in Lake Jackson, Texas, where he is said to have sometimes worked for free.

Professional Positions

Political Career

Paul decided to enter politics when President Richard Nixon detached the U.S. dollar from the gold standard for the U.S. dollar. Paul said, "After that day, all money would be political money rather than money of real value. I was astounded." His first position was delegate to the Republican Party of Texas in the 1974 convention. Later that year, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for the 22nd Congressional District of Texas. In 1976, Paul won the congressional seat in a special election that was held when his previous opponent was appointed to a position by President Gerald Ford. Paul lost this seat six months later in the general election. Paul successfully defended his seat in 1978, 1980, and 1982 while also continuing his medical practice.

In 1976, he was one of only four Republican congressmen to endorse Ronald Reagan for president against Gerald Ford. His notable proposals include term limits for the House of Representatives and adjusting congressional pay at the rate of inflation. As a congressman, he opposed reinstating the draft when his party favored legislation. After losing in the 1984 U.S. Senate primary, he returned his medical practice only to return in 1988 Presidential election as the Libertarian candidate. He placed third in the popular vote and left politics until 1997.

Paul returned to politics in 1997 and presently represents the 14th congressional district of Texas. He serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was named one of the "50 Most Effective Members of Congress" by Congressional Quarterly. Although many of his bills die before coming out of committee, he has attempted to abolish the income tax and the Federal Reserve, and repeal the War Powers Resolution. He was one of six Republicans to vote against the Iraq War Resolution but introduced legislation for Congress to declare war in Iraq. Paul strongly believes in strict adherence to the constitution which requires Congress to declare war. In 2007, he declared his candidacy for 2008 presidential elections.

Accomplishments

Criticism

Additional Information

Ideology

Though Paul belongs to the Republican party, he's often associated with values of individual freedom and limited government embodied by the Libertarian party. He believes in strict adherence of the constitution, which explains his decision to introduce legislation for Congress to declare war on Iraq before the invasion, but he has personally opposed the war from the beginning. He believes the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Reserve, and federal income tax should be abolished while the size of the federal government should be minimized. Inspired by the Austrian School of economics and its philosophy, he is an advocate of free market principles. He opposes strengthening the Federal Emergency Management Agency, opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants, Federal foreign aid, and an interventionist foreign policy. Dr. Paul is pro-life and does not agree with Roe vs. Wade. However, he believes the abortion issue should be decided by the individual states. He does not support a Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. He believes that too should be an issue for the states to decide. He has said "When issues are complicated, like abortion and same sex marriage, then it is better for the states to decide those issues."

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