From the Editor

Ten years ago – on the Fourth of July 1984 – unknown terrorists firebombed our office-warehouse complex in an attempt to destroy the Institute for Historical Review and forever silence The Journal of Historical Review.

These criminals nearly succeeded. (For more about this, see The Zionist Terror Network, a 20-page booklet available from the IHR.) In an emergency letter to supporters following the attack, IHR Director Thomas Marcellus reported:

As everyone knows, of course, the attack failed to finish off the IHR. Under Marcellus' directorship, and with the generous support of friends across America and in many foreign lands, we were able to rebuild.

Today – ten years later – the Institute for Historical Review is more influential, more professionally managed, and more responsibly organized than ever. Particularly during the last two years – and in spite of an unceasing barrage of media smears and lies – the IHR and its work have become widely known across America and around the world.

While media coverage of our work continues to be overwhelming hostile, historical revisionism and the IHR are now grudgingly accepted as a established part of the American social-cultural landscape. Just recently The Los Angeles Times described the IHR as a “think tank that critics call the 'spine of the international Holocaust denial movement'.” Indeed, the IHR is at the center of a worldwide network of scholars and activists who are working – sometimes at great personal sacrifice to separate historical fact from propaganda fiction by researching and publicizing suppressed facts about key chapters of twentieth century history.

Along with growing effectiveness comes, inevitably, ever more fevered opposition from formidable enemies. As our influence grows, and the great social-cultural struggle of the Western world intensifies, so also does the fury and desperation of our adversaries.

In some countries, the traditional enemies of intellectual freedom and free inquiry use repressive laws to punish revisionists who express dissident views about twentieth century history. While it is true that “our” government lays out millions of taxpayer dollars annually to counter the work of the IHR and other revisionists, we are nevertheless very grateful to live in a country where the First Amendment protects our right to work and publish.

In the daily struggle, we are proud to employ our modest financial resources cost-effectively. For every dollar we layout, enemies such as the Anti-Defamation League are obliged to spend a hundred.

Although my work here as editor of The Journal of Historical Review is often very demanding, it is also emotionally and intellectually satisfying. To be able to write freely and forthrightly about the most important, and most taboo-laden, social-historical issues of our time is source of great satisfaction. It is a pleasure to be able to help provide a forum for important writing by others whose words might otherwise never be read. There's plenty to worry about as editor, but being fired for offending some Politically Correct icon is, happily, not one of them.

Every day, it seems, brings a fascinating new challenge. It might be responding to an insistent fax message from a colleague in Europe who needs, immediately, a copy of an important background report from our archives; arranging an radio interview with a producer; participating in a hastily called office meeting to decide how best to respond to a just-published press attack; working out the content and layout of the next issue of this Journal; carefully considering a newly-arrived book manuscript for possible publication; dealing with a reporter who wants a quote for an article he's writing about revisionism; meeting for lunch with an important supporter who is visiting from out of state; composing an encouraging letter to a professor in an Asian country who is an enthusiastic but still fearful supporter; conversing with a high school student who is preparing a class paper; or, detailed late-night work on a lengthy manuscript to put it into publishable form.

There is no “typical” IHR supporter. He or she might be a store manager in Missouri, a retired school teacher in Australia, an accountant in western Canada, a student in Sweden, a truck driver in Connecticut, a housewife in South Africa, a professor in New York, an airline pilot in Connecticut, a salesman in Georgia, or a real estate agent in Montana. At the same time, IHR supporters and Journal subscribers do share some things in common. For one thing, they tend to be considerably more thoughtful, socially conscious, and intelligent than average.

A Journal subscriber typically has a keen interest in understanding how and why the world has become what it is today. He is fed up with recycled wartime propaganda being passed off as “history.” He is tired of socially destructive lies and bigotry, and puts a premium on truth and honesty. He wants a sane and healthy future for himself, his family and his country, indeed for all humanity, and realizes that it can only be achieved through an understanding of history and the world based on truth and reality.

Nearly every day we receive letters and cards sometimes touchingly written – expressing appreciation for our work. This support is not only profoundly gratifying, it imposes on us a solemn obligation to keep faith with the men and women around the world who are counting on us, particularly those who have really suffered and sacrificed as a consequence of their support for the IHR and its mission. This means a duty to uphold high editorial and ethical standards, to act responsibly for the best long-term interests of the Institute and the cause it represents.

In a world so saturated with historical lies and self-serving propaganda, the Institute for Historical Review stands as a precious beacon. Nothing quite like it exists anywhere else in the world. Once, referring to the remarkable team of men and women who work together here, French Professor Robert Faurisson aptly described the IHR as a minor miracle.

With a profound sense of gratitude to all those who have made our success possible, and a sense of solemn obligation to uphold the standards of the IHR, we pledge to carry on to help make this a better world for us all. With your continued support, we will see to it that the next ten years will be our most successful ever.