USCF Membership Numbers

[Graph of "total members" from tabulation at detroitchess.com 1, 2]

"Cold War"
Wow that's a nice surge there from 1971 to 1973!

Q: What caused that?
A: The phenomenal Bobby Fischer single-handedly defeated the colluding Russians, and won the World championship.

Q: And why did it end?
A: Bobby Fischer did not defend his title. The media lost interest in chess.

"Chess makes you smart!"
Wow, that's a nice surge there from 1990 to 1996!

Q: What caused that?
A: The USCF was well managed by executive director Al Lawrence.

Q: And why did it end?
A: In 1996, Don Schultz was elected USCF President.
The day before Schultz took office, Al Lawrence resigned.
Everyone understood that Schultz intended to remove Lawrence.
Mutiny on the USCF