War is a racket the antiwar classic by americas most decorated soldier brigadier general smedley darlington butler introduction by. Butler 2x medal of honor recipient my mental faculties remained in suspended animation while i obeyed the orders of the higherups. Butler was, at the time of his death, the most decorated marine in u. Butler supported the men of the bonus army and on july 19, 1932, retired major general butler spoke to the wwi veterans at the anacostia camp where they were waiting for politicians to decide if they would get their bonus pay. His father served as a us congressman for over 30 years, and his grandfather served two terms in congress. The march on washington in 1932, the veterans organized a march on washington to demand the early payment of their bonus pay. Smedley butler with the usmc mascot bulldogs at an armynavy game.
I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period i spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for big business, for wall street and the bankers. See our past events page for information on read more. Get butlers pamphlet war is a racket on line the gainesville florida chapter of veterans for peace republished this pamphlet in june, 1995. Smedley butler was a united states marine corps major general, the highest rank authorized at that time, and at the time of his death the most decorated marine in u.
Smedley darlington butler july 30, 1881 june 21, 1940 was a united states marine corps major general, the highest rank authorized at that time, and at the time of his death the most decorated marine in u. Mar 11, 2019 in march 1932, he announced that he would run for the us senate from pennsylvania. In them, butler frankly discusses from his experience as a career military officer how business interests commercially benefit including war profiteering from warfare. His riveting 1935 book war is a racket merits inclusion as required reading for every high school student, and for every member of our. Usas most decorated marine, general, smedley butler exposed. Richmond bonus marchers preparing to leave for washington. Virginia and the bonus march of 1932 ur scholarship repository. Smedley butler was born on july 30 th, 1881, in west chester pennsylvania, the oldest of three sons to quaker parents. Smedley butler was one of the most decorated major generals in the u. The practice of big business promoting war to profit materially was firmly in place by the time major general smedley d. Butler feral house, 2003 originally published in 1935 p10 smedley butler i helped make mexico, especially tampico, safe for american oil interests in 1914. Saint peters episcopal church, 838 massachusetts ave, cambridge, ma 029, usa.
After retiring from the military in 1931, he urged congress to accelerate payment of a bonus for world war i vets, many of whom were then out of work due to the depression. The mccormackdickstein committee was the first house committee on. Desperate for relief, in 1932 a group of veterans from portland, ore. Smedley rejected a 1934 proposition from the american liberty league to lead a coup against. The bonus army of disgruntled veterans arrives in washington, dc. Nov 06, 2016 confessions of major general smedley butler a new earth, in a new energy. Eslick dtn was speaking in support of the bill, he suddenly fell dead from of a heart attack.
The mccormackdickstein committee was the first house committee on unamerican activities huac. Smedley butler was born on july 30, 1881, in west chester, pennsylvania into an influential quaker family. Join smedley butler brigades monthly meetings every 2nd monday of the month at 6 pm. Nov 18, 2005 butler was a muchdecorated general in the u. Smedley butler talks on black shirts in america, philadelphia. But with roosevelts ascendancy to the presidency in 1932. Mar 16, 2014 smedley butler was a united states marine corps major general, the highest rank authorized at that time, and at the time of his death the most decorated marine in u.
His parents, thomas and maud nee darlington butler, were descended from local quaker families. Apr, 2010 smedley butler was a us general and one of the most decorated soldiers in the history of the us military. More interesting stuff click image to listen to the audio. He was much influenced by his fathers political career and displayed a burning desire to join the army since his childhood. Confessions of major general smedley butler a new earth, in a new energy. This historical biography explores the life of butler, a littleknown american marine who exposed an alleged fascist coup to remove president franklin d. In november 1934, butler told the committee that one gerald p. Butler wrote about it in his anticorporate pamphlets.
His short and damming assessment of the business of war might explain why. This was a scheme that was known as the business plot. On 28 july 1932, the nations capital saw the forced expulsion of the selfstyled. Macguire told him that a group of businessmen, supposedly backed by a private army of 500,000 exsoldiers and others, intended to establish a fascist dictatorship. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. He came from a fairly successful familyhis father was a judge and lawyer before serving as a. When the great depression began, many veterans were out of work. Congress in 1932 and his involvement in exposing a plot to overthrow the white house a. That war is a racket has been told us by many, but rarely by one of this stature. War is a racket is the title of two works, a speech and a booklet, by retired united states marine corps major general and two time medal of honor recipient smedley d. Retired usmc major general and socialist smedley butler speaks to the bonus. So allow us to spend three thousand words or so gushing about smedley butler, the fighting quaker. On july 28, 1932, two bonus marchers were shot by police, causing the entire mob to become hostile and riotous. Confessions of major general smedley butler youtube.
Jul 06, 20 the allegations of the plot came to light when marine corps major general smedley darlington butler notified the mccormackdickstein committee in 1933 and testified to the existence of the plot. Butler was approached by representatives of the morgan bank who wished him to lead a fascist military coup detat against the roosevelt government in 1932. A congressional committee found that there was some truth to butlers allegations, the film notes, and that j. Butler had been approached by a group of corporate leaders to lead a treasonous. During his 34year career as a marine, he participated in military actions in the philippines, china, in central america and the caribb.
Both of his parents were of entirely english ancestry, all of whom had been in what is now the united states since the 1600s. I helped make mexico and especially tampico safe for american oil interests in 1914. The bonus army asked for early payment of moneys promised for 1945. Outspoken, hardworking, and unpretentious, he was beloved by his men and influential with veterans. Though he died in 1940, the highly decorated general butler two esteemed medals of honor deserves to be heralded for his timeless message, which rings true today more than ever. When their bonus army set up a protest camp in washington, dc, in 1932, butler showed up with his young son to cheer the men on. War is a racket project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
Smedley butler speaks to the bonus army filed under. Section ii, paragraph 2, says decision to go to war having been made, operations will be. Smedley butler speaks to the bonus army louis proyect. Smedley butler and the business plot today i found out. Butler was the most decorated soldier in american uniform. Butler, read by jon gold home uncategorized war is a racket by maj. Some were the same men who had fought under smedley butler in the spanishamerican war, the philippines campaign, the boxer rebellion. Butler supported the soldiers bonus, but he had no desire to attend the convention and become involved in backroom. Box 35691 boston, ma 025 learn more extremists for peace music video.
His father was a lawyer, a judge and, for 31 years, a congressman and chair of the house naval affairs committee during the harding and coolidge administrations. In july, 1933, the first of these men suggested that butler attend a legion convention to deliver a prepared speech on the importance of returning to the gold standard and supporting a bonus for veterans of the great war. Butler attended the elite haverford school and was set for a life of privilege and power. Smedley butler stopped american fascist conspiracy to. Shacks, erected by the bonus army on the anacostia flats, burning after being set on fire by the us military 1932 macguire told butler that the same people controlled the media and that would help for the public to easily swallow the story that they were about to tell. Smedley butlers testimony on the businessmens plot. An advocate of prohibition, he was defeated in the 1932 republican primary.
The highly decorated marine corps major general smedley butler testified in 1934 that he had been recruited by the representatives of powerful industrialists who asked him to bring the bonus army back to washington and take the government over by force from then president franklin roosevelt. Smedley butler speaks about us politics at newtown square in pennsylvania hd. In 1932, he defended the bonus marchers, a protest of 20,000 impoverished world war i veterans camped out in washington, dc trying to obtain benefits. They wanted to get their bonus pay early to help pay for food and shelter while they looked for jobs. War is a racket major general smedley butler the military. Butler the day we see the truth and cease to speak is the. But by the end of part 1, i think youll probably say to yourself zoinks, i cant believe i ever fell for that. Major general smedley darlington butler july 30, 1881 june 21, 1940, nicknamed old. It may seem odd for me, a military man to adopt such a comparison. Donate with paypal or donate by check or money order to smedley butler brigade veterans for peace, chapter 9 p. The gainesville florida chapter of veterans for peace republished this pamphlet in june, 1995. Yet where most would have heard the names of macarthur, westmoreland, schwartzkoff, powell and eisenhower, smedley butler is almost unknown. I helped make mexico and especially tampico safe for american. During his 34year career as a marine, he participated in military actions in the philippines, china, in central america and the caribbean during the banana wars, and france.
But by the end of part 1, i think youll probably say to yourself zoinks, i cant believe i. The antiwar classic by americas most decorated soldier paperback april, 2003. Oct 19, 2011 smedley butler speaks to the bonus army filed under. See more ideas about butler, major general and medal of honor recipients. The saga of the bonus army was born out of the inequality of the selective service act 1917, the failure of the government to provide any meaningful benefits to the veterans of the first world war, and the fear and anxiety produced by the great depression. Barber, this book includes two neverbeforepublished antiinterventionist essays by general butler. War is a racket, by major general smedley butler, 1935. In addition to photos from the notorious 1932 antiwar book the horror of it by frederick a. Major general smedley darlington butler july 30, 1881 june 21, 1940, nicknamed old gimlet eye, was a senior united states marine corps officer who fought in both the. Morgan, the dupont family, and the goodyear tire company may have been involved.
Jan 31, 2014 no lapdog to the establishment, butler frequently came afoul of the powers that be. Caribbean interventions, the chinese intervention of 19278, and world war i p 3. The allegations of the plot came to light when marine corps major general smedley darlington butler notified the mccormackdickstein committee in 1933 and testified to the existence of the plot. In march 1932, he announced that he would run for the us senate from pennsylvania. Smedley butler in his early years a soldier shouting for the cause. Originally printed in 1935, war is a racket is general smedley butlers frank speech describing his role as a soldier as nothing more than serving as a puppet for bigbusiness interests. In short, i was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. In an incident whose history is suppressed today, gen. Jun 10, 2015 butler supported the men of the bonus army and on july 19, 1932, retired major general butler spoke to the wwi veterans at the anacostia camp where they were waiting for politicians to decide if they would get their bonus pay.
On june 14, the bonus bill, opposed by republicans loyal to president hoover, came to the floor. In the summer of 1932, he spoke to a group of world war one veterans who. Butler had been approached by a group of corporate leaders to lead a treasonous plan against president franklin d. Smedley butler was born july 30, 1881, in west chester, pennsylvania, the eldest of three sons. Usas most decorated marine, general, smedley butler. Jan 10, 2014 the practice of big business promoting war to profit materially was firmly in place by the time major general smedley d. Thousands of bonus army veterans marched in his funeral procession, while congress adjourned out of respect. War is a racket by major general smedley butler pdf.
Smedley butler biography childhood, life achievements. Butler that war is a racket has been told us by many, but rarely by one of this stature. Butler was very popular with the veterans, and was frequently asked to speak to veterans groups. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the bill of rights. He quit school before the completion of the course and lied about his age to get the commission of second lieutenant.
Butler, read by jon gold warisar, december 23, 2016. Smedley butlers life and career, including the bonus army and the boxer rebellion, only in the next installment. Major general smedley butler americans who tell the truth. Smedley butler was a us general and one of the most decorated soldiers in the history of the us military. Oct 16, 2016 shacks, erected by the bonus army on the anacostia flats, burning after being set on fire by the us military 1932 macguire told butler that the same people controlled the media and that would help for the public to easily swallow the story that they were about to tell. Later that year, he publically supported the bonus army protesters who sought early payment of the service certificates issued by the world war adjusted compensation act of 1924. Major general smedley darlington butler july 30, 1881 june 21, 1940, nicknamed old gimlet eye, was a senior united states marine corps officer who fought in both the mexican revolution and world war i.
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