![]() ![]() He had been recruited by a group of wealthy Pro-Fascists who had hoped to use him in a coup against President Franklin D. In 1934, Butler went before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) to expose a conspiracy against the American government. He spoke frankly and honestly about his experiences and opinions, and was very popular with the American public. imperialism, and a growing Pro-Fascist movement. Though he faced criticism, Butler was steadfast in his beliefs about war, U.S. ![]() War is a Racket grew out of a series of speeches Butler gave to whatever group wanted to hear his views. Now that I see the international war clouds gathering, as they are today, I must face it and speak out.” Shattered minds…For a great many years, as a soldier, I had a suspicion that war was a racket not until I retired to civil life did I fully realize it. And what is this bill? …Newly placed gravestones. At least 21,000 new millionaires and billionaires were made in the United States during the World War….How many of these war millionaires shouldered a rifle?…. In War is a Racket, Butler wrote, “In the World War a mere handful garnered the profits of the conflict. The pacifist movement gained ground because of people like Smedley Butler and Gandhi. Though not well liked among his colleagues in the government who agreed with the policies Butler spoke out against, he was well respected because of his unwavering convictions. His public persona as an isolationist was enhanced by his involvement with the League Against War and Fascism and the Third U.S. He thought that the man in the trenches should be getting paid the same as the officers and officials in the armed forces. Butler also saw the great gap in wages among military personnel gravely unfair. He wanted to set physical boundaries for the military and limit its activity to at most 500 miles off the coasts. His book, War is a Racket, laid out what many saw as an isolationist plan for the United States military. He died at age 59 in Philadelphia in 1940.īutler was passionate about the military and, after his retirement, became an author and lecturer on the subject. He ran for Congress as a Republican in 1932 (when Republicans were more pacifistic). By October 1931 Butler had retired from the Corps. However, as a result of a remark made by him which was not flattering about the Italian dictator Mussolini and political maneuvering by civilians unused to Butler’s direct method of action, he failed to be selected for the position of Commandant Marine Corps. In 1929 he was (at age 48) the youngest Marine ever to have been promoted as a Major General. Thus began a career that lasted 33 years and saw him become one of only two Marines ever to hold double awards from the Navy and the Medal of Honor. He has commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1898, just 38 days short of his 17th birthday. Over his Quaker parents’ objections, at the age of 16, he left home and enlisted as a Marine. Smedley Darlington Butler was born in West Chester, PA on July 30, 1881. ![]()
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