The Business Plot: How Smedley Butler Exposed a Fascist Coup Attempt Against FDR

Smedley Butler: A Decorated Marine's Journey

• 🎖️ Smedley Darlington Butler was a highly decorated Marine Major General, a two-time Medal of Honor winner, and a Quaker by birth.
• 🌍 He served in numerous conflicts and interventions across the Philippines, Latin America, and China, often questioning the true motives behind American military actions.
• 💡 Butler's experiences led him to believe that American military interventions often served the interests of big business, Wall Street, and bankers, rather than genuine freedom.

"War is a Racket"

• 💰 In 1935, Butler famously articulated his belief that war is a racket, a profitable and vicious enterprise benefiting a select few at the cost of many lives.
• 🗣️ He spoke out against the lack of support for veterans and the exploitation of their service for capitalist gain.
• 🇺🇸 His outspokenness and critique of American foreign policy and big business made him a controversial figure.

The Business Plot Uncovered

• 🤝 In 1933, Butler was approached by individuals, including Gerald Maguire and William Doyle, with a proposal to lead a fascist coup against President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• 💰 The plot, backed by wealthy businessmen like Grayson Murphy and Robert Sterling Clark, aimed to establish a dictatorship with Roosevelt as a figurehead, funded by millions of dollars.
• 🛡️ Butler, disgusted by the plan, decided to expose the conspiracy to the authorities, testifying before the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

Aftermath and Legacy

• 📰 The exposure of the Business Plot led to denials from those implicated, and the committee's final report was vague, naming no names.
• 💸 Butler's efforts, however, contributed to public awareness and eventually helped in the passage of legislation for veterans, including the immediate payment of their Great War bonuses.
• 🏛️ His actions are seen as a crucial moment where one man's integrity helped defend American democracy against a significant internal threat.