A very popular and plainspoken man, general butler exposed an american attempt at a coup detat in 1932, where he was to be made the first fascist leader of. During the fdr years, general smedley butler singlehandedly saved this country from a fascist coup by wall street financiers including prescott bush, money launderer for fritz thyssen, a major german industrialist, war profiteer and financial backer of hitler. Butler, a retired major general in the us marine corps, draws on his experience of warfare. Butler, read by jon gold home uncategorized war is a racket by maj. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. War is a racket siehe racketeering, wortlich deutsch. Fascinating to read someone in the 30s propose the concept of basic income. These events led butler to publish a short book that today still gives us a realistic and truthful picture of the forces keeping this nation in a perpetual state of emergency, involving us in war after war against other nations, and diverting so much of our wealth and resources to military buildup. What do marines think of war is a racket written by. Butler was born in west chester in 1881, rose through his military career to become major general in the united states marine corps, and in 1933 helped defeat a fascistleaning coup planned against fdr more on butler here. War is a racket, by major general smedley butler, 1935. To download a pdf of butler s famed publication war is a racket, go to this site.
Butler joined the marines in 1898 at the age of 17 in order to fight in the. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. Butler, read by jon gold warisar, december 23, 2016. Butler told congress that macguire had told him the attempted coup was backed by three million dollars, and that the 500,000 men were probably to be assembled in washington, d. Butler full audiobook greatest audiobooks smedley darlington butler july 30, 1881. War is a racket is a speech and a 1935 short book, by smedley d. This should be read by everyone, especially students, but wont be. Smedley butler speaks about us politics at newtown square in pennsylvania hd stock footage duration.
Full text of war is a racket by major general smedley. Butler was a popular general who, in 1933, was approached by a. The antiwar classic by americas most decorated soldier tags. Find in a library download this page pdf download left page pdf download right page pdf. I believe at least one copy of this fact infused missive should be in every. Butler, a retired major general in the us marine corps, draws on his experience of warfare to compare and contrast the lot of the poor ordinary soldier. Butler, a retired united states marine corps major general and twotime medal of honor recipient. Based on his career military experience, butler discusses how business interests commercially benefit, such as war profiteering from warfare. All the parties alleged to be involved publicly said there was no truth in the story, calling it a joke and a fantasy. Butler, a retired united states marine corps major general and twotime medal of honor.