Smedley Butler
Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, known as "Old Gimlet Eye," is a notable figure in U.S. Marine Corps history, recognized for being one of only two Marines to receive the Medal of Honor twice. His military career spanned significant conflicts from the Spanish-American War to World War II, showcasing his dedication to the Marine Corps. After retiring in 1931, Butler became an outspoken critic of U.S. military involvement abroad, arguing against the deployment of troops and naval forces beyond American shores. He gained notoriety for his pamphlet "War Is a Racket," published in 1935, which condemned war profiteering and accused the government of using military forces to protect business interests rather than national security.
Butler's criticisms extended to his involvement in the Bonus Army marches, where he supported World War I veterans advocating for their promised bonuses, drawing ire from political leaders. One of the most controversial aspects of his post-military life was his testimony in 1934 regarding an alleged "Business Plot," where he claimed that a group of business leaders sought to oust President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Although some historians debate the seriousness of this claim, Butler's allegations contributed to a growing public skepticism towards business leaders during the Great Depression. While his perspectives may not have significantly altered military policy, they resonated with emerging isolationist and pacifist sentiments in American society.
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Smedley Butler
- Born: July 30, 1881
- Birthplace: West Chester, Pennsylvania
- Died: June 21, 1940
- Place of death: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Identification U.S. Marine Corps general
Butler was a controversial figure who upset many military and political leaders by supporting World War I veterans in their struggle to receive a promised bonus, criticizing the influence on military campaigns by big business, and endorsing isolationism.
Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, “Old Gimlet Eye,” remains among the most illustrious officers in U.S. Marine Corps history. One of only two Marines to be awarded the Medal of Honor twice, he participated in virtually every major Marine Corps action between the Spanish-American War and World War II.
Outside the Marine Corps, he was controversial. He was almost court-martialed for criticizing Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1931. After Butler’s retirement that year, he argued publicly that the United States should not maintain military personnel beyond its borders nor naval vessels more than two hundred miles off its shores. He particularly incensed business and political leaders by publishing a pamphlet entitled War Is a Racket in 1935. It denounces war profiteering and blames the government for sending Marines to countries such as Nicaragua, Mexico, and Haiti simply to enforce business interests and not for national security, as if the Marines were glorified mobsters. To the consternation of President Herbert Hoover, Butler gave speeches in support of the Bonus Army March, which consisted of World War I veterans seeking payment of a promised service bonus.
Most controversial of all, however, was Butler’s claim before a congressional committee in 1934 that a cabal of business leaders and politicians tried to hire him to lead a mercenary army to occupy Washington, D.C., and his related claim that the cabal was planning to subvert the power of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The committee suppressed some of Butler’s testimony and generally downplayed the rest.
Impact
Historians debate how serious the “Business Plot” really was, yet Butler’s testimony reinforced the public’s suspicion of business leaders, already in low repute because of the Great Depression. Although War Is a Racket had little influence on American military policy, it did become an influential document in the rising isolationist and pacifist movements.
Bibliography
Brady, James. Why Marines Fight. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2007.
Butler, Smedley D. War Is a Racket. New ed. Los Angeles: Feral House, 2003.