1934: The Real Plot to Overthrow FDR's America. Movie and Book

[FogerRox]

Smedley Butler.


From Kos:

Time for a trip in the way-back machine to recall a bit of history of which most of us have never heard. Last year, Phillip Roth had a bestseller with his novel, The Plot Against America, a fictionalized alternative history involving a fascist plot to take over the government of the USA and turn it into a fascist state under President Charles Lindbergh. But how many of you know of the real plot to overthrow FDR during the early years of his administration, a plot conceived by rich industrialists and bankers concerned that Roosevelt was about to conduct a massive redistribution of wealth?......

Enter retired Marine General Smedley Butler...

.....They chose MacGuire as the point man to approach Butler with their proposal. The plot would be funded by Dupont and Morgan money funneled through an organization they had recently created to oppose Roosevelt, the American Liberty League. (The League was funded by donations from US Steel, General Motors, Chase Manhattan Bank, Standard Oil, Goodyear and the Dupont family, among others. Not surprisingly, the League would later actively oppose almost every major piece of New Deal legislation, including, but not limited too Social Security).

Butler was supposed to be the "famous name" who would recruit an army of out of work war veterans to march on Washington. It was thought that his popularity with the troops would make it easy for him to rally them to the cause of supplanting Roosevelt as the effective head of government.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/27/112936/440

Heres the movie:

http://www.videos.informationclearinghouse.info/fdrplot.wmv


America's Hidden History

The Plot To Seize The White House

By Jules Archer

Americans can no longer be shocked by the discovery that information directly affecting their personal freedom is withheld from news media to protect persons with governmental influence. But it still comes as a shocking revelation that in 1933 there was an actual attempt to make a fascist puppet of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Now, more than forty years later, the public still remains ignorant of the story behind THE PLOT TO SEIZE THE WHITE HOUSE.

The fact that the plot was a failure and our present government is still a democracy, is directly attributable to Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, one of the most remarkable generals in American history. A veteran of 35 years in the Marine Corps and twice a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Butler finally decided that "war is a racket!" His reputation for patriotism, integrity, and dedication to democracy, coupled with his proclivity to speak the truth as he saw it irrespective of official policy, made him a seemingly perfect front for the men who hated Roosevelt. They were people with a determination, if it were impossible to replace the president, to manipulate him through the person of an American Mussolini. Their short-sightedness prevented their realizing that Butler was obviously the wrong choice for the job.

Jules Archer quotes testimony from the McCormack-Dickstein House Committee on Un-American Activities hearings (including testimony that was subsequently censored from public record) that details how Butler was approached by representatives of the arch-conservative American Liberty League; how they tried to persuade him to lead an army of veterans in demonstration against Roosevelt's silver standard; how Butler quickly concluded that the silver standard controversy was being used as a subterfuge to lead American veterans against Washington for truly sinister purposes; and how this hero, patriot, and Republican democrat, upon uncovering the full dimensions of the conspiracy, determined to go to Washington and blow it wide open.

John L. Spivak, a reporter assigned to cover the committee hearings, calls the story "one of the most fantastic plots in American history. . . . What was behind the plot was shrouded in a silence which has not been broken to this day. Even a generation later, those who are still alive and know all the facts have kept their silence so well that the conspiracy is not even a footnote in American histories. It would be regrettable if historians neglected this episode and future generations of Americans never learned of it."

Born in New York City, Jules Archer is a graduate of City College of New York. During World War II he served four years in the Pacific with the Army Air Corps and was also a freelance correspondent by order of General MacArthur. He is the author of many books on political events and personalities, including Mao Tse-tung, The Dictators, Hawks, Doves and the Eagle, The Extremists, and Chou En-lai.

Hawthorn Books, Inc. Publishers 260 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10016

Printed in U.S.A.

Heres the book:

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13906.htm

[nebenaube]

1. thankyou for finding this...

I've known for years now that what is currently happening is the culmination of a generations long plan.. These people and their ambitions are still with us... Is it time to eat the rich yet?

[FogerRox]

5. I have the movie on my hard drive as well as on CD

just sayin.....

[FogerRox]

10. Is it time to eat the rich yet? Dinner is after the movie

But I knew I girl that said "Let them eat cake".

[The Wizard]

2. It appears as though

the real winners of WW II were the Nazi sympathizing Bush Crime Family. Through media manipulation and skulduggery they have made Hitler's dreams a reality, world domination and cheap labor.
"Money is like manure. When you spread it around it makes things grow, but when it piles up in one place it stinks."
(The Kingfish, Huey Long)

[FogerRox]

6. I think we can take them..

the Nazi sympathizing Bush Crime Family

Joisey in the House I see, sup dude...

[bleever]

3. A fascinating episode in American history.

K&R.

[Jeanette in FL]

4. K & R'd

This looks very interesting.

[FogerRox]

7. Smedley Butler on Interventionism

-- Excerpt from a speech delivered in 1933, by Major General Smedley Butler, USMC.

I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service.

I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912 (where have I heard that name before?). I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.

During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.

http://www.fas.org/man/smedley.htm

[Jeanette in FL]

13. I have that speech printed out from years ago.

And to think he wrote that in 1933 and here we are still in the racket.

[The Wizard]

20. That wouldn't be

the same Brown Brothers as in Kellogg Brown & Root.?

[Land Shark]

8. Butler has some interesting quotes that don't seem to fit with this but check it out

benefit of the doubt for K&R#5

[FogerRox]

9. Ding Ding Ding we have a winner #5, thanks dude.

[smokey nj]

11. Thank you for posting this - K&R!

[FogerRox]

12. Hey SMokey, watch the movie, I saved and burn copies for friends

[Melissa G]

14. Jus 'cuz your my bud...have yet to read this yet but k-n-r for you.

[FogerRox]

16. Thanks Melissa, when you get the chance watch the movie, its stunning

about 46 minutes long, from the history channel.

[galloglas]

15. K and R !!

And super job on the Blue Jersey, Rajah !!

Everyone should look closely at the picture in the OP above.

Study it, remember it, look at the eyes. A good man might be hard to find, but a dead-straight honest man is even harder.

Remember Smedley Butler, and look for that same honesty in all of those in the Political Parade, now turning the corner to head down Main Street America.

Let's elect an honest man in 2008, using honestly Hand Counted Paper Ballots.

(The winds of change are blowing... take a deeeep breath!)

[FogerRox]

17. This guy

[madokie]

18. Thank you

I remember my dad talking about this years ago but I was too young to un'nerstand

[Uncle Joe]

19. Semper Fi, General Butler

if anyone ever lived up to the Marine Corps Motto, it was Smedley Butler, he was truly always faithful to his nation.:patriot:

[understandinglife]

21. Recommended ... "war is a racket" ... in_Deed a murderous racket ....

[Bullet1987]

22. This needs to be known by the general population...

...But it isn't. History is taught in a very biased way...and to a certain extent its always been like that.

[FogerRox]

24. I've been burning CD copies of the movie, passing to friends

[Blue_Tires]

23. ttt n/t

[lonestarnot]

25. Roger Fox

Bookmarking for later read. Company coming.

[FogerRox]

26. DL the movie, its stunning.

[ftr23532]

27. K&R and here's a Dave Emory show on the topic

Thanks for brining this topic up! :bounce:

Here's the http://wfmu.org/listen.ram?show=10938">audio link to Dave Emory's show and here's http://ftrsummary.blogspot.com/2004/04/ftr-448-coup-attempt-of-1934.html">written summary.

[madfloridian]

28. Recommending this.

Going to read up more about it.
:hi:

[FogerRox]

36. Thanks.

[AX10]

29. K & R!

[FogerRox]

42. Thanks

[DemReadingDU]

30. morning kick

[NinetySix]

31. "Lindbergh," by Woody Guthrie

Mister Charlie Lindbergh, he flew to old Berlin,
Got ‘im a big Iron Cross, and he flew right back again
To Washington, Washington.

Misses Charlie Lindbergh, she come dressed in red,
Said: “I’d like to sleep in that pretty White house bed
In Washington, Washington.”

Lindy said to Annie: “We’ll get there by and by,
But we’ll have to split the bed up with Hoover, Clark, and Nye
In Washington, Washington.”

Hitler wrote to Lindy, said “Do your very worst,”
So Lindy started an outfit that he called America First
In Washington, Washington.

All around the country, Lindbergh he did fly,
And the gasoline was paid for by Hoover, Clark, and Nye
In Washington, Washington.

Lindy said to Hoover: “We’ll do the same as France:
Make a deal with Hitler, and then we’ll get our chance
In Washington, Washington.”

Then they had a meetin’, and all the Firsters come,
Come on a-walkin’, they come on a-runnin’,
(Washington, Washington)

Yonder comes Father Coughlin, wearin’ the silver chain,
Cash on his stomach and Hitler on the brain.
(Washington, Washington)

Mister John L. Lewis would sit and straddle a fence,
‘Cause his daughter signed with Lindbergh, and we ain’t seen her since
(Washington, Washington)

Hitler said to Lindy: “Stall ‘em all you can,
We’re gonna bomb Pearl Harbor with the help of old Japan.”
(Washington, Washington)

Then on a December mornin’, the bombs come from Japan,
Wake Island and Pearl Harbor, kill fifteen hundred men.
(Washington, Washington)

Lindy tried to join the army, but they wouldn’t let ‘im in,
‘Fraid he’d sell to Hitler a few more million men.
(Washington, Washington)

So I’m gonna tell you people: If Hitler’s gonna be beat,
The common workin’ people has got to take the seat
In Washington, Washington.

And I’m gonna tell you workers, ‘fore you cash in your checks:
They say “America First,” but they mean “America Next,”
In Washington, Washington.

[FogerRox]

43. Actually Lindy flew in the Army Air Corp, had 2 kills in the Pacific

Flying a P-38 Lightning.

SO the Army did take him, technically.

[Bucky]

47. Do you find it significant that they put Lindbergh in the Pacific theater?

Lindy was a little harsh on antisemetism and a little soft on fascism--probably the right wing equivalent of a fellow traveler. But in the end he was a loyal American. It's easy to forget now just how close history came to rejecting democracy as a viable political system in the 1930s. Germany, Italy, and Japan were not alone in advocating corporatism over liberalism.

[FogerRox]

50. " Do you find it significant that they put Lindbergh in the Pacific theater?"

No, not at all.....

[conscious evolution]

32. K & R

Everyone should be aware of General Butler and how he saved America

When we get a Dem in the White House we should petition for a third Medal Of Honor for Smedley Butler.Taking on the BFEE is definetly above and beyong the call of duty.

[conscious evolution]

33. K & R

Everyone should be aware of General Butler and how he saved America

When we get a Dem in the White House we should petition for a third Medal Of Honor for Smedley Butler.Taking on the BFEE is definetly above and beyong the call of duty.

[FogerRox]

44. A medal, you make a good point, thanks for the KNR.

[nuxvomica]

34. Smedley Butler's story should be taught in schools

But it probably won't be because everything he witnessed and campaigned about is still threatening our republic and his words still threaten the same shadowy interests. When I first read about Butler a few years ago in the terrific book The Corporation (the book is better than the movie though both are worthwhile) there wasn't much available on him in the internet but now there's a lot so I have hope that folks are waking up to what's really been going on in this country since the Civil War. Thanks for posting this. :thumbsup:

[EVDebs]

40. He deserved a Third CMOH for saving the republic; FDR saved capitalism

because of it. In an ironic twist, FDR couldn't politically grant the Bonus Army marchers request until after WWII with the passage of the GI Bill. Corporations oddly enough soon populated with beneficiaries of same GI Bill are now part of the traitorous CEO pirate crew looting for all their "worth".

[nuxvomica]

41. Ironic to say the least

Greedy people with small minds and no sense of history or gratitude will always be a threat to the republic. I am still in awe at the courage and breadth of Butler's patriotism.

[FogerRox]

45. AWE, yes. Given time Smedley changed his world view 180 degrees.

[Bucky]

49. It is... at least in my class

[leveymg]

35. Watch the History Channel movie - very worthwhile. K&R

Thanks forposting this and the links.

[FogerRox]

37. I thought so too, I enjoyed the movie, thought provoking to say the least.

Thanks.

[CorpGovActivist]

38. Good Ol' Smedley Darlington Butler

One of my favorites from American history:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2575617#2581700

Thanks for pointing this out.

- Dave

[FogerRox]

39. YES, One of my favs too.

[FogerRox]

46. thanks everyone for the kicks and recommends

[autorank]

48. One of the most revealing pieces of our modern history. Thank you.

VALUE ADDED POST

Everyone needs to study this.

[FogerRox]

51. Sup dude, who does the sunday ERD ?