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The Plot to Seize the White House: The Shocking TRUE Story of the Conspiracy to Overthrow F.D.R. Kindle Edition
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Archer writes a compelling account of a ploy that would have turned FDR into fascist puppet, threatened American democracy and changed the course of history. This book not only reveals the truth behind this shocking episode in history, but also tells the story of the man whose courage and bravery prevented it from happening.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSkyhorse
- Publication dateApril 7, 2015
- File size40936 KB
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About the Author
Anne Cipriano Venzon is the author of General Smedley Darlington Butler.
Product details
- ASIN : B00VKI49X0
- Publisher : Skyhorse (April 7, 2015)
- Publication date : April 7, 2015
- Language : English
- File size : 40936 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 290 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #194,186 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #80 in Corruption & Misconduct in Politics
- #227 in Federal Government
- #255 in Political Corruption & Misconduct
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Smedley Butler was a career military man and rose to the rank of General in the United States Marine Corps. Upon his retirement he was approached by American business interests about limiting the authority of FDR. That part of the story of Smedley Butler is little known. It is well worth learning about. Smedley Butler also ended up an anti war isolationist. He believed that wars occurred to make a few men rich and America needed to stay out of foreign entanglements and fight only to defend our country from invasion. Every part of this story provides much fuel for contemplation.
In summary, I completely enjoyed thus book and found it very educational. I read the book on Kindle while listening to the corresponding audiobook. The audiobook was clearly read and faithful to he text. The only reservation I have at all is that the reader needs to know that "The Plot" is only a part of this book that is largely a biography. Thank You...
Archer began this book with the attempt of plutocrats to get Butler to endorse a coup via using some memebers of the American Legion. The plutocrats claimed they wanted a coup against FDR to return to the gold standard. The names of some of the plotters included McGuire, Greyson, and other wealthy people. Butler "smelled a rat" when these plutocrats claimed that veterans' bonuses be paid in gold. Yet, these dame plutocrats worked against the promised bonuses for World War I vets. Butler was aware of the hypocrisy and eventually exposed the plot much to chagrin of the plotters and their surrogates.
Butler was angered by the fact that some of those who wanted a coup were avid supporters of Mussolini and Hitler. Butler was also angered at the hatred some of the plotters broadcasted against Jewish people. The plutocratic wealthy claimed that FDR's New Deal to help the destitute was a communist plot. While the very wealthy still got tax paid subsidies, their anger that poor souls who were ruined by the Great Deperssion disturbed Butler. Butler thought that combat veterans the poor should also get help in times of desparation, and Butler knew that those who tried to enlist his help were corrupt and power hungry.
One aspect of the plot was to arrange a coup using the ruse that FDR was seriously ill, and a military commander should be installed in power. As one of the culprits said, "the dumb public" would believe such a ruse. In other words, those who tried to enlist Butler's help picked the wrong man. These culprits later attached Butler, and, again they picked the wrong.
Archer then provided a solid account of Butler's heroic exploits as a Marine Corps commander. Butler had an affection for Marines under his command, and these men both admired and respected Butler. Butler commanded Marines in Cuba, Haiti, China, Mexico, and the Phillipines. He brought "law and order" where he was in command. However, Butler knew he was working more on behalf of wealthy investors than the local people. When Butler was accused of using his men to rig a Haitian election, Butler embarrassed critics by producing orders that what was he ordered to do. Butler followed orders, but he did not necessiarly like them. When Navy "brass" refused to provide food to Butler's Marines in Subic Bay, Butler used his Marines and row boats under darkness to get provisions. When the "brass" complained, Butler in effect told them to go to hell.
Archer reported on Butler's command during W.W. I. Butler took control of a military camp whose men were living squalid conditions. Again, Butler used his organizational genius and got the camp in good order. When World War I ended, Butler was angered that the combat troops went from "shattered heroes to bums." Butler wryly remarked that veterans had to pay $378 for long round trip railroad tickets while the wealthy paid only $14.00 for the same transportation.
Butler was awarded The Congressional of Honor twice, and he refused other awards for heroism claiming that the men under his command were the actual heroes. Archer gave "chapter and verse" descriptionos of Butler's rare courage which some may consider reckless abandon.
In the 1924, Butler entered another career as Public Safety Director in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He told the police officers to
"clean up or get out." Butler made the city safer, but he had to enforce the 18th. Amendment re Prohibition. When Butler and his police went after "small time" bootleggers, Butler was a hero. However, when Butler went after wealthy hotel owners and patrons, he was critisized. Butler then realized that 18th. Amendment was class legislation and so much hyprocrisy.
As Archer noted, Butler was never one to retreat from a fight. When Butler critisized Mussolini and his supporters in the US, Butler was arrested and ordered to be court martialed. This was a blunder. Butler was ready for a good legal fight, and the indignation at such a travesty was overwhelming. President Hoover and the "brass" immediately retreated, and Butler was easily exonerated. The plutocrats who thought they had Butler in trouble were chagrined at the results.
When Butler got involved in the coup mentioned above, he proved just how tough he was. He testified at a secret congressional committee meeting. McCormick and Dicstein were shocked, but Butler "had the goods" on the plotters, and invesitgative journalists proved the allegations. Such investgations exploded the plot, and the canards about communism and Jewish Bolshevism collapsed when the "fascist plot" was exposed.
Archer's book should be required reading for students. Archer gave a good description of problems in Latin America and Asia before and after World War I. Archer's insight re Butler's courage, honesty, and intelligence are reasons to pause and think. At a time when hate mongering and praise of stupidity are now in vogue, Archer's book serves as an antidote to such nonsense. As an aside, this reviewer's favorite Butler quote is, "There are only two things we should fight for. One is our homes and the other is The Bill of Rights."
James E. Egolf
March 22, 2014
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Engagé dans Les Marines , ayant participé à des compagnes en Chine, Haiti et divers pays en Amérique du Sud , Butler fut un général connu et respecté aux EU . A causé de son audace et sa personnalité bien trempée il fut contacté par des opposants à la politique de Roosevelt qui essayèrent de le convaincre de s'associer à eux et de se servir de son charisma pour persuader un groupe de militaires de les aider à executer leur complot . Butler fit semblant de jouer le jeu puis se désista et denonca les conspirateurs . Par ailleurs dégouté par les compagnes militaires dans les pays en voie développement , les massacres et le pillage des ressources naturelles , il finit par remettre en question l'engagement des Etats Unis et les multinationals dans le tiers monde . Par ailleurs il milita pour améliorer les conditions de vie des anciens combattants qui vivaient souvent dans la misère.








