Butler full audiobook greatest audiobooks smedley darlington butler july 30, 1881. War is a racket by major general smedley butler free. Few people are as qualified as general butler to advance the argument encapsulated in his books sensational title. The business of war excerpt from the article with the same name original article at link to right,frazier, wade september 2002. During his 34 years of marine corps service, smedley butler was awarded numerous medals for heroism including the marine corps brevet medal the highest marine medal at its time for officers, and subsequently continue reading war is a racket. War is a racket incredible essay by general smedley. In these works, butler frankly discusses from his experience as a career military officer.
War is a racket is the title of two works, a speech and a booklet, by retired us marine corps major general and twotime medal of honor recipient smedley darlington butler. The antiwar classic by americas most decorated soldier tags. Cj, joins me to discuss the antiwar views of the fascinating maj. War is a racket by us major general smedley butler. A radio documentary excerpt from a speech delivered in 1933 by major general smedley butler which war is a racket was based on, serving as a summary of the pamphlet. He served 33 years in the united states marine corps and his was the highest rank authorized at that time. I never heard the speech before, it is awesome and timeless. Thus begins one of the most important works of the last century that most people have never.
Greatestaudiobooks smedley darlington butler july 30, 1881 june 21, 1940 was a united states marine corps major general. Read war is a racket the antiwar classic by americas most decorated soldier by smedley d. A racket is best described, i believe, as something that is not what it seems to. In the world war i a mere handful garnered the profits of the conflict. There isnt a trick in the racketeering bag that the military gang is blind to. Butler feral house, 2003 originally published in 1935 p10 smedley butler i helped make mexico, especially tampico, safe for american oil interests in 1914.
In addition to photos from the notorious 1932 antiwar book the horror of it by frederick a. What do marines think of war is a racket written by smedley. Perfect for entrepreneurs and anyone seeking the most out of life each audiobook includes captions and more information listen to the greatest classics works of nonfiction and literature on greatest audio books. It has its finger men to point out enemies, its muscle men to destroy enemies, its brain men to plan war preparations, and a big boss supernationalisticcapitalism. When smedley wrote his book, a lot of his points were examples he had seen. If i only had a dollar for every person who misquoted war is a racket as a means to try to make me look foolish for being in the iraq war, i wouldnt be. Butler, major general smedley war is a racket 1935 he was a very brave man and a real hero. War is a racket is a speech and a 1935 short book, by smedley d. And you can read about smedley and his booklet war is a racket here. By the end of his career, butler had received 16 medals, five for heroism. Works by smedley butler at librivox public domain audiobooks smedley butler at find a grave the marine corps general who called war a racket. In these works, butler frankly discusses from his experience as a career military officer how business interests commercially benefit from warfare.
At age 16 almost 17, butler lied about his age and joined the united states marine corps, so he could go fight in the spanishamerican war as a second lieutenant. Smedley butlers final conclusion is that this scam can only be smashed by taking the profit out of war. Though he faced criticism, butler was steadfast in his beliefs about war, us imperialism, and a growing profascist movement. Butler continued to speak on these topics and his views of fascism in the us through the 1930s. Mar 11, 2019 the themes of these lectures formed the basis for his 1935 work war is a racket which outlined the connections between war and business. Somewhat less wellknown than eisenhowers is a 1935 speech by general smedley butler titled war is a racket. Smedley butler excerpt from the movie the corporation youtube. Barber, this book includes two neverbeforepublished antiinterventionist essays by general butler. The only highranking soldier to come out of the cupboard and tell the real background story of the business, military and moral corruption behind ww i. The antiwar classic by americas most decorated general, two other antiinterventionist tracts, and photographs from the horror of it smedley darlington butler feral house, 2003 political science 66 pages. Was smedley butler right when he called war a racket. If you are to ignore all the details about the casualties and who said what and who did what, you are still left with the essence of the speech. Smedley butler november 12, 2015 rich winkel 18 comments 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.
This extraordinary argument against war by an unexpected proponent is relev. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. Upon his retirement, butler began traveling the country and speaking out against war profiteering. What do marines think of war is a racket written by. Smedley darlington butler was a major general in the marine corps and one of the most courageous and patriotic americans this nation has known. General smedley butler two congressional medals of honor deserves to be heralded for this timeless message, which rings true today more than ever. I served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to major general. Oct 05, 2009 upon his retirement, butler began traveling the country and speaking out against war profiteering. Oct 01, 2017 war for any other reason is simply a racket. Smedley darlington butler july 30, 1881 june 21, 1940 was a united states marine corps major general, the highest rank authorized at that time, and at the time of his death the most decorated marine in u.
Barber, this book includes two neverbeforepublished anti. General smedley butler s frank book shows how american war efforts were animated by bigbusiness interests. Butler, major general smedley war is a racket 1935. A reporter a butler confidant testified macguire said, we might go along with roosevelt and then do with him what mussolini did with the king of italy. In 1935, he penned his nowclassic work, war is a racket. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the bill of rights. Smedley butler speaks against investing in foreign war and war. As the commandant of the marine corps, butlers perspective is largely inaccessible to junior enlisted personne. And during that period i spent most of my time being a highclass muscle man for big business, for wall street, and for the. During his 34year career as a marine, he participated in military actions in the philippines, china, in central america and the caribbean during the banana wars, and france. War is a racket by major general smedley butlerour worlds. War is a racket incredible essay by general smedley butler. War is a racket, by major general smedley butler, 1935.
At the time of his death, major general smedley darlington butler, also known as the fighting quaker, was the most decorated marine in us history. At the time of his death, in 1940, he was the most decorated marine in u. The actor does a great job, he even looks like butler. Butler said, i served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to major general. War is a racket by major general smedley butlerour worlds history topics history.
General butlers book deserves a new hearing in our time when military. Smedley butler s final conclusion is that this scam can only be smashed by taking the profit out of war. Major general smedley darlington butler july 30, 1881 june 21, 1940, nicknamed old. When war is a racket was first published in 1935, butler was the most. War is a racket grew out of a series of speeches butler gave to whatever group wanted to hear his views. Round table press first printing feral house reprint. General, smedley darlington butler, the most decorated marine in history, denouncing the military industrial. The themes of these lectures formed the basis for his 1935 work war is a racket which outlined the connections between war and business. It may seem odd for me, a military man to adopt such a comparison. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. Download and read online for free war is a racket by major general smedley butler. Now that i see the international war clouds gathering, as they are today, i must face it and speak out.
Still photo images extracted from the vintage footage are also available for immediate download. Marine core july 30, 1881 june 21, 1940 has been one of the many retired u. In june 1940, butler entered the philadelphia naval hospital after being ill for several weeks. Major general smedley butler americans who tell the truth. General smedley butlers frank book shows how american war efforts were animated by bigbusiness interests.
General, smedley darlington butler, the most decorated marine in history, denouncing the military industrial complex. Though he wrote the landmark book war is a racket in 1935, the highly decorated u. War is a racket project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Youtube get transcript cj killmer, host of the dangerous history podcast and popularly known as prof. Smedley butler at find a grave retrieved on 20071012. Originally printed in 1935, war is a racket is general smedley butlers frank speech describing his role as a soldier as nothing more than serving as a puppet for bigbusiness interests. Butler, a retired united states marine corps major general and twotime medal of honor. War is a racket by major general smedley butler youtube. Based on his career military experience, butler discusses how business interests commercially benefit, such as war profiteering from warfare. Originally printed in 1935, war is a racket is general smedley butler s frank speech describing his role as a soldier as nothing more than serving as a puppet for bigbusiness interests.
War is a racket by major general smedley butler at the best online ebook storage. His riveting 1935 book war is a racket merits inclusion as required reading for every high school student, and for every member of our. In addition to photos from the notorious 1932 anti war book the horror of it by frederick a. War is a racket is the title of two works, a speech and a booklet, by retired united states marine corps major general and two time medal of honor recipient smedley d. In them, butler frankly discusses from his experience as a career military officer how business interests commercially benefit including war profiteering from warfare. If you instill the mindset that war is a racket then all the pieces fall into place. A racket is best described, i believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Profile of major general smedley butler, banana war crusader. He argues that one month before a government can conscript the young men and women of a nation it must conscript capital and industry and labour, and make the ceos, weapons and armament company directors, financiers etc also be conscripted. In 1935, butler wrote a book titled war is a racket, where he described and criticized. Butler, a retired united states marine corps major general and twotime medal of honor recipient.
War is a racket by major general smedley butler free download. Librivox recording of war is a racket by smedley butler. That war is a racket has been told us by many, but rarely by one of this stature. Very few people in current service agree with butlers assessment, but their exact reasons differ depending on their service and rank. This was a book that came out in 1938 by major general smedley d. Smedley butler speaks about us politics at newtown.
Major general us marine corps smedley darlington butler bares business. Though he died in 1940, the highly decorated general butler two esteemed medals of honor deserves to be heralded for his timeless message, which rings true today more than ever. A racket is best described, i believe, as something that is not what it seems to the. Smedley butler s expose of american corporate imperialism. War is a racket news and views from a different angle. He had been appointed commanding officer of the gendarmerie during the united states. War is a racket by major general smedley butlerour world. Jimmy dore talks about general smedley s book from the 1930s called war is a racket.