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Jul 17, 2005

Before Bricker




Before the Bricker Amendment, U.S.M.C. Major GeneralSmedley Butler (7/30/1881-6/21/40) published his own recommendation for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a Peace Amendment, (amongothers). Originally in the September 1936 issue of Woman's Home Companion, comprised of three articles as follows:
1. The removal of members of the land armed forces from within the continental limits of the United States and the Panama Canal Zone for any cause whatsoever is prohibited.
2. The vessels of the United State Navy, or of the other branches of the armed service, are hereby prohibited from steaming, for any reason whatsoever except on an errand of mercy, more than five hundred iles from our coast.
3. Aircraft of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps is hereby prohibited from flying, for any reason whatsoever, more than seven hundred and fifty miles beyond the coast of the United States.
Thomas Woods, who has written on the Bricker Amendment said:
"Today the treaty power poses as grave a threat to self-government as ever before. The voices that speak for American independence are few and far between. As the twentieth century comes to a close, post-Cold War America awaits its John Bricker."
I prefer its Smedley Butler, who understands that war is a racket.
Just a thought.
Just Ken
CLASSical Liberalism



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Kenneth R Gregg - 7/17/2005

David, I'm aware of the reports about the plot and I recall it being investigated, but I don't remember if there were any further details. No doubt there were people who would have spoken to Butler about their antipathy toward Franklinstein, given Butler's own independent attitude.

My suspicion is that it was more like "hot air" than anything more specific. This was around the time classical liberals were turning against FDR and there was a lot of concern about what to do next, as you are aware.

Just a thought.
Just Ken


William Marina - 7/17/2005

Nice piece, Ken.

David, check out the following, I have thelast one listed.

General Smedley Darlington Butler: The Letters of a Leatherneck, 1898-1931 By Anne Cipriano Venzon (Editor)

Hiram Iddings Bearss, U.S. Marine Corps: Biography Of A World War I Hero
By George B. Clark

Maverick Marine: General Smedley D. Butler and the Contradictions of American Military History By Hans Schmidt


David Timothy Beito - 7/17/2005

Butler, who reminds me a bit of Ross Perot, has always fascinated me. He once charged that a group of mysterious rightwingers had asked him to participate in a coup against FDR in 1933. Do you think there is anything to this story? He died in 1940 at the time that the debate was beginning over U.S. entry into World War II. Do you know if he expressed any views?