Smedley Butler: A Life of Valor, Truth, and Warning

by J.Tai Davis
May 31, 2025

Smedley Darlington Butler (1881–1940) was a United States Marine Corps Major General and at the time of his death the most decorated Marine in U.S. history. His 34-year military career spanned numerous conflicts including the Philippine–American War, Boxer Rebellion, Mexican Revolution, World War I, and the Banana Wars in Central America and the Caribbean. Yet, beyond his battlefield heroics, Butler became a vocal critic of war profiteering and the military-industrial complex, famously exposing a plot to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt and authoring the influential anti-war book War is a Racket.

Military Career and Heroism

Butler enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1898 at age 17 and quickly distinguished himself in combat. He participated in the Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, and was involved in the Boxer Rebellion in China. During the Mexican Revolution, Butler earned his first Medal of Honor fighting street-to-street in Veracruz. His second Medal of Honor came a year later in 1915 during hand-to-hand combat with Caco bandits in Haiti, where he led a daring assault on Fort Riviere.

Promoted to brigadier general in 1918, Butler commanded the 13th Regiment in France during World War I and was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his meritorious service. He retired in 1931 as a major general, having received sixteen medals including five for heroism, making him the only Marine awarded both the Marine Corps Brevet Medal and two Medals of Honor for separate actions.

The Business Plot and Warning of a Coup

After retiring, Butler shocked the nation in 1933 when he testified before a congressional committee about the "Business Plot," a conspiracy by wealthy industrialists to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt and install a fascist regime. The plotters allegedly wanted Butler to lead a veterans' army to seize the government, but Butler refused. Although the media largely ridiculed his claims, the congressional committee confirmed parts of his testimony, validating his warnings about the threat of corporate fascism undermining democracy.

War is a Racket and Anti-War Activism

Butler became a leading voice against war profiteering, delivering a speech titled War is a Racket in the early 1930s and publishing it as a short book in 1935. Drawing on his extensive military experience, he argued that war primarily benefits a small group of wealthy industrialists and financiers at the expense of the majority of people and soldiers. He famously stated:

A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small 'inside' group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes.

Butler's critique exposed the economic motivations behind U.S. military interventions and imperialism, challenging the patriotic narratives used to justify war. His message resonated widely, especially during the interwar period, and remains influential in anti-war discourse today.

Relevance Today: The Military-Industrial Complex and Truman’s Warning
Butler’s warnings about war as a profit-driven enterprise and the threat of militarized corporate power echo strongly in contemporary debates about U.S. foreign policy. The ongoing global military engagements and the vast influence of the military-industrial complex—defense contractors, lobbyists, and government officials profiting from war—mirror Butler’s critique nearly a century ago.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower famously warned of the military-industrial complex in his 1961 farewell address, cautioning that the conjunction of a large military establishment and a permanent arms industry could exert undue influence on government policy. This echoes Butler’s concerns about the intertwining of corporate interests and military power. Similarly, President Harry S. Truman warned against the dangers of unchecked military power and the potential for war profiteering to distort national priorities.

Butler’s life and work serve as a prescient reminder of the risks posed by allowing economic interests to drive military policy, and the importance of vigilance to protect democratic governance from such influences.

Sidebar: Smedley Butler’s Marine Corps Career and Medals
Smedley Butler’s military career is one of the most distinguished in U.S. Marine Corps history. Enlisting in 1898, Butler quickly rose through the ranks, demonstrating exceptional leadership and valor in multiple conflicts:

Philippine–American War: Early combat experience in the U.S. campaign to suppress Filipino independence fighters.

Boxer Rebellion: Participated in multinational efforts to quell the anti-foreigner uprising in China.

Mexican Revolution: Awarded his first Medal of Honor for leading Marines in fierce urban combat in Veracruz, 1914.

Haiti and the Banana Wars: Earned a second Medal of Honor in 1915 for leading an assault on Fort Riviere, Haiti, against Caco bandits.

World War I: Commanded the 13th Regiment in France; recognized with the Army Distinguished Service Medal for exceptional service.

Butler’s decorations include:


Medal of Honor (2 awards) For heroism in Veracruz and Haiti, Mexican Revolution, Banana Wars
Marine Corps Brevet Medal For gallantry in actin
Army Distinguished Service Medal For meritorious service World War I
Numerous campaign medals and decorations Service in multiple campaigns

Known as “The Fighting Quaker” for his Quaker upbringing and fierce combat reputation, Butler also introduced the Marine Corps’ first unofficial mascot, a bulldog named Jiggs, in 1922, establishing a lasting Marine tradition.

Smedley Butler’s legacy is complex: a decorated war hero who became a fierce critic of war profiteering and a defender of democracy. His life story and warnings remain deeply relevant as the United States continues to grapple with the influence of the military-industrial complex and the true costs of war.