What does the apparent plot to overthrow the U.S. government in 1934 suggest about democracy, patriotism?

Question

What does the apparent plot to overthrow the U.S. government in 1934 suggest about democracy, patriotism?

Answer 1

Yes, there was a plot to replace President Roosevelt. Good thing the military didn't go along with it. So a plot against the presidency is quite possible, and the people who are talking about plot against President Kennedy are not out of touch. So i guess they didn't get Roosevelt, but they got Kennedy. they had refined their methods by then.

What does it mean about democracy if the Kennedy assassination was a coup d'etat?

Answer 2

Absolutely nothing. It was a pipe dream by a few industrialists. General Smedley Darlington Butler did testify in front of a committee which was co-chaired by Congressman Dickstein of NYC. And it is also true that same Congressman went on to chair the House Committee on Un-American Activities. But, in 1995, the opening of certain files in Dzershinsky Square in Moscow showed that Congressman had been a paid agent of the NKVD, the predecessor of the KGB. So, you take your "plots" by figuring out which "plot line" you want to use as a reference point.

However, since recent findings show that less than one in five adult Americans has even read the Constitution and less than half can even identify their local Member of Congress, I would say the general knowledge level is two stories below a whale's bottom.

Answer 3

Yep, sad but true....Smedley Butler was a great American hero, but still many want to discredit him for his honesty and humanity, He showed how wise our founders were and how they knew what would happen, when bankers and industry got too much power.



Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains.

Thomas Jefferson

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a monied aristocracy that has set the government at defiance. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people to whom it properly belongs.

Thomas Jefferson

Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence.

Thomas Jefferson



The Business Plot (also known as the Plot Against FDR or the White House Putsch) was a political conspiracy in 1933 where several wealthy businessmen and corporations planned to overthrow the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.



Details of the plot came to light in early 1934, when retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler testified before the McCormack-Dickstein Congressional Committee.[1] In his testimony, Butler claimed that a group of men had approached him as part of a plot to overthrow Roosevelt in a military coup. One of the alleged plotters, Gerald MacGuire, vehemently denied any such plot. In their final report, the Congressional committee supported Butler's allegations of the existence of the plot,[2] but no prosecutions or further investigations followed, and the matter was mostly forgotten.



Major General Butler claimed that the American Liberty League was the plot's primary source of funding. The main backers were the Du Pont family, as well as leaders of U.S. Steel, General Motors, Standard Oil, Chase National Bank, and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. The

Answer 4

The US government was already overthrown, in 1913. We are now a plutocracy, run by the Federal Reserve.

The Fed creates inflation by printing money based on nothing. They confiscated the gold and caused the Great Depression. Nixon took us off the gold standard and inflation has run rampant, destroying what wealth Americans have left. We now print millions and millions of paper dollars to cover debts we can't pay, making each dollar worth less. We are at 10 trillion dollars in debt. Who will pay this? NOT THE BANKS.

Answer 5

General Butler is the sole source with any shred of reliability for the basis of the alledged plot. While he had served honorably prior to his allegations, he became an avowed socialist and enemy of the men he claimed were behind the coup planning. From 1935 through 1937, Butler was a spokesman for the League Against War and Fascism, a Communist-dominated organization of the time. He also participated in the Third U.S. Congress Against War and Fascism, sharing the platform with well-known leftists of the era, including Langston Hughes, Heywood Broun, and Roger Baldwin. butler had many friends in the burgeoning left-wing press of the day, who were quite willing to spread the details as related by Butler as they (correctly) viewed FDR's "New Deal" as the birth of a socialist movement in the USA. There is little if any other substantiation for such a plot. Believe it if you wish, but it seems to fall in the same class as today's

Truthers" and those who maintain that the moon landing was faked. The scant level of knowledge of the average american about Butler's claims says little if anything about their general knowledge and nothing about "power".

Answer 6

Whenever there is a revolution, the government must be careful to suppress freedom of speech and expression.

Answer 7

The plot was real, just covered up by our corporate controlled media. This just goes to show how long the U.S. public has been lied to and successfully manipulated by the media.



http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/Coup.htm



"The plot fell apart when Butler went public. The general "revealed the details of the coup before the McCormack-Dickstein Committee, which would later become the notorious House Un-American Activities Committee. (In the 50s, this committee would destroy the lives of hundreds of innocent Americans with its communist witch hunts.) The Committee heard the testimony of Butler and French, but failed to call in any of the coup plotters for questioning, other than MacGuire. In fact, the Committee whitewashed the public version of its final report, deleting the names of powerful businessmen whose reputations they sought to protect. The most likely reason for this response is that Wall Street had undue influence in Congress also. Even more alarming, the elite-controlled media failed to pick up on the story, and even today the incident remains little known. The elite managed to spin the story as nothing more than the rumors and hearsay of Butler and French, even though Butler was a Quaker of unimpeachable honesty and integrity. Butler, appalled by the cover-up, went on national radio to denounce it, but with little success."



"Butler was not vindicated until 1967, when journalist John Spivak uncovered the Committee's internal, secret report. It clearly confirmed Butler's story: In the last few weeks of the committee's life it received evidence showing that certain persons had attempted to establish a fascist organization in this country… There is no question that these attempts were discussed, were planned and might have been placed in execution if the financial backers deemed it expedient…



MacGuire denied [Butler's] allegations under oath, but your committee was able to verify all the pertinent statements made to General Butler, with the exception of the direct statement suggesting the creation of the organization. This, however, was corroborated in the correspondence of MacGuire with his principle, Robert Sterling Clark, of New York City, while MacGuire was abroad studying the various form of veterans' organizations of Fascist character.

Answer 8

What college?

Answer 9

The US was still on the gold standard until Nixon. Your understanding of history is warped.

Answer 10

it was like less than 3 % of the population even though they controlled 90% of the production and wealth. it was an impossible endeavor as they didnt have the population or military any where near them. cjhs

Answer 11

In that era there were MANY plots. The time was ripe for many extremists. Look at the time frame you are talking about!

The fastest growing groups at the time were the KKK (classified at the time as a "Social" organization), the German American Bund, Father Coughlin, The Kingfisher in the South, the Communist Party was the fastest growing "political" organization.

The world and American economies were in the garbage can and it was felt by many in American and world wide that the only solutions to the unemployment, economic, and political woes was a dramatic change led by a "SAVIOUR". This gave rise to any number of small groups of people to advance their own goals. It always appeared to be to shake up the power structure and put ME at the top. Some groups were rich and powerful, some were poor and weak, some had a degree of intelligence and some were downright stupid.

That era also saw the rise of organized crime, and a lot of people thought some outlaws, like Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde and others were "Modern Robin Hoods" or viewed as justified by the conditions at the time.

Most "plots" were groups of people who took no overt action, or individuals who planned a lot of junk but took no action.

In spite of all this, FDR did what was needed to give the people the confidence that he was doing something to help the country, WPA, CCC, and many other job creating activities, Social Security, Bank Holiday, and the National Recovery Administration probably accomplished little tangible results, but the perception that action was being taken allowed most people to feel hope and kept them from creating or joining those "plots to overthrow the government."

Answer 12

It suggests the fragility of democracy and the necessity for a deeper understanding of patriotism that goes beyond militarism,blind allegiance and hollow flag-waving. The plot was real and is well documented, despite what some have suggested here. How far along or realistic it may have been is the only thing subject to debate. Butler had a journalist pose as his intermediary and his testimony corroborates with the general's. The congressional committee, which consisted of more than just Dickstein, believed Butler and Paul French and agreed that the plot was real. Dickstein's alleged indiscretions are irrelevant considering this fact.

Answer 13

Here is the truth about your Democrat "Hero-Savior". If you don't already know this then read some history not written by American communists. When an idiot like FDR gets in power people get angry. No one likes to talk about how he said Mine Komph was the greatest book he had ever read, even better than the Bible. FDR also said Hitler was the greatest leader the world had seen in years and modeled the New Deal after Germany's National Socialism with the help of visiting Nazi party authors.



FDR said a number of times that the stock market crash and Great Depression were preplanned by the Jews and that he was going to prove it. That his base was the KKK and he constantly sought out their help and funds the Democrats hate to talk about. Now that blacks are able to vote the Democrats have brainwashed them with the surprise stroke of LBJ's pen with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.



Of course Republicans opposed the act because it gave the Federal Government unbridled POLICE STATE power which led to the shootings of the hippie kids at Kent State. Democrats claim to not like Hitler but their entire party platform is modeled completely after his ideas which were in turn mostly modeled after Karl Marx.



Democracy, which can accurately be labeled "baby socialism" because of what it grows up to be, is always rejected by the intelligent and productive members of society.



Demo: to show or demonstrate. In other words a government with power. There is no coincidence that it relates directly to the word DEMON. This country wasn't suposed to be that way. A Republic was established here where the framers were adament the government should do very little. When you give ANY government the power to DO, it does corruption and power. Anytime a government gains power, it takes that power from the people. The people becoming "empowered" along with the government is a Liberal Hollywood myth/legend. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.



You don't think that the numerous powerbrokers saw this PLOT by FDR and his associates to take power from many and put it in the hands of a few ignorant bureaucrats and were not horrified by the facts surrounding it? These were Christian freedom loving men. FDR was a traitor.

Answer 14

king mob is sharing info i have heard several times... what the apparent overthrow suggests to me is GREED that the wealthiest families in the world at that time wanted to be in control so they would have money all the time and just be able to do their own thing... like a little child is selfish so are these people... the funny thing is that when they die they still cant take it with them... and who knows where they will spend eternity... i personally have prayed for them even though for a while i was so shocked and then angry that such a thing could happen in our country with grandfatherly looking ?leaders and lawmakers...

Answer 15

IT shows that capitalism is not necessarily a friend of democracy.



And war is often a racket fought just to make money (ie Gen General Smedley D. Butler's book title "War is a Racket" written in part about the attempted coup)

Answer 16

I've never heard of this. But would like to, as I believe it's time to overthrow the government now. Socialism is bad and we are knee deep in it. The Wall and iron curtain didn't come down because we won the cold war, it came down because the Soviet Union no longer felt we were a threat. We're as Socialist as they are.

Answer 17

The problem with this question is that it assumes that democracy is sacred. It is not. Many countries function quite well without democratic systems and are happy with it. If a govt is found lacking, it should be thrown out. By force if necessary

Answer 18

There is no safe government against it's people. The people will always revolt once the whole community is fed up.

Answer 19

I'am fairly sure it was because of Undistributed profits tax in Mar. 1936, and the Social Security Payroll Tax 1937, plus the effects of the Wagner Act; the Fair Labor Standards Act and a blizzard of other federal regulations that made the rich mad.

Info- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt#Second_New_Deal.2C_1935.E2.80.931936

Answer 20

One huge flaw in your little story, we were still on the gold standard up until Nixon was president. Sorry but that bles your whole point.

Answer 21

It reminds us that there needs to be eternal vigilance in regards to keeping this country free. We are not in a magic bubble where threats to this country's freedom won't ever happen. This is why people need to take seriously the allegations against Obama. He is vying for President. We don't need a terrorist sympathizer as President.

Answer 22

There exists a shadowy government with it's own airforce, it's own navy, it's own fundraising mechanism, and the ability to pursue it's own ideas of the national interest, free from all checks and balances, and free from the law itself......................Senator Daniel K. Inouye.

Answer 23

Also during this time Roger Badwin set up the ACLU to destroy American using the very freedoms the constitution prescribes and from this the ultra left starting the US down the line of Socialism. Many of FDRs advisers when in fact socialist.communist sympathyzers and so feel enambered by what Hitler, Mussalini and Stalin were accomplishing. It was later prover that that one of FDR's advisers was in fact leaking inteligence and miliratary secrets to Stalin and was in fact a foreign agent. It too Sen. McCarthy to get to the bottom of all the communist groups in America.

People like to complain about the Gold Standard and inflation but today "money" does not really exist. It is all electrons moved around wires and into virtual accounts. Believe it or not this actually has helped this country grow from a small national economy to a booming economy and a dollar is still spent at any store and accepted at any store in this country. It is backed by the govt and most of our economy is based on confidence. If we stayed with the gold standard then the amount of national wealth would be based only on that gold. Coins would have to be printed with the exact amount of gold per value and would actually dwindle the value of gold because of the increased circulation. The Great Depression was actually kept going by FDR's policies and America would have recovered if he had let the market correct itself as if often did and does. As long as people have jobs they have money to spend and buy not only what they need but extras and from this consumerism was born and Henry Ford is to thank for that. It was his vision that allowd for mass production of interchangable parts plus paying his employees an amount that allowed them to buy his product. Wages would have gone up because of that alone but then the Unions came in and demanded higher wages and all out warfare on Corporations ensued. Unions are steeped in socialism because they protect workers who are only concerned about quotas and doing as little as possible for the most they can get out of the company. No company can survive this type of worker mentality just see GM, Ford and Chrysler if you need more proof just look at the Rust Belt. Those jobs are moving to Right to Work States.



As for the Coup attempt or plan this is the first I have heard of it but you need the coorperation of the Army to pull it off and there are not many who would participate in that. As a former enlisted man who served while Clinton was in office and although I can not respect him I do the postion of the office he held and would not have participated in any coup attemp and I would shoot any officer or NCO that ordered me to.



Socialism is never the answer unless the wrong question is asked and if you want to live in feel free to move to the workers paridise of Cuba or North Korea to experience it. I nor many people like me abhore it completely. Canada is the closest country to us try there if you want but do not complain when 80% of your income goes to taxes either from Income taxes or sales taxes.

Answer 24

yes and you can go back as far as 1852 when we put the indians on reservations! talk about general knowledge of our selves!

Answer 25

The plot lives and was successful.

Answer 26

Couldn't have been a very significant plot. Never heard of it.

Answer 27

It tells me that patriotism and democracy can stand the test of time

Answer 28

Says absolutely nothing. Gee that was an easy one.

Answer 29

I heard during Jimmy Carter term many in the military were fearful he would disarm America and were talking about what they would do if he tried this And from that fools actions I can see why they were fearful

Answer 30

Our government has been taken over for some time now. The "Federal Reserve." Oh please, it is all privately owned.

Answer 31

Shh....don't talk too loudly, the democrats are trying to do it again...we're watching them again this time ...once again will their plot be labled a failure!

Answer 32

Do your own homework.

Answer 33

I think your a BIT mixed up.

Answer 34

Stay off of youtube. It's bad for you.

Answer 35

we are doomed

Answer 36

Democrats soved the problem...Got people jobs futures etc