As I have been doing some reading on Smedley Butler, finally recieved a copy of "Old Gimlet Eye", great stuff, I am interested in how Smedley is viewed today. Particularly by the Marine Corps. As Smedley was a controversial personality, esp. in later years due to his outspoken views against war, politics, and even the chain of command in the Corps. Does his service overshadow his controversey? Are his radical views and writing: "War is a Racket" largely forgotten? Were alot of his problems with the Corps hierarchy a result of him being denied a promotion and the fact that the Corps as he new it was no longer? Interested in your views, jeff

Jeff, a most interesting question! With several decades behind us, I feel his history, deeds and accomplishments have allowed him to become one of the Corps most beloved historical figures. Having now received a larger than life reputation.

 

Not so in the latter part of his career in uniform and the early years of his retirement. Perhaps this began in WW1 the disappointment of not being assigned to a combat command. In spite of several requests for a posting in France, writing letters to General Wendell Cushing Neville, then Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (whom he had served with in many campaigns),many for Butler's superiors considered him brave and brilliant, yet described him as "unreliable"?

 

His controversial assignment as Director of Public Safety did apparently nothing to improve that reputation with his peers or superiors, nonetheless when Butler returned to the United States in 1929 he was promoted to major general, becoming, at age 48, the youngest major general of the Marine Corps. It was customary for the senior Marine Corps general to assume the position of Commandant while a new one was chosen. However, when Major General Wendell C. Neville died, Butler at that time was the senior major general in the Corps was not appointed. He had significant support from many inside and outside the Corps, including Lejeune and Daniels. Two other Marine Corps Generals were considered for the post, Fuller and Russell. Lejeune and others petitioned President Hoover, garnered support in the Senate. With the recent death of his influential father, however, Butler had lost much of his protection from his civilian superiors. The outspokenness that characterized his run-ins with the Mayor of Philadelphia, the "unreliability" mentioned by his superiors regarding a WW1 Command, and his comments about Benito Mussolini resurfaced (and near Court Martial!). Going against Marine Corps tradition, the position of Commandant went to Major General Ben H. Fuller and, at his own request, Butler retired from active duty on October 1, 1931.

 

His post retirement years as you mentioned continued with controversy, failed Senate bid, mired with the "Business Plot", supporting the "Bonus Army" and outspoken lectures against war profiteering and so forth. Yet despite this far few can claim to have been engaged in as many campaigns: Marine Expeditionary Force, China, Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, Battle of Noveleta, Boxer Rebellion, Battle of Tientsin, Battle of San Tan Pating, Banana Wars, Siege of Granada, Battle of Coyotepe Hill, Infiltration of Mexico City, Battle of Fort Dipitie, Battle of Fort Riviere, Mexican Revolution, Battle of Veracruz, World War One. Yes... I do believe most Marines and historians hold him in high esteem.

 

.

I agree with Darrell's assessment.

And history should be kind to him. His achievements overshadow his words of the time.

Besides, with a name like SMEDLEY.......you gotta love him.

My next question: What was Fuller and the rest of the chain of command's reaction to "War is a racket"? I know that many Americans agreed with isolationism, but were his views percieved as a slap in the face towards past service?

I would say that the Marine Corps holds him in high esteem since the Marine Corps camps on Okinawa are known collectively as "Camp Butler" in his honor. That puts him in the same league as John A. Lejeune, Joseph Pendleton, and Holland M. Smith. Furthermore, "Old Gimlet Eye" is now published by the Marine Corps Association.

The Marine Corps holds him in high esteem by ignoring the controversy. Every Marine alive can tell you he earned 2 MOH, but they'll stare at you blankly if you mention the Business Plot. The Marine Corps doesn't mention that, or the Bonus Army, or the Philly post, or the fact he wasn't sent to WWI for being unreliable, or that he had a sour taste in his mouth by the end of his career.