Six Smedley Butler Facts You Probably Didn't Know

It's Smedley Butler's birthday! In honor of a great Marine who lived an incredibly interesting life, here are six things you may not know about this famous World War I vet.  






1. He ran for Congress 


In 1932, Smedley Butler ran for Senate in his home state of Pennsylvania with a platform based on Prohibition. Despite his popularity as a military leader, Butler lost the primary to incumbent James John Davis. 


2. He thwarted a coup


No, seriously. He actually thwarted a coup in the U.S. in 1923. A group of right-wing bankers planned to overthrow FDR in what is now called “The Wall Street Putsch.” The plan was to use a stockpile of several million dollars and weapons to convince FDR to relinquish power in favor of a fascist system. The group reached out to Smedley Butler to leader their martial outfit. Rather than joining the cause, Smedley Butler reported the plans to Congress, successfully thwarting what could have been a violent coup.

3. He had a pretty fancy tattoo ... or at least part of one! 


Smedley Butler had a gigantic Eagle, Globe, and Anchor tattooed across his torso. The tattoo started at his neck and extended all the way to his waist. He is quoted as saying “nothing on Earth but skinning will remove it.” He may have spoken too soon though because during the Boxer Rebellion, Butler was shot and the South America portion of the tattoo was lost.


4.  He wrote a book


After retiring from the military, Smedley Butler wrote the book, “War is a Racket” on the profiteering side of war. “War is a Racket” is a scathing commentary on the corporate-military complex and the treatment of veterans. It is widely considered an “anti-war classic.


5.   His nickname is Old Gimlet Eye


Smedley Butler was given the nickname “Old Gimlet Eye” in 1903 in Honduras. The nickname was given to him by his fellow Marines as a nod to his fierce battle stare.  


6. The  Marine Corps mascot bulldog was originally named after him  – some still are



Although the modern Marine Corps mascot is a bulldog named for Chesty Puller, from the 1930s to the 1950s, Smedley the Bulldog was the Marine Corps mascot. The mascot of Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego is still a bulldog named Smedley.

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