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The Plot to Seize the White House: The Shocking True Story of the Conspiracy to Overthrow FDR | 
 enlarge | Author: Jules Archer
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
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You Save: $6.00 (40%)
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Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 77839
Media: Paperback
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 1602390363
Dewey Decimal Number: 322.420973
EAN: 9781602390362
ASIN: 1602390363
Publication Date: March 2007
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Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: GREAT BUY!Brand New From US Distributor! WE ARE A 5 STAR SELLER with OVER 3,500,000 BOOKS SOLD!!! OVER ~ 675,000 FEEDBACKS ~ POSTED!!!
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Product Description
Most people will be shocked to learn that in 1933 a cabal of wealthy industrialists--in league with groups like the K.K.K. and the American Liberty League--planned to overthrow the U.S. government in a fascist coup. Their plan was to turn discontented veterans into American "brown shirts," depose F.D.R., and stop the New Deal. They clandestinely asked Medal of Honor recipient and Marine Major General Smedley Darlington Butler to become the first American Caesar. He, though, was a true patriot and revealed the plot to journalists and to Congress. In a time when a sitting President has invoked national security to circumvent constitutional checks and balances, this episode puts the spotlight on attacks upon our democracy and the individual courage needed to repel them.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 Surface history December 31, 2008
Patrick Mcnally
Although this book provides a fair readable account of the events on the surface, I really found that the author's credulity stretched things beyond the limit. Based upon the facts as laid out on this book, and after having also consulted a few others, I'd have to say that the author has not made a very credible case that any attempt to overthrow FDR in a military coup ever took place. What seems more plausible is that a public relations stunt was arranged, perhaps without Smedley Darling Butler really appreciating that such is what it was, but that it was never intended to actually push FDR out.
Archer's book makes it clear that Butler was already known for being Left of Center before he was ever approached for such a prospective coup. But then one has to wonder why would he have been approached for such a job, given that he already identified as Left of Center? It should have been clear to any serious coup plotters that going up to someone as Left of Center as Smedley Darling Butler and proposing a Right-wing coup d'etat would simply create a senationalistic scandal and accomplish nothing more.
What makes this more ironic is that Joseph Bendersky, THE "JEWISH THREAT": ANTI-SEMITIC POLITICS OF THE U.S. ARMY, makes the point very clear that there were a significant number of army officers who would have been perfect candidates for carrying out a coup against FDR. One has to wonder then why Morgan, DuPont and the other alleged conspirators overlooked all of these Right-wing military officers and went over to a known Leftist like Butler if their real goal was to engineer a coup that would remove FDR. I had to conclude from Archer's own treatment of the topic that this was never intended as a serious coup against FDR but was more likely meant to blow some distracting smoke in the wrong direction so that the populace would rally behind FDR.
Of course I'm not saying that Butler himself knew this. But Archer's book is really lacking in any critical analysis of the facts. We have to read through a text where, with the utmost credulity, Archer describes a smal coterie of Wall Street conspirators blindly overlooking all of the Right-wing military officers who were hostile to FDR and instead approaching a known liberal officer with the request that he carry off an anti-FDR coup. After reading through the credulous text which Archer gives us, we then have to step back and start using some critical judgment of our own without really being helped by the author. I give it three stars only because it is the most detailed attempt at an account of these events and therefore has some definite value for that. But an equally detailed history of these events with a more critical viewpoint would be a great improvement, if such can ever appear.
 A Great American Hero Whose Story Was Almost Forgotten November 30, 2008
Casadejunqueinc (los angeles)
This is an excellent true story. General Butler sounds like a prophet when his direct quotes about the folly of war are considered in modern times. He was a man who served his country admirably in the Marines, but slowly came to believe that many of his missions on behalf of his country were actually for the benefit of wealthy Americans and powerful business interests.
While General Butler became more of a skeptic and a cynic about war, he was always a loyal American, and what happened next is tragic and almost unbelievable. He discovered a plot to overthrow FDR - many businessmen were outraged when the President took the nation off the gold standard, and they believed that their own fortunes were in danger of being lost or even confiscated by the government.
When Butler had enough evidence to bring this plot to the attention of the White House, the newspapers of the time, most of whom were under the influence of the wealthy and the powerful, labeled him a crackpot. This is a disturbing reminder that the more things change, the more they stay the same - in recent years, there were confidantes of Presidents who were asked for their honest advice, gave it and then found themselves kicked to the curb, their reputations destroyed, their lives in financial ruin.
Butler was in a different position because he was from a wealthy family, and he'd already established himself as a war hero and a man of high integrity and values, so he had the means to stand up to all of his critics, to wait out the storm until the truth was revealed, and history will show that he was right. There was a significant plot to overthrow the White House, and his actions were dignified and heroic. I really hope someone makes a movie about General Butler so that this great and true story will never be forgotten.
lost history November 2, 2008
T. Barchak
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
History teachers across the land take note: We owe Mr. Archer our gratitude for keeping this story alive for future generations.
This book chronicles the shocking true story of an attempt in 1934 by Big Business to overthrow the US government and establish a fascist dictatorship. This was the most serious treason since the Civil War. None of the plotters were ever brought to trial; although a Congressional committee verified the validity of the plot. Moreover, no history text mentions the incident and no history teacher dares to raise the topic.
Readers will recognize some of the names involved in the plot. Their descendents continue to meddle in politics.
This is an important book and should be read by every American to better understand the undue influence of the super rich in our history.
 A great book that should save as a warning for today October 25, 2008
thebookaneer (Boynton Beach, FL USA)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'm so glad that this book is back in print. The true story of how GREEDY AMERICAN INDUSTRIALISTS (which just happened to include Prescott Bush, George Bush's grandfather) sought to overthrow FDR and reverse the accomplishments for middle- and lower-class Americans of the New Deal.
Should serve as a warning for today's readers in this time of amok capitalism.
Greatest American Hero October 11, 2008
A. Chan (Newark, CA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Great book about a true patriot, who upheld his oath to defend the US Constitution, instead of going along with the unwritten oath of being blindly loyal to his superiors and just following orders. E.g., Butler was appointed police chief of Philadelphia, during Prohibition, but when he decided that equal enforcement of the law meant going after the rich as well as the common man, he was immediately fired. Too many parallels to the present war in Iraq to go into detail. Please read the book! (Also read John Spritzer's The People as Enemy to get the skinny on the last "good war".)
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