1 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: This is an I heeart original. Hey you on the piano, 2 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: cut that out. I need to use the phone, M 3 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: Philadelphia record. Hi. My name is Major General Smedley Darlington Butler. 4 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: Longtime reader, first time whistle blower. I'm calling because now 5 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,840 Speaker 1: this is gonna sound nuts, but there's some big businessmen 6 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 1: who are trying to finance her coup on the Roosevelt 7 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 1: White House, and I don't think it's right. So after 8 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: a lot of soul searching, I'm calling them out finally 9 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,160 Speaker 1: for you called Pizza Hut. I know, I'm just psyching 10 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: myself up to make the actual call. Oh okay, did 11 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: you want a pizza? Yeah? Personal pantsise ham on half? Okay? 12 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: And what did you want on the other? Just ham 13 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: on half? What's they can take my business elsewhere? Young man? 14 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: Anything else? Can I out a side of democracy and peril? 15 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: What's that? Get some garlic nuts? Garlic nuts? Okay, that'll 16 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: be ruddy in forty five minutes. Perfect episode should be 17 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 1: over by then. Thanks for calling Pizza Hut. Thanks for 18 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: helping me procrastinate. It's what we do, sir. Okay, here 19 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 1: we go, not yet, jip shit. I have to make 20 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: the actual call first, fell off again record? How many 21 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: I direct? Your call operator? Get me Paul Comedy French 22 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: on the Huff one moment. This is French French, you 23 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: ink stained wretch? How are you? I'm fine? Who is this? Please? 24 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: Smedley Butler here? You remember me? We met when I 25 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: was director of public safety in Philadelphia? Were you the 26 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: one with the cape? I was? Indeed that cape was 27 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: really cool? Don't I know it? Okay, here we go. 28 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: Listen up, French. I got a will of a story 29 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: for you from I Heart Originals in School of Humans. 30 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 1: This is let's start a coup. I'm your host, Ben Bolland, 31 00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: and I'm the other guy, Alex French, and I'm a 32 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: historically based reimagining of nineteen thirties journalist Paul Comley French. 33 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: No relations to Alex French, who has been kind enough 34 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: to let me present this part of the program to 35 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: bring you this story. Alex and his associates have done 36 00:02:40,920 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: all the research, read the books, interviewed historians, but still 37 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: there are some big gaps in the record, and they'll 38 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: never know exactly what happened. I know what happened as 39 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: I was there, but as I'm merely a reinterpreted historical 40 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: person at our camp Talbo so on those gaps live 41 00:02:56,120 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: had some fun. This is episode five am on Half. 42 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: In early September of nineteen thirty four, retired Marine Corps 43 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 1: Major General Smedley Butler reached out to Paul Calmly French, 44 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: a reporter for a couple of liberal leaning newspapers, including 45 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: The Philadelphia Record and the New York Evening Post. French 46 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: covered high profile stories like the kidnapping of the Lindbergh Baby. French, 47 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 1: but I'm about to tell you may sound hard to believe. 48 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 1: It's a sort of tale of ambition, treason and what 49 00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: happens when rich assholes have too much damned time on 50 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: their hands. That's my favorite kind of story, mister Butler, 51 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: let me hear it. It's kind of hard to take 52 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: the plunge once I tell you, I can't exactly take 53 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: it back, and I understand. Would it be easier if 54 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: you relayed the story in a series of flashbacks, maybe 55 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: with some harp music. I knew you were the right 56 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: man to call. McGuire pulls a lot of cash from 57 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: his pocket. He starts tossing thousand dollars bills on the match. 58 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: I counted eighteen of those McGuire. So that's somewhere on 59 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: the order of lots of money. I don't know from math, 60 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: but I know you're not the one pulling the string. 61 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: So make with a boss man. Who's behind this? All 62 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 1: the smoky room guys John Davis, Al Smith, Grayson Murphy, 63 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: Robert Sterling, Clark, all these guys were connected to an 64 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: anti Roosevelt organization called the American Liberty League. The due 65 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:28,840 Speaker 1: punts in their lackeys from the League wanted a lot 66 00:04:28,840 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: of famous elimination of federal relief, perhaps a statue of 67 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: nuns and national mall on. That was the Lincoln memoria. 68 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,600 Speaker 1: I don't know, just spit punning. They had the motive, 69 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: they had the muscle, they just needed the generally show. 70 00:04:44,840 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: These must be the puppet masters we've been looking for. Wow, 71 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: that was a really helpful flashback. Are you saying that 72 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: some shadowy businessmen want to stage a coup on the 73 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: Roosevelt White House and they asked you to lead it? Yes? 74 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: And thanks for confirming that exposition. My goodness, mister Butler. 75 00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: This could be the story of the sense well French, 76 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: the story it can be yours. In fact, I want 77 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: it to be yours and I'll help you in any 78 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 1: way I can. But before you write it for the papers, 79 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 1: there's something you need to do first. I need you 80 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: to go see Jerry McGuire the movie that comes out 81 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 1: in sixty two years No. The Thumb Faced Patchy. After 82 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: French agreed, Smedley called Jerry McGuire to set up the meeting. Hi, Jerry, 83 00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: I'd like you to meet with my associate and here' 84 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 1: Smedley decided to use a fake name, my associate Billy French. 85 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 1: Good cover. Jerry. I'll make no further commitment to your 86 00:05:45,840 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: shadowy overlord until my pal Billy approves the plan, so 87 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: please describe to him what you have in mind. Soon after, 88 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: Paul Calmly French, going by the name Billy, drops in 89 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: on Gerald. Jerry McGuire, Hello, I am Billy. The meeting 90 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: takes place in the Lower Manhattan headquarters of Grayson MP 91 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: mr Fee Company. Murphy, if you're recall, is the American 92 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 1: spy turn investment banker. A gangster of capitalism if there 93 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: ever was one. McGuire works for Murphy as one hundred 94 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: dollars a week bond salesman. It's unclear what exactly transpired 95 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 1: in that office. Based on the use of a fake name, 96 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: We're pretty sure French didn't tell Jerry McGuire that he 97 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: worked as a journalist. In fact, it seems French was 98 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: there under some other pretense, undercover. I mean, maybe certainly 99 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: not what we would call above board. Sometimes I pretend 100 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: to deliver a pizza. Maybe I did that. Oh yeah, yeah, 101 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 1: it could have been that. Sometimes fick pizza deliveries take 102 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: a weird, sexy turn doll like this one time I 103 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 1: opened a door. That's good, that's good. Look. We know 104 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: that French didn't take notes during his conversations with McGuire, 105 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: and that after the meeting he rushed to its hypewriter 106 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: to get it all down. According to Paul Conley, French's 107 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: account of the meeting, McGuire proceeded at first with caut 108 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: nice mild weather we're having, isn't it? Is it? I 109 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: find that I can neither agree nor disagree with that sentiment. 110 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: Oh well, I'm just saying it's sixty five in cloudy, 111 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 1: so pretty classic mild day disinformation regarding what may or 112 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: may not be termed the weather, I can neither confirm 113 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 1: nor deny. That's weird right French kept going though, Sam 114 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: acguire just wondering any interest in um fascism, study any 115 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: fascist organizations ever, I really love fascist style, those arm 116 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: bands and tight haircuts, so slick right. I'm gonna need 117 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: another tactic here. How about comics, mister McGuire, you like 118 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: Dick Tracy. Yes? In fact, if I may slightly tangent, 119 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: that guy reminds me of Mussolini. What I only mean 120 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: in the heroic regard. You understand, yes, sir, that Mussolini 121 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: is a stand up guy, two way talk and radio 122 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: watch on not drunk pop. So yeah. Eventually maguire really 123 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: loosened up. He talked, sounds nuts, but what we're doing 124 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: is tremendously patriotic. We want to save the nation from 125 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: communists who want to tear our country a pot. And 126 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: since the former soldiers are only saved wils and talked 127 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: how the fascists operate? I wrote, Smedley a postcod It's 128 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: been a while, but it went something like this, how 129 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: are you, Smedley? I am fine? The brown Shirts are 130 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: lovely this time a year and talked word labor camps delay, 131 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 1: I mean Hitler's doing it. And if Hitler's doing it. It 132 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: It can't be that bad. And Smedley, he's so funny. 133 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: He's like, how are we gonna pay for this? And 134 00:08:43,560 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: I'm like, Viya, friends at JP Morgan and City Bank, 135 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 1: of course, and the DuPonts can help us secure arms 136 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 1: and AMO or whatever needs we're saying is the guy 137 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: just went on and on. One more thing, one more thing. 138 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: You know who I think is sexy, like uncomfortably sexy, 139 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: that one m andem but not the one you're thinking of. 140 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. After his September nineteen thirty four interview 141 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 1: with Jerry McGuire, Paul Calmley, French actually held off on 142 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: publishing the story. We don't know for sure, but I 143 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: have a theory that Smedley wanted the government to investigate, 144 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: but must have recognized how insane his allegations sounded. So 145 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: we went to the Secret Service and told them everything 146 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: he knew. Perhaps Smedley asked French to sit on the 147 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 1: story so that when the government came cong for testimony, 148 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: Smedley would have a reliable, well known journalist ready to 149 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: corroborate his claims. At any rate, Now it won't be 150 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: just me who sounds crazy. And the government did come calling. 151 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: Earlier that year, the House of Representatives put together a 152 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 1: committee to investigate propaganda efforts against the US government. It 153 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: was called the Special Committee on Unamerican Activities Authorized to 154 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: Investigate Nazi Propaganda in certain other propaganda activities gazoot thank you. 155 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 1: More commonly, it was called the McCormack Distine Committee after 156 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: the chair and vice chair. The committee called Smedley in 157 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: French to testify in a closed door session, as in 158 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: no reporters or members of the public allowed. The meeting 159 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: can in the supper room of the New York City 160 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: Bar Association in Midtown on November twentieth, nineteen thirty four. 161 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: The committee swore Smedley in, I'm here to tell the truth. 162 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: God damn it. That's not what they mean by swearing Smedley. 163 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: What I mean by swearing snay fine. Then the committee 164 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: instructed him to recount the alleged plot. Because the proceedings 165 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: were secret, we only have some heavily sanitized summaries from 166 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: the meeting. There are some short transcriptions of the proceedings 167 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: included like this one. May I preface my remarks by 168 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 1: saying sure that I have one interest in all of this, 169 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,080 Speaker 1: and that is to try to do my best to 170 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: see that a democracy is maintained in this country. Over 171 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: the next hour or so, Smedley recounted the plot really 172 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 1: in much the same way that we have on this show, 173 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: but without all the goofy voices and stuff. I heard 174 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: that it's nothing personal Herbie. When Smedley finished his testimony, 175 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: the committee called Paul Calmly French under oath. French backed 176 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: up Smedley's story by recounting his meeting with Jerry McGuire. 177 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 1: McGuire said, all alone, I mean, he went on and on, 178 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: but notably regarding Roosevelt. He said they might do with 179 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: him what Mussolini did with the King of Italy, you know, 180 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: keep him around the kiss babies, and that a Kade Bridges. 181 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 1: Then later that same day, Jerry McGuire Hall, escorted by 182 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: his attorney Hello, appeared before the committee. McGuire presented the 183 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: House Committee with testimony that could only be described as 184 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 1: well confounding. His remarks border on nonsensical. The committee members 185 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 1: seemed to think so, too, because during his testimony, McGuire 186 00:11:44,560 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: can't be pinned down to anything, and it's not just 187 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 1: that he sticks the old playbook for staying out of trouble. Oh, 188 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: admit nothing, deny everything, make counter accusations. Yes, correct, but 189 00:11:56,480 --> 00:12:00,040 Speaker 1: it's deeper and more confusing than that. McGuire seemed determined 190 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: to knock down every detail and smed the infrenchis story. 191 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: But then at the same time, McGuire can't construct anything 192 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: resembling a cohesive narrative, and he can't provide sound explanations 193 00:12:11,680 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 1: for fundamental details. He says at first that he wants 194 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: Smedley to give speeches on behalf of a new group 195 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: called the Committee for the Sound Dollar that's bankrolled by 196 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: Sterling Clark. Remember that guy. I'm the sewing machine guy 197 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 1: who talks like this, Oh yeah, him, yeah. But then 198 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: a little while later, McGuire says he never wanted Smedley 199 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: to give speeches to the Committee for the Sound Dollar 200 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:40,200 Speaker 1: because Smedley doesn't know anything about money. McGuire does stuff 201 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 1: like this over and over, and so what you end 202 00:12:44,680 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: up with is no answers at all. Crazy like a fox, boys, 203 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: crazy like a fox with an erratic falsattle Alex. It 204 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: sounds like Jerry McGuire tried gaslighting Congress. No kidding. One 205 00:12:59,560 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: of my favorite moments is when McGuire says he keeps 206 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: showing up to see Smedley because he thought they were friends, 207 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 1: and at one point he warns his pal General about 208 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 1: getting involved with the wrong kinds of people and the 209 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: wrong kinds of causes. He says, Smedley confesses that he's 210 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: involved with the vigilante group hell bent on overthrowing the government. 211 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: He told the same story to reporters. The thing was, 212 00:13:20,680 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: General Butler was always coming around to me with books 213 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 1: and letterheads from all these crackpot organizations, and I would 214 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: keep telling him, General, you're a goddamn ful to fall 215 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: for all those outfits. You'll be holding the bag. That's 216 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: a real quote, by the way. Basically McGuire denied every 217 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 1: accusation and turned it back on Smedley thing. That afternoon, 218 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: the New York Post released their evening edition. They're in 219 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 1: Paul calmly French's story in the front page. Ben I 220 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 1: actually found a copy. It's stunning. In huge bold font 221 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: the paper declares, General Butler chooses New York rukers are 222 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: plotting dictatorship in US. Take that fascist assholes shows that 223 00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: it it's over, not even close. Bummer. In that same 224 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: evening edition, and in the spirit of fairness, the Post 225 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: devoted three columns of copy to angry denials from Jerry 226 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 1: McGuire and Grayson Murphy. Sterling Clark, on holiday in Europe 227 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: couldn't be reached, but in case you are curious, the answers, Yes, 228 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: I'm having a plentiful time. The Post described McGuire as 229 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: having bright blue eyes, close cropped hair, short, quite heavy, 230 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: with a small bullet shaped head. Oh they noticed my eyes, 231 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: he told a reporter. Quote I've kept a general Butler 232 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: added plenty of trouble, and this is what he does 233 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: to show his gratitude. Everybody told me not to trust him, 234 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: that he would pull his publicity stunts on his best friends. 235 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: But I always thought he was a square shooter. I 236 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: don't know whether I'll ask for a retraction or suffu 237 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: libel dollar diplomacy og and McGuire's boss, Colonel Grayson Murphy, 238 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: told the Post, I even had time to do anything 239 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: about this yet, because they haven't been able to STU 240 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: up laughing. You see, as soon as the New York 241 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: Post front page story broke, newspapers from all over the 242 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: country reached out to the accused, seeking reactions. The next day, 243 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: papers from coast to coast ran the Butler story on 244 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: page one above the fold. It shouldn't be a surprise 245 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: that every person implicated in the plot denied the charges. 246 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 1: Perfect moon, unutterably ridiculous, the calm curful with what are 247 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: you songs wired to me about anything of the kind? 248 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: And if they did, I'd throw them out the window. 249 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: The best last story of the year, the wizding I 250 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: deny it complain are November twenty four, the committee's heads 251 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: issued their preliminary findings, and this was the first sign 252 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: that something was off with the investigation. It's not my 253 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: pizza ham As its first order of business, the report 254 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: dismissed any suspicion aimed at a handful of very prominent men. 255 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: This committee has had no evidence before it that would 256 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 1: in the slightest degree warrant calling before it such men 257 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: as John W. Davis, General Hugh Johnson, Thomas W. Lamont. 258 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: We haven't heard that name before, Thomas W. Lamont, but 259 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: he was a huge deal in nineteen thirty five, the 260 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: man in charge of JP Morgan's investment bank. The committee 261 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: will not take cognizance of Dames brought into the testimony, 262 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: which constitute mayor hearsay, which is strange because investigating was 263 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: the committee's stated purpose. Hearsay could also be considered a tip, 264 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: a hint, a clue, precisely the kind of information that 265 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 1: investigations are based on. I mean, is it really a 266 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: surprise that slam dunk evidence against big name players wasn't 267 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: presented in the first three days of the hearing. Digging 268 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: is required, but you know nothing to see here. It's 269 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: like the rich guys got a pass. It was almost 270 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: like if you were above a certain income level, you're 271 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: automatically in his But these are only the preliminary findings. 272 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: We still got to wait for the final report to 273 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: find out what the committee found and what they're going 274 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 1: to do about it. This preliminary report did expose some 275 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: troubling irregularities in Jerry McGuire's testimony. Here's one strap it. 276 00:17:22,360 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: McGuire's testimony lasted three days. On the first day, the 277 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 1: chairman asked McGuire about his final meeting with Smedley just 278 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: after he'd come back from Europe. McGuire maintained it, no, 279 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 1: he hadn't gone to Europe to research fascism. No, no, no, 280 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: why Sterling Clark, the sewing machine guy, had just sent 281 00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: him there to research economic conditions. Did you tell General 282 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: Butler now was the time to get the soldiers together? No? There? 283 00:17:52,360 --> 00:17:54,360 Speaker 1: Did you tell them that you went abroad and looked 284 00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: into the setups of the governments there and the part 285 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: that the veterans played in Italy? Mister McGuire, no was there. 286 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: Did you tell him that you went to France and 287 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: there you found the organization that you were looking for, 288 00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: a group called quadafu quadah Oh damn right? Well, I 289 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 1: told simatly that there had been an organization formed over there, 290 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: an organization of bat rooms men who were in the 291 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: front line trenches on the fire, and I said that 292 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: they are a very fine group, that they are with 293 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: the government and the people over there, And as far 294 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: as I could see, I thought France was all right. 295 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: It was mainly economic my talk. So that's what he 296 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: said under oath. But later McGuire handed over a humble 297 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: looking stack of carving copies to the committee that contained 298 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 1: proof that he had lied. They were the letters he 299 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 1: sent from Europe. Some were addressed merely gentlemen, others to 300 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:58,160 Speaker 1: mister Clark, specifically McGuire expressed great admiration for one fascist 301 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: organization of armband wearing Frenchmen, in particular, you guessed it, 302 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 1: Quada h stop it. Jerry Quadafu is known for having 303 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: violent and anti leftist Here's how he described these guys 304 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:14,400 Speaker 1: in a letter he wrote while in France. These fellows 305 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 1: are interested only in the salvation of France, and I 306 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 1: feel sure that the country could not be in better 307 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 1: hands because they are not politicians. They are a cross 308 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: section of the best people of the country, from all 309 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 1: walks of life, people who gave their roll between nineteen 310 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,640 Speaker 1: fourteen and nineteen eighteen that France might be safe. And 311 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: I feel sure that if a crucial test ever comes 312 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 1: to the Republic, that those men will be the bulwark 313 00:19:40,120 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: upon which France will be safe. Okay, did you catch that, 314 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: Folks On the stand, maguire just said that he was 315 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:54,200 Speaker 1: in Europe to study economic conditions, that he was not 316 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: there to take in all the fascist organizations of the land. 317 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: But here he is writing an elegy to the Quas 318 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: de fout for the committee. This was a red flag. 319 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 1: Despite the committee's mandate to examine Unamerican activity. Dick Stein 320 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: and McCormack never asked McGuire a single question about the 321 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:20,360 Speaker 1: story Paul calmly French had told in his testimony. They 322 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:24,880 Speaker 1: never interviewed the DuPonts or any official from Remington Arms 323 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: or former New York Governor Al Smith or Robert Sterling 324 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: Clark good because I'm still on vacation. Oh these crossans. 325 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: They didn't doctor Grayson Murphy either. McCormack said it was 326 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 1: not necessary to subpoena him because the committee already had 327 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 1: hard evidence linking him to the plot. McCormack said he 328 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: quote didn't want to give Colonel Murphy an opportunity to 329 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 1: pose as an innocent victim, which is a load of 330 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: horsen if I ever heard one called his seditious, asked 331 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 1: to the stand and make him sweat. And as the 332 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,400 Speaker 1: committee adjourned to put its findings in writing, it seemed 333 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: like every mention of the plot's most powerful figures is 334 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: either being downplayed or ignored. What we're saying is it 335 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:09,640 Speaker 1: sounds like a cover to shield some very powerful people 336 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 1: from accountability. This is not going well. After the break, 337 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: the press has a field day, and the country's reaction 338 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: or lack thereof, two days after the start of the 339 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,160 Speaker 1: congressional hearing, what became known as the Business plot was 340 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: the biggest story in America. The New York Post afternoon 341 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 1: edition once again dedicated the front page to an article 342 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:48,880 Speaker 1: featuring reactions from big name government officials. The Secretary of 343 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: War called for a full investigation, and the Secretary of 344 00:21:52,120 --> 00:21:55,120 Speaker 1: the Navy expressed confidence that the committee would get to 345 00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: the bottom of things, and the hearings continued. Grace and 346 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: Murphy spoke to the press, telling a reporter quote, the 347 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 1: whole thing is just as somebody walked in and accused 348 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: me of still in the moon. It looked on me 349 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 1: like an absurd joke. Even if McGuire had been foolish 350 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 1: enough and stupid enough to fuss around with such a thing, 351 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,880 Speaker 1: it would be obvious that it would be ineffective. Meanwhile, 352 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 1: some very loud voices in the news media also tried 353 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 1: squashing the story. Yeah, Smedley may have been a decorated 354 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: American hero, but in nineteen thirty four he was an 355 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: easy target. He seemed like a bitter kok and dire 356 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 1: wallet of some attention. Remember when Smedley told a crowd 357 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 1: that Mussolini ran over and killed a child. He was 358 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 1: almost court martialed for saying that, and he caused public 359 00:22:42,360 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: embarrassment for the US government by airing America's dirty imperialist laundry. 360 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 1: It wasn't hard to paint Smedley as radical, detached from reality. 361 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:55,360 Speaker 1: The New York Times likened him to a famous Cohn Man. 362 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: Time magazine satirized the allegations with a story called a 363 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:04,880 Speaker 1: Plot without Plotters. Other papers knocked down Smedley's story, characterizing 364 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: it as far fetched or impossible to pull off. If 365 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 1: you read these articles, though, it becomes very clear, very 366 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:15,120 Speaker 1: quickly that something is up. The press seemed to have 367 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 1: an agenda to minimize the story or just ignore it altogether. Yeah, 368 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 1: the press was running opinion pieces dressed up as facts. 369 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: You two should be grateful that that's a thing your 370 00:23:26,360 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 1: generation won't have to worry about. Well, so, why would 371 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: the mainstream American media want to bury a story about 372 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:38,920 Speaker 1: a plot against the president of the United States the 373 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 1: scary thing. The answer to that question is relatively straightforward. 374 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:48,120 Speaker 1: The mainstream press was largely run by a handful of 375 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:52,920 Speaker 1: powerful men who controlled the media, and therefore the national conversation, 376 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: and an alarming number of them were fans of fascism. 377 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:01,680 Speaker 1: What a great time to be alive with it white. 378 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 1: Nothing can stop us, and nothing ever will. Don't tout 379 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: pass the jazz cigarettes. One of the most notable of 380 00:24:10,120 --> 00:24:14,880 Speaker 1: these individuals will be familiar to you, our listeners. Oh 381 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:19,680 Speaker 1: you always make Uncle Randy sounds so oh. That would 382 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:24,160 Speaker 1: be William Randolph Hurst, or Uncle Randy, as our favorite 383 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,640 Speaker 1: plutocrats apparently like to call him. Uncle Randy's a teddy bear, 384 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:31,120 Speaker 1: a teddy bear with extremely sharp claws and a troublingly 385 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 1: long memory. M This Hurst sounds like it'd be a 386 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 1: great target, I mean subject for a movie that's orson. Wells, 387 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: everybody go back to the green room orson Okay. In 388 00:24:45,360 --> 00:24:48,600 Speaker 1: our sleuthing, we found a fascinating paper about the episode 389 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: called the Business Plot in the American Press, written by 390 00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 1: Bradley Gawka. Gawka points out that around the time Smedley 391 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: made his allegations against the shadowy caaball of Tycoons, Hurst 392 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:04,920 Speaker 1: Media Company produced twenty six daily newspapers in seventeen Sunday 393 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 1: only editions, as well as magis, radio stations and movie companies. 394 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 1: You name it. Hurstoned a piece of it one in 395 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 1: eight American newspapers were his Here's, Bradley Gawka. So Hurst 396 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:22,400 Speaker 1: at this time had an audience that was unrivaled. He 397 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:26,680 Speaker 1: had a tremendous influence over the opinions of ordinary Americans 398 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: who would receive their news, as well as political commentary 399 00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:33,360 Speaker 1: and things of that nature, directly from whatever was printed 400 00:25:33,360 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: in a Hearst newspaper. If Hirst ever wanted to bury 401 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 1: a story or to stort one, and he often did, 402 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:43,200 Speaker 1: he was in the perfect position to do so. Funny 403 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: thing Hurst started out as a pretty liberal guy. He 404 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,360 Speaker 1: supported Roosevelt's candidacy, but then took a hard right turn. 405 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 1: He considered FDR's New Deal to be communistic, socialistic, and 406 00:25:55,640 --> 00:26:00,200 Speaker 1: thoroughly un American, and he used his newspapers to broadcast 407 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: this perspective. Hurst himself wrote an open letter that he 408 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 1: published across the front pages of his newspapers all across America, 409 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 1: in which he characterized fascism as only being a response 410 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: to the greater threat of communism. He argued basically that 411 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 1: as long as Americans prevented communism from being a threat 412 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:23,400 Speaker 1: to American democracy, they had no reason to worry about 413 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:28,440 Speaker 1: fascism in America. Among the publishing elite. Hurst wasn't alone 414 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:33,160 Speaker 1: in his opposition to Roosevelt or sympathy for fascism. Henry Luce, 415 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:36,640 Speaker 1: the publisher of big news stand titles like Fortune and Time, 416 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 1: was also a Mussolini man. In nineteen thirty four, Fortune 417 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 1: devoted an entire issue to a puff piece, soft focused 418 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 1: portrait of life in Mussolini's Italy. Observers called Luce's foreign 419 00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:53,560 Speaker 1: affairs editor at time an outright pro fascist who slanted 420 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 1: and perverted the news on a weekly basis, And surprisingly, 421 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 1: The New York Times, which had a reputation for remaining 422 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: above the partisan fray and adhering to the principles of 423 00:27:04,360 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: journalistic objectivity, was at best inc assistant. It stands down fascism, 424 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:15,880 Speaker 1: modulating between condemnation and glorification. Yeah to the point, nerds, eh, okay, Okay. 425 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:19,360 Speaker 1: The point is when Smedley came forward in November of 426 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 1: nineteen thirty four, all of these sources provided cover for 427 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:27,680 Speaker 1: the plotters. Papers run by Hurst devoted minimal column space 428 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,680 Speaker 1: to the details of the plot while at the same 429 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 1: time discrediting the investigation itself. One column in the Chicago 430 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 1: Daily Tribune alleged that the Committee's investigation exhibited a comic 431 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:45,120 Speaker 1: opera atmosphere, and Riley noted that dick Stein and McCormack 432 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:48,640 Speaker 1: liked to see their names in the paper. Here's Bradley 433 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 1: Galka Again. Many of the outlets that were particularly critical 434 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:55,760 Speaker 1: of Butler when the story first broke chose not to 435 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 1: cover the story again in February when the Congressional report 436 00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 1: came out. As for the tenor of the news coverage, 437 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:07,120 Speaker 1: the liberal leaning or left leaning in general news sources 438 00:28:07,120 --> 00:28:11,160 Speaker 1: tended to cover the story much more frequently, so when 439 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 1: the final report came out, not many people were paying attention, 440 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,120 Speaker 1: which is really unfortunate because this is where Smedley got 441 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 1: his due. The report issued by the Committee in February 442 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:25,200 Speaker 1: included the following passage. Your committee was able to verify 443 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 1: all the pertinent statements made by General Butler, with the 444 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 1: exception of the direct statement suggesting the creation of the 445 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: organization meaning the creation of a fascist army under Smedley's leadership. This, however, 446 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: was corroborated in the correspondence of McGuire with his principal 447 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 1: Robert Sterling Clark of New York City. While McGuire was 448 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 1: abroad studying the various forms of veterans organizations of fascist character. 449 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 1: Stop the tape. Did you hear what the congressman just said? 450 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: You need me to repeat? It isn't signposting, the phrase 451 00:28:56,960 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 1: you podcast monsters use for saying things slowly and repeatedly. Yes, 452 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 1: that's correct. All right, Well let me signpost then, And 453 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 1: do you mind if I get up on this lecture 454 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: here because I really need to share this with as 455 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: many Americans as I can reach. Okay, Hi, America, listen up. Okay, 456 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 1: here it goes. The Dixton Committee substantiated my testimony. They said, quote, 457 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,120 Speaker 1: there is no question but that these attempts were discussed, 458 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,480 Speaker 1: were planned, and might have been placed in execution when 459 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:34,280 Speaker 1: and if the financial backers deemed it expedient. So with 460 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 1: all the evidence and all the testimony, they basically said, yeah, 461 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 1: this happened. See I'm not crazy. But here's the thing, 462 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 1: and I hope you really absorbed this part. The big 463 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 1: thing that didn't happen is never as big a deal 464 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 1: as the big thing that does happen. So the papers 465 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 1: might make me seem like a delusional, over the hill, 466 00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 1: attention seeking nutback all they want, and the history books 467 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 1: might bury the story, And yes, the shadowy cabal of 468 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 1: billionaires might survive to pillage and bob another day. That's 469 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 1: what they do, retrench and then keep going. Maybe there 470 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,640 Speaker 1: were no arrests, no trials, no further investigations. But there 471 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: was also no coup, was there? Just consider for a moment, America, 472 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 1: what might have happened if I hadn't spoken up? Might 473 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 1: you still be able to vote? Might you still be 474 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 1: able to speak freely? I don't know, but I can 475 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:33,760 Speaker 1: say with some amount of certainty, through my gimlet adult perception, 476 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:38,120 Speaker 1: that I helped ensure both those things remained possible. I'm 477 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 1: no hero and certainly no saint. I learned that in life. 478 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,720 Speaker 1: But that wasn't the point. The point is sometimes it's 479 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:49,360 Speaker 1: worth giving yourself up doing the right thing, regardless of 480 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 1: how much applause there'll be once it's all said and done. Hey, 481 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 1: where'd everybody go? I think they went home? Man? Oh? 482 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: How much of that do you think they heard? Time 483 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 1: will tell. Well, at least it's been said. We should 484 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 1: probably clear out of here. Yeah, let me get my jacket. 485 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:18,560 Speaker 1: You guys want to get a pizza on the way home? Sure, 486 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 1: I'm on half sure. On our next episode, we learn 487 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:27,640 Speaker 1: the fate of the rest of the participants in this story, 488 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:33,320 Speaker 1: from Clark to Maguire, Hello to former presidents. Wait and 489 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: of course you too, Smedley. Was that not enough Catharsis 490 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 1: for you? Just now you're telling me there's gonna be 491 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 1: more poignant emotions coming down the pike? Fredso major general 492 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 1: shit join us for the next and final episode of 493 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:53,640 Speaker 1: Let's Start a Coup. Let's Start a Coup as a 494 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 1: production of School of Humans and I Heard Podcasts. Our 495 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 1: hosts are Alex French and Ben Bolan. The show was 496 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 1: written by Alex French, with additional writing by Joe Kenosian. 497 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:08,440 Speaker 1: Original music and scoring by Joe Kenosian. Character voices by 498 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 1: Joke and Ocean on both half Ladies and Alistas is 499 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 1: our producer. Emilia Brock is our senior producer. Sound design, 500 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: mixing and mastering by Alexander Overington. Our story editor is 501 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:27,240 Speaker 1: Lacy Roberts. Fact checking by Austin Thompson. The Heat Frazier 502 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 1: is our recording engineer. Recorded at the iHeart Studio in 503 00:32:30,840 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 1: New York. Executive producers are Jason English, Virginia Prescott, Brandon Barr, 504 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: and Elsie Crowley. If you're enjoying the show, help us 505 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 1: get the word out by leaving a rating in your 506 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:45,160 Speaker 1: favorite podcast app. We'll also take your comments on M 507 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:47,200 Speaker 1: and m's like. If I was to leave a comment, 508 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:51,720 Speaker 1: I'd say, take off your Schellen sayoy, mister McQuire, please sorry, folks, 509 00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:54,080 Speaker 1: I'm going to get him out of here. Tune in 510 00:32:54,120 --> 00:33:05,240 Speaker 1: again next time for Let's Start a Coup School of 511 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:05,720 Speaker 1: Humans