Talk:Smedley Butler

Conspiracy theorist?

What conspiracy theories has Butler promoted? I could be mistaken but I don't see any mention of this in the article, however Butler is included in the category American conspiracy theorists. I am removing CT category for now. Yodabyte (talk) 01:36, 10 December 2021 (UTC)

That is probably a reference to the Business Plot which is described in the article.Historian932 (talk) 17:30, 21 January 2022 (UTC)

Still most decorated Marine in history?

The article says he was at the time of his death, does anyone know if this is still the case? Historian932 (talk) 17:31, 21 January 2022 (UTC)

Actually it looks like he was surpassed by Chesty Puller.Historian932 (talk) 17:32, 21 January 2022 (UTC)

Book The Plot to Seize the White House

Note that the book The Plot to Seize the White House by Jules Archer was republished in 2007, in paperback, by Skyhorse Publishing Inc.165.140.231.66 (talk) 02:58, 14 November 2022 (UTC)

Sourcing in "Business Plot" section

Much of the Business Plot section is cited to three New York Times articles from 1934, which are WP:PRIMARY sources for this purpose, as "original materials that are close to an event". Most of this type of content should be "based primarily on published secondary works by reputable historians", according to MOS:MILSOURCE. Looks like the last peer review for this article was in 2010, so it may be due for a re-review; I'll make a note at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Military history/Coordinators. Dreamyshade (talk) 18:16, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

GA Reassessment

Smedley Butler

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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Article (edit | visual edit | history) · Article talk (edit | history) · Watch • Watch article reassessment page • GAN review not found

Result: Delisted. zzz plant (talk) 16:31, 20 August 2026 (UTC)

Nominating for reassessment because I'm not sure this article is fully meeting GA criteria #4 (represents viewpoints fairly and without editorial bias) and #2 (verifiable).

For example, should the lead sentence be simply "a Marine Corps officer" or "a Marine Corps officer and later an anti-war advocate"? More context from his later critique (Smedley Butler#Anti-war lectures) could be acknowledged within the Smedley Butler#Military career section.

This article cites several WP:PRIMARY sources in places where secondary sources would be more appropriate. For example, much of the section related to the Business Plot is cited to three New York Times articles from 1934, but most of this type of content should be "based primarily on published secondary works by reputable historians", according to MOS:MILSOURCE.

The Business Plot is not a simple topic to try to summarize, and I don't think I fully understand it, but "Historians have not reported any independent evidence apart from Butler's report on what MacGuire told him." seems oversimplified. For example: "When contacted by French, MacGuire spoke openly about the plot and of his desire for a fascist America. He steered the reporter to some of his associates and French wrote an expose that appeared in both the Record and the New York Post." The quote about MacGuire being an "inconsequential trickster" seems oversimplified as well - the longer version at Business Plot is helpful.

Article might benefit from noting Butler's critique of the investigation - "The big shots weren’t even called to testify.". Dreamyshade (talk) 00:36, 26 June 2026 (UTC)

The material about Stonewall Jackson's arm repeats a story which is considered to be dubious as settled fact. Hog Farm _Talk 18:18, 24 July 2026 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.