A-312 The Sage of Smedley Butler: Gangster of Capitalism

A-312 The Sage of Smedley Butler: Gangster of Capitalism

Online | Available (Membership Required)

Zoom
5/21/2025-6/11/2025
1:30 PM-3:30 PM CDT on Wed
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$25.00
$0.00

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A-312 The Sage of Smedley Butler: Gangster of Capitalism

Online | Available (Membership Required)

Smedley Butler (USMC) was one of the most decorated warfighters of his time, participating in nearly every U.S. conflict from 1898 to WWI. He played a key role in expanding American influence, from annexing the Philippines to leading military actions in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and China. After retiring, Butler became a vocal critic of war and corporate interests, famously stating, "I was a racketeer for capitalism." In 1933, he was even implicated in a plot to overthrow Franklin Roosevelt's administration. This lecture-based course explores Butler's complex legacy through the works of historians Jonathan M. Katz and Jules Archer. 

Powers, John
John Powers

John Powers, MFA, is a writer and director with experience in theater and film. Drawing on recent U.S. history as source material for his productions, he has also developed this material into provocative classroom engagements, such as “FDR: War of Empires,” “Profiles in Deceit: JFK & LBJ on Vietnam,” “Nixon and the Pentagon Papers,” “1968: The Year that Rocked,” and “Pearl Harbor Reconsidered.” He has been an OLLI instructor since 2013.