Gangsters of Capitalism

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This groundbreaking journey explores America's forgotten path to global power through the extraordinary life of Smedley Butler, a celebrated Marine and warfighter. Known as 'The Fighting Quaker,' Butler served in nearly every major overseas conflict from the Spanish-American War to the eve of World War II. His military career began at 16 in Guantánamo Bay, where he played a pivotal role in U.S. expansion, helping to annex the Philippines, leading troops in China, and participating in the invasions of Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Mexico. However, in retirement, Butler became a vocal critic of war, imperialism, and corporate interests, famously declaring, "I was a racketeer for capitalism." Award-winning author Jonathan Myerson Katz traveled extensively, from China to Guantánamo and the Panama Canal, examining Butler's personal letters and those of his fellow Marines and family. Katz illustrates how the legacy of these military actions continues to resonate today, engaging with figures like a Sandinista commander in Nicaragua and a martial arts practitioner from the Boxer Rebellion in China. This narrative traces U.S. overseas expansionism, the rise of fascism in the 1930s, and the ongoing crises of democracy, revealing an urgent story about a formative era that remains largely unrecognized in American history.