General Smedley Butler - Part 9- “Mussolini Incident”

In 1931 Butler violated diplomatic norms by publicly describing gossip about Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini without naming his source. According to the story, the dictator allegedly struck and killed a child with his speeding automobile in a hit-and-run accident. Mussolini was quoted to say, “it’s only one life…What is one life in the affairs of the State?”
The story sparked an international incident!
Mussolini flat out denied the story. The Italian government protested and President Herbert Hoover, who strongly disliked Butler, forced Secretary of the Navy Charles Francis Adams to court-martial him. Butler became the first general officer to be placed under arrest since the Civil War. He apologized to Secretary Adams and the court-martial was canceled with only a reprimand. Years later the story verified by the journalist who was there, Cornelius Vanderbilt.
#shorts #smedley #smedleybutler

[@marshallgiles6255]

The GREAT Smedley Butler!!!

[@SasukeUchiha-pv4xn]

Vanderbilt a very unbiased source indeed.

[@reedwright301]

General Butler was no liar. Hoover hated him because he was a honest man.

[@TheUnknownCountry]

@@reedwright301Smedley propped up FDR. Biggest war Racketeer ever. Don’t see the contradiction?

[@MrBryan247]

Shame on Hoover.

[@jamesdoyle9109]

Truth always comes out

[@bold810]

Smedley Butler grows in my estimation with everything I learn of him ,😔