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Quiz about Smedley Darlington Butler
Quiz about Smedley Darlington Butler

Smedley Darlington Butler Trivia Quiz


A quick quiz about one of the most facinating characters in early 20th century history.

A multiple-choice quiz by Tohemp. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Tohemp
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
318,699
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
337
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Question 1 of 10
1. Smedley Butler was one of the most highly decorated soldiers in US history. He won all of the following awards with the exception of? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which one of these is NOT one of Smedley Butler's nicknames? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Although wounded twice during the Boxer Rebellion and praised for his courageous actions, Butler was not awarded the Medal of Honor at that time. Why? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Smedley Butler felt that he had not done enough to earn his first Medal of Honor. So instead of accepting it he did which of the following? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In the 1920s Smedley Butler declined a request to lead the Philadelphia Police Department during prohibition. Who did the Mayor of Philadelphia turn to in order to persuade Butler to take the job? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Butler's career at the head of the Philadelphia Police Department came to an abrupt end when he did what? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In 1934, because of his enormous popularity with veterans following his support for the Bonus Army, Butler called a press conference and announced that he had been offered an opportunity to do what? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Shortly after testifying before a Senate hearing concerning Butler's involvement in the "Business Plot" a key witness, Gerald MacGuire, did what? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Looking back on his career, Butler penned a short booklet based on his experience in the military. What was the title of this booklet? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Smedley Butler often expressed concerns over corruption in military spending during WWI. Who was in charge of US government relations with munitions companies during this period? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Smedley Butler was one of the most highly decorated soldiers in US history. He won all of the following awards with the exception of?

Answer: The Victoria Cross

Butler was one of a handful of soldiers to win TWO Medals of Honor. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Medal of both the Army and Navy.
2. Which one of these is NOT one of Smedley Butler's nicknames?

Answer: The Marine's Marine

A Quaker from Pennsylvania, Butler join the Marines at the age of 16. The "Old Gimlet Eye" nickname resulted from an illness that discolored his eyes. The nickname "Old Duckboard" came about when he personally helped haul a load of duckboards four miles up a hill to where his troops were camped during WWI to make their living conditions more tolerable. Duckboards were heavy planks that were used to line the bottom of trenches.
3. Although wounded twice during the Boxer Rebellion and praised for his courageous actions, Butler was not awarded the Medal of Honor at that time. Why?

Answer: At that time Marine Officers were ineligible for the award

Marine Officers weren't considered for the Medal of Honor until a few years after the Boxer Rebellion, so Butler was awarded the Marine Brevet Medal instead. He remains to this day the only soldier to win the Brevet Medal and two Medals of Honor.
4. Smedley Butler felt that he had not done enough to earn his first Medal of Honor. So instead of accepting it he did which of the following?

Answer: Tried to return it

When he tried to return the award Smedley Butler was not only ordered to keep it, he was ordered to WEAR it! You gotta love this guy!
5. In the 1920s Smedley Butler declined a request to lead the Philadelphia Police Department during prohibition. Who did the Mayor of Philadelphia turn to in order to persuade Butler to take the job?

Answer: Calvin Coolidge

President Coolidge gave Butler little choice in the matter. Butler's title in Philadelphia was Director of Public Safety.
6. Butler's career at the head of the Philadelphia Police Department came to an abrupt end when he did what?

Answer: Raided the speakeasy at the Ritz-Carlton and arrested several of the mayor's friends

After two years of fighting what he called the toughest battle he'd ever been in, Butler raided the Ritz-Carlton. Two weeks later the mayor quietly terminated the arrangement.
7. In 1934, because of his enormous popularity with veterans following his support for the Bonus Army, Butler called a press conference and announced that he had been offered an opportunity to do what?

Answer: He was offered 3 million dollars and de facto leadership of America as the head of a military overthrow of Franklin Roosevelt's presidency

After a meeting with a man named Gerald MacGuire, who represented a well financed group called the American Liberty League, Butler asked a journalist to pose as his aide at a subsequent meeting. He brought Paul Comly French along to witness that MacGuire was proposing that, with the League's backing, Butler could rule America with Roosevelt continuing as a mere figurehead. Butler then called a press conference and blew the whistle on the whole plan.
8. Shortly after testifying before a Senate hearing concerning Butler's involvement in the "Business Plot" a key witness, Gerald MacGuire, did what?

Answer: Died of natural causes at the age of 37

MacGuire denied that he had recruited Butler for the plot but following Butler and French's testimony the Senate panel found that Butler was telling the truth. Within a matter of weeks MacGuire would die, the records of the hearings would be expunged, and the matter would be quietly forgotten. Prior to his untimely death, MacGuire had in fact been the leader of the politically influential Connecticut American Leagion, an employee of the Wall Street firm of Grayson Mallet-Provost Murphy, and had travelled to Europe to study Facism.
9. Looking back on his career, Butler penned a short booklet based on his experience in the military. What was the title of this booklet?

Answer: War is a Racket

Butler's "War is a Racket" is a scathing indictment of early 20th century US foreign policy. He wrote, "I spent 33 years and 4 months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high classed muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers.

In short I was a rackteer, a gangster for capitalism." It was Butler's belief that you could all but end wars by making it illegal for anyone to make a profit from them.
10. Smedley Butler often expressed concerns over corruption in military spending during WWI. Who was in charge of US government relations with munitions companies during this period?

Answer: Samuel Prescott Bush

Under the direction of Samuel Prescott Bush the government purchased hundreds of thousands of saddles for a cavalry that was never sent to Europe, 20 million mosquito nets that were never sent to the troops, and 35 million pairs of boots for 4 million soldiers.

At the end of the war 25 million pairs of boots were declared surplus. Bush's grandson and great grandson would become presidents. Smedley Butler, who repeatedly demonstrated unwavering courage and integrity, would fade into obscurity.
Source: Author Tohemp

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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