Today I learned about the Business Plot of 1934, a political conspiracy in the United States to overthrow the government of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and install Smedley Butler as dictator. Retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler asserted that wealthy businessmen were plotting to create a fascist veterans’ organization with Butler as its leader and use it in a coup d’état to overthrow Roosevelt. However, the businessmen were not punished because they were too powerful. The plot was uncovered by the McCormack-Dickstein Committee in November 1934, but the businessmen involved denied the allegations and no charges were filed. This event highlights the influence of wealthy businessmen in American politics and the potential for corruption and abuse of power.

I learned about this watching Everything Is a Rich Man’s Trick - Full Documentary