THE PLOT TO SEIZE THE WHITE HOUSE

by Jules Archer ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 1973

Another novel on the order of Seven Days in May erroneously placed here in the non-fiction section? Wrong. The story Archer tells actually happened though our history texts have ignored the bizarre incident. Perhaps because the putsch to replace FDR (""that cripple in the White House"") with a fascist dictator (euphemistically a ""Secretary of General Affairs"") misfired, thanks largely to the efforts of Major General Smedley Darlington Butler who told the House Un-American Activities Committee all about it. Or because those implicated -- associates of such mogul families as the Mellons, Du Points, Morgans, Rockefellers, Pews, plus two former candidates for President -- John W. David and Al Smith -- were never formally charged. Or because General Butler's sensational testimony was either ignored or ridiculed by the national press -- reporter George Seldes to whom the book is dedicated has called it ""one of the most reprehensible conspiracies of silence in the long (and disgraceful) history of American journalism."" For whatever reason, the anti-Roosevelt plot is little known and we owe a debt of historical perspective to Jules Archer for his careful reconstruction in these days of the Watergate.

Pub Date: July 1, 1973

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Hawthorn

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1973

Categories: NONFICTION