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A thread on the use of federal power in Portland and other US cities today when compared to the suppression of the Bonus Army camp in 1932--and what it means about the USA. Comments by those interested in US history much appreciated.
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There are remarkable parallels between the use of force in 1932 against the Bonus Marchers and that being used in Portland and other cities today--not least the political context.
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The president at the time, Herbert Hoover, in the midst of a bitter presidential campaign and presiding over an economic crisis, ordered federal troops, led by General Douglas MacArthur, to wipe out a camp of Bonus Marchers on July 28, 1932 (exactly 88 years ago)
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The Bonus Marchers as a movement had originated in Portland Oregon, but quickly moved to Washington where they set up a large camp, illegally, on Anacostia Flats. They were veterans hit hard by the Great Depression who wanted their WWI pensions paid early.
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To wipe out the camp Hoover ordered the army in, and the soldiers used bayonets, tear gas and even tanks to clear out the veterans and burn the camp to the ground
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The interesting thing was the reaction. While there was at first a rallying around Hoover and Republicans started blaming the attack on supposed radicals and communists who had subverted the veterans cause.
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Soon the Republicans started running away from the operation--hard. State Republican party platforms in 1932 started calling for lenient treatment of the Bonus Marchers (see NY Times on State GOP platform, Sept 22, 1932)
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Even the National GOP platform which was lavish in praise with Hoover, said nothing to defend the operation, only talking about how the party had and would continue to help the veterans
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/republican-party-platform-1932
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https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/republican-party-platform-1932
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It was a realization that the American people were not pleased with the use of Federal Power in this way, and many Americans from all walks of life, including the military, were uneasy with what had happened.
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One example, at this point William Leahy, who was in command of most US destroyers at sea, was privately scathing of Hoover and said that the Marchers "deserved far more" than they would get from the president
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The Democrats believed that Hoover had given them an opening with the veterans. FDR reputedly said after the use of miltarized federal power that Hoover has guaranteed his election--"..this will elect me"
(For an excellent narrative overview see: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/marching-on-history-75797769/
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(For an excellent narrative overview see: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/marching-on-history-75797769/
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Certainly whatever role the use of federal power like this had, was to help the Democrats in 1932--FDR's landslide was remarkable
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How Americans react to the use of federal power in July 2020 will say alot about the what the country is and how it has possibly changed since July 1932.
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If this use of force leads to a further fall in Trump's popularity, it will show, positively I would argue, that Americans are distinctly squeamish with the use of federal forces to quell domestic disturbances.
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If, otoh, it leads to a jump in Trump's popularity (unlike Hoover's) it might show how US society has regressed to become more tribal and willing to accept violence. It will be an interesting test of what the people think.
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