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Marine General Smedley Darlington Butler and New York Governor Al Smith, circa 1928.
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Al Smith and Smedley Butler dressed in suits pose for this photograph.

Credit: Library of Congress

After taking office, Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot was outraged at Philadelphia city government’s refusal to enforce prohibition. In January, 1924, newly elected mayor Freeland Kendrick convinced celebrated Marine Lieutenant General Smedley Darlington Butler to become Philadelphia’s Director of Public Safety. Butler waged an aggressive campaign to enforce prohibition and root out police corruption in Philadelphia, but after two years left the city defeated and embittered. In the 1930s Butler would re-emerge as one of the nation’s most public critics of American military actions abroad.

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