In "Gangsters of Capitalism," the role of "Secretary of General Affairs" was part of the Business Plot's vision for Smedley Butler's potential leadership within a new government structure. According to Butler's testimony before the McCormack-Dickstein Committee, this new cabinet position would essentially place him in charge of a powerful executive role meant to control the government while keeping President Roosevelt as a symbolic figurehead.

Role and Responsibilities

The conspirators' plan for the Secretary of General Affairs was modeled after structures seen in European fascist regimes, where central figures held sweeping power over state functions. This role would grant Butler authority over all major government decisions, effectively creating a parallel, autocratic structure within the U.S. government. The position was intended to strip Roosevelt of effective power, as Butler would manage critical functions, thereby neutralizing Roosevelt's New Deal policies that the business elite opposed.

Key Elements and Context in the Book

The title "Secretary of General Affairs"represented the conspirators' approach to adapting foreign authoritarian models to the U.S., creating a role that would concentrate authority to counter the democratic governance Roosevelt represented. The Business Plot conspirators admired leaders like Mussolini and Hitler and sought to establish a similar system through Butler’s respected military presence, believing his influence could mobilize veterans and win public support.

Despite Butler’s detailed testimony on the conspirators’ plan, and this proposal for the Secretary of General Affairs role, the McCormack-Dickstein Committee’s report remained inconclusive, acknowledging only the possibility of a loose coup plan without pressing charges against the accused due to lack of concrete evidence.

This position and the plot Butler exposed underscored Katz’s broader themes in the book regarding the dangers of corporate influence over politics and the fragility of democratic institutions.