28 July 1932: The Bonus Army Riot

Where I see this current riot agenda heading?  Near to the script of the 28 July 1932 Bonus Army Riot.  So let me lay out the whole story.

When WW I ended, the political folks (from both parties) felt that some bonus needed to be handed all the GI's who participated in the war.  However, they just didn't have the money there in 1924 to hand the GI's.

The amount?  Well....this was devised in some ways as a 'insurance' type service award.  As long as you were on duty for some part of 5 April 1917 and 1 July 1919 (note, the war really ended on 11 November 1918)....you were going to be awarded $1 for each day served in the US and $1.25 for each day overseas.  I should note, the maximum amount you could earn was $500 (figure in the range of $7k in today's money).....for folks in the US, and $625 for overseas people.

So here was the curious twist to this....a $50 check was issued immediately, but the rest of this....wasn't going to be paid out until 20 years had passed.  In effect, it was designed as a insurance policy.  So around 1944/1945.....this money would be paid out. 

1929 and the stock market crash would come, and by the end of 1931.....a lot of hype had occurred with disgruntled GI's being told via various news outlets that something would be done to issue out the $500 to $625.  Various characters (more than 10,000) had gathered in camps on the east end of DC in the spring.  What they expected was that the Democrats would find the votes, and push back against President Hoover. 

The week of 20 July 1932 came, and the Senate couldn't get the deal done.  Riots were starting up and various threats were issued.  DC had no real police to handle this.

What Hoover ended up doing was calling up General MacArthur, and a Army effort was made to push the riot folks out of town.  This 'battle' went on for several hours, with pictures taken and a lot of negativity. 

Folks can discuss at length the plan by MacArthur, and the use of federal troops to end the mess, but it basically ended Hoover's chances at the election there in November.  The news media took the negative reports, and the images, and made a easy deal to sell a replacement agenda to the public.

In this case now.....I think an enormous battle plan is brewing for DC, and they hope that Trump will call for federal troops to be used.....thus repeating the 1932 scenario.