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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

WAR DECLARATION ON JAPAN

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1790

USA DECLARED WAR ON JAPAN 74 YEARS AGO 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Seventy-four years ago today, December 8, 1941, the Congress of the United States approved a war declaration on the Empire of Japan.  

The war declaration followed President Franklin D. Roosevelt's address to a joint session the day following the Japanese attack on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

FDR's address was delivered at 12:30 p.m.  The Senate approved the war declaration first, and then the House of Representatives followed at 1:10 p.m. 

The tally was 82-0 in the Senate and 388-1 in the HR.  The only NO vote in either body was by Congresswoman Jeanette Rankin*.  The President signed the war declaration at 4:10 p.m.

FDR said in his speech to Congress...

"No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.   With confidence in our armed forces- with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God."



*Jeannette Rankin (1880-1973) was born in Missoula County, MT & graduated from the Universities of Montana & Washington.  She was the 1st woman to hold high government office in the United States when elected to Congress representing her district in Montana.



FDR's Address to Congress
December 8, 1941