US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES WAR RESOLUTION AGAINST GERMANY 373-50
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 6, 1917, the United States House of Representatives voted to go to war with Germany. The vote was 373 to 50.
Among the no votes were those of Claude Kitchin of North Carolina, majority leader and Jeannette Rankin* of Montana. Miss Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, was sitting on the back row when her name was first called. She didn't respond so her name was called again.
Representative Rankin "staggered to her feet" and said...
"I want to stand by my country, but I cannot vote for war. I vote no!"
*Jeanette Pickering Rankin (1880-1973) was born in Missoula County, Montana & graduated from the University of Montana. JPR served in the US House of Representatives 1917-1919, 1941-1943.
JFK+50 NOTE
J. Rankin also voted against the U.S. Declaration of War on Japan of December 8, 1941. She never regretted her vote, the only no vote on the resolution in either house of Congress. She said...
"If you're against war, you're against war regardless of what happens. It's a wrong method of trying to settle a dispute."
SOURCES
"Miss Rankin Votes 'No' On War Resolution," The Chicago Daily Tribune, April 6, 1917, www.archives.chicagotribune.com/
"The House Declaration of War Against Germany," April 6, 1917, United States House of Representatives, www.history.house.gov/
