Abstract

During Irving Swanson’s decade-long career as a reading clerk in the U.S. House of Representatives, he had the distinction of reading the momentous roll calls in which the House approved declarations of war against Japan and then Germany and Italy in December 1941. Among his recollections of the December 8, 1941, declaration of war against Japan, are those of Montana Representative Jeannette Rankin’s lone ‘No’ vote against war and President Franklin Roosevelt’s entry into the House Chamber. Three days later, after the conclusion of the roll call vote to declare war against Germany and Italy, House Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas gave Mr. Swanson the gavel he used during the vote that day. In addition to these events, Mr. Swanson recalls details about the House Chamber in the early 1940s as well as the relationship between Members and floor staff. He also shares anecdotes about personalities such as Speaker Rayburn, Everett Dirksen of Illinois, Vito Marcantonio of New York, Richard Nixon of California, and Lyndon Johnson of Texas.