Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy - Ludwig von Mises ...

348 Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy
As FDR’s meeting with congressional leaders on the evening
of the attack broke up, Democrat House Speaker Sam Rayburn
was asked, “Will the president ask for a declaration of war?” FDR
hadn’t committed himself. But Rayburn volunteered that if he
did, “that is one thing on which there would be unity.”
Minority House Leader Joseph W. Martin agreed: “Th ere is
only one party when it comes to the integrity and honor of the
country.” 2
Senator David I. Walsh, chairman of the Naval Aff airs
Committee, a frequent critic of FDR’s foreign policy:
Th e unexpected and unprovoked attacks upon United States
territory and ships and the formal declaration of war by Japan
leave Congress no choice but to take speedy and decisive measures
to defend our country. We must promptly meet the challenge
with all our resources and all our courage. 3
Within hours of the attack, many Japanese nationals in this
country were picked up and detained.
Congressional leaders made plans to question top military
offi cials.
The Morning After the Attack
At noon the president was driven up to Capitol Hill to
address a joint session of Congress. Th e members of the House
and Senate, and their guests, were assembled in the House chamber
when the president entered. It was a somber occasion. Th e
president was an eloquent speaker, and everyone was anxious to
hear what he had to say.
Roosevelt began clearly and fi rmly: “Yesterday, December 7,
1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of
2 New York Times, December 8, 1941, p. 1.
3 Ibid., p. 2.