The Importance Of One Vote - 1940

There has always been a lot of talk about the importance of one vote, but to me the most memorable has always been a Congressional vote in 1940. Germany as a weak, third world nation that had, only 20 years before, been defeated and devastated in World War 1. Not only that, it was being run by a nutty, arrogant dictator. But the German army was suddenly rolling through Europe ... and nobody was slowing it down. The political appeasers were letting him roll, and it was looking like America would have to get involved if Hitler were to be stopped. Here in America, there were a lot of close elections for the House and Senate, and one of the hot issues was whether or not to institute a peacetime Selective Service Act ... you know, a draft. America had never drafted servicemen during peacetime before. They had been conscripted during the Civil War, and World War I, but not until hostilities were underway.

But in 1940 Congress passed a one-year military draft. And then Congress faced another vote, this time to extend the peacetime draft to two-and-a-half years. The debate in Congress was intense, even bitter, but in the end the so-called war hawks won. The draft was extended ... BY ONE VOTE. So, when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor in 1941 America had more than One-million men trained, and at least partially ready, for the war that came. All because of one vote.

This is Gordon Sawyer, from a window on historic Green Street.