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Declaration of War Gavel

Wooden gavel with handle signed by Sam Rayburn/tiles/collection/1/1926.xml
Handle of a wooden gavel, signed “Sam Rayburn, Dec. 11, 1941”/tiles/collection/1/1927.xml
Wooden gavel with handle signed by Sam Rayburn
Handle of a wooden gavel, signed “Sam Rayburn, Dec. 11, 1941”
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Date

1941

Dimensions

12 1/2 x 3 3/4 x 2 in. (31.8 x 9.5 x 5.1 cm)

Accession Number

2005.124.000

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives, Gift of Irving Swanson

Object Details

On December 11, 1941, the House approved a declaration of war against Axis Powers Germany and Italy—the same day that Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. Reading Clerk Irving Swanson read President Roosevelt’s swift rejoinder requesting a declaration of war against both nations. Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn presented this gavel, used during this historic session, to Swanson in appreciation for reading Roosevelt’s message and taking the roll call vote.

Rights and Reproduction Information

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Declaration of War Against Germany and Italy
Declaration of War Against Germany and Italy

View Related Oral History

U.S. Declarations of War in 1941

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View a documentary featuring former House Reading Clerk Irving Swanson remembering the U.S. declarations of war in 1941, accompanied by historical audio and video footage.

Irving Swanson, Reading Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded July 13, 2005 – Deed of Gift
Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov