Back in the 1870s Otto von Bismarck coined a term that still resonates today, despite the fact that purists on both political sides hate it: realpolitik

In December of 1941, a Congresswoman – the first ever – learned a lesson in realpolitik. In April of 1917 she had been among fifty US Representatives who felt that a US Declaration of War on Imperial Germany was a mistake and to be opposed. In retrospect and in the minds of many millions of Americans that day, she was right.

But twenty-four years later, she would find herself as the ONLY US Congressperson, House or Senate*, to vote against declaring war on Imperial Japan after the attacks of December 7th. She would pay a personal price for her vote, including some merciless mockery for hiding in a closet after the vote and losing her seat permanently.

Rankin claimed that it had been a vote of principle, stating that war is always wrong.

Three days later, she would vote “Present” on a Declaration of War against two other countries that had not attacked the United States. She had learned the meaning of realpolitik. Too late, but she had learned it.

Today, we watch as 1917 repeats itself. Nations are lining up against nations, some clearly the aggressor. Threats are made, promises are spouted. But what is the realpolitik?

This time Congress itself will have almost no say in what happens. No stand, principled or otherwise, will take place. The President alone will decide whether or not your husbands, wives, father, mothers, sons and daughters will go to war against a nation that has not attacked us…

*Fifty-five members of Congress were unable to vote as they were not present. All of them would make it clear that they supported the DoW and would have voted in favor of it.

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