Robert Taft at the NAACP headquarters in New York City a few days after singing Executive Order 8345 (1943)
Executive Order 8345 was issued on March 4th, 1943 by President Robert A. Taft. This executive order abolished discrimination "on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin" in the United States Armed Forces, and led to the re-integration of the services at the conclusion of the Second World War (1939 - 1946). At the time of its issuing, it was a very contentious executive order with it the legislation being met with fierce opposition from both Southern Democrats and Conservative Republicans. It is regarded as one of the most defining accomplishments of the Taft administration and is often credited for kickstarting the post-World War 2 civil rights movement.
Robert Taft's signature on the executive order
Background[]
Prior to Executive Order 8345, the United States military was segregated, and African Americans could not serve in the same army units as White Americans. Robert Taft was a personal supporter of Civil Rights, an issue which put him at odds with the rest of the Conservative coalition during his time in the Senate prior to his Presidency. With the outbreak of World War, Taft believed he could use the war as a means of pushing through Civil Rights reforms which would both improve the lives of African Americans without also increasing the power of the government, thus preserving his conservative image in the eyes of the public.
Aftermath[]
Despite the signing of the executive order, the order would not go into effect until after the Second World War ended in 1946. The order would be applauded by the NAACP and African American rights organizations, allowing for the development of a positive relationship between the Taft administration and the NAACP. The move would be adamantly opposed by the Southern Democrats with Democratic Nominee Richard Russell attacking Taft for this executive order during the 1944 campaign. The decision would result in the Republican Party making and strengthening inroads with the African American community in the 1944 Presidential Election and subsequent 1946 Congressional midterms.
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Sources Cited:[]
- Wikipedia Contributors. “Executive Order 9981.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Oct. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_9981.
- Politics, Fascinating. “Robert Taft’s Conservative Proposal for Civil Rights.” Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History, 30 Apr. 2019, fascinatingpolitics.com/2019/04/30/robert-tafts-conservative-proposal-for-civil-rights/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2022.
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