I'm currently reading 'Washington Goes to War' by David Brinkley. The congressional vote on Dec. 10, 1941 to engage in war with Japan was carried by a margin of 434-1. Rep Rankin was the only dissenting vote ("I am a woman and am not allowed to go to war, I therefore cannot in good conscience send anyone else to do what I cannot"
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After she cast her vote, she ran into the woman's coat-room and began crying. When an assistant found her and asked what was wrong, she simply replied, "my career in congress is now over. I have so much left to do, but I will be going home soon." And she was correct. Leaving the building later that afternoon, she was chased by an angry mob, and was forced into a public telephone booth to hide, from where she called to capitol police to rescue her.
She received death threats for that one vote for the rest of her life.
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