Kaitlyn Johonnesson

HIST 2685
Dr. Cox
11/16/2014
I.

Identification
A.

Book Citation
Robinson, Greg. By Order of the President: FDR and the Internment of Japanese
Americans. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2001.

B.

Author Information
Greg Robinsons first monograph relies on his expertise in American
ethnic studies, immigration studies, and socio-political history. His education,
academic career, and published works illustrate him to be a highly credible
individual with a valid perspective on the topic. Robinsons career focuses on the
injustices faced by ethnic and racial minorities in the United States and Canada,
more specifically Japanese Americans and Canadians throughout the early
twentieth century.
Robinsons educational background provides an extensive context for his
focus on North American racial and ethnic studies. He received his B.A. in French
History and Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania and his M.A. and
Ph.D. in American History from New York University, where he fostered his
interest in Japanese American studies. Robinson is currently a professor at
l'Universit du Qubec Montral, where he focuses on ethnic studies in North
American and United States political history. He is the Chair of Research for
Immigration, Ethnicity, and Citizenship at the university, where he focuses his
research on Japanese American and Japanese Canadian history. His courses at the
university include African American history, American Immigration History, and
Ethnic Studies, which are directly related to the issue of Japanese American
studies during the early twentieth century as the internment of Japanese
Americans during WWII is considered an issue in American immigration history
and ethnic studies.
By Order of the President: FDR and the Internment of Japanese
Americans is Robinsons first of many historical monographs about Japanese
Americans and is considered the first book to examine Franklin D. Roosevelts

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role in the passage of Executive Order 9066, which called for the removal of
Japanese Citizens in the West Coast. Robinson is also an established blogger,
recognized for co-authoring a 29-post series with Eric Muller that debated
Michelle Malkins book In Defense of Internment, which attempts to justify the
removal of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Robinsons extensive background in American ethnic and racial studies
provides basis for his expertise on Japanese American studies during World War
II. His career a l'Universit du Qubec Montral exemplifies his extensive
knowledge in ethnic and immigration studies. Robinsons blog and other
published works provide evidence of his personal and academic interest in
Japanese American studies, as he centered his entire published works around
Japanese Americans in the early twentieth century.
II.

Analysis
A.

Theme
Greg Robinson details Franklin D. Roosevelts integral role in the creation
and employment of Executive Order 9066, which called for the removal of
Japanese Americans from the West Coast in 1942, and Roosevelts personal racial
prejudice against the Japanese and military pressure, such as the United States and
Japanese rivalry for control over the Pacific and the Japanese Rape of Nanking,
that heavily influence Roosevelts decision to enact the internment.

B.

Thesis
Roosevelt played an active role in the removal of Japanese Americans
from the West Coast during World War II, deciding to sign Executive Order 9066
due to his own personal racial prejudices and military tensions with Japan after
the Rape of Nanking. Robinson states the reason that Roosevelt signed Executive
Order 9066 relies on the exploration of presidential leadership, administrative
style, political calculation, national morale, and wartime propaganda
(Robinson xvii).

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Robinson argues that Roosevelt held racial prejudices against Japanese
Americans, which allowed him to justify his discrimination and contributes to
Robinsons argument that Roosevelt played an active role in the removal of
Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Roosevelt maintained that the Japanese
were genetically inferior, remained inherently Japanese, and were unable to
assimilate into American culture. Robinson writes that FDRs thesis was that
people of Japanese ancestry remained innately Japanese no matter where they
lived even if they were born and raised entirely in the United States, spoke only
English, and absorbed American customs and this made them undeserving of
equal rights, (Robinson 36). The belief that Japanese Americans remained loyal
to their ancestry regardless of their assimilation or American pride contributed to
the belief that Japanese Americans did not support the American war efforts and
thus were a domestic threat to the United States.
Japans invasion of China, referred to as the Rape of Nanking, heavily
influenced Roosevelts perceptions of Japanese Americans and influenced his
decision to remove Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Franklin D
Roosevelt held admiration for China, influenced by his grandfather, Warren
Delano, who decorated his home with vases and Chinese mementos from his
business trips to the country. Roosevelt considered himself an Old China hand,
expressing his sentiment for China even though he never visited himself
(Robinson 2). This admiration became significant after Japan invaded China in
1937, killing more than 300,000 people. Roosevelt clearly stated that the United
States should take efforts against aggressor nations in a speech in Chicago
(Robinson 52). Congress later passed the Neutrality Act, which limited the United
States to trade and economic affiliations with nations not involved with the war.
Roosevelt excluded China from the Act, awarding moral and financial support to
China in the struggle against Japan (Robinson 52). The Rape of Nanking was an
attack on a country Roosevelt deeply admired as a child, but also instituted Japan
as a real threat in the Pacific. Roosevelt, since his years at Harvard, believed that
Japan was a threat to U.S. control of the Pacific, relying these perceptions on the
writings of Alfred Thayer Mahan (Robinson 5). Mahan discussed naval power

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being vital to a nations success, and encouraged the United States to live up to
its potential power by augmenting its naval strength (Robinson 5). As Japan
gained more control over the Pacific and began invading surrounding countries,
Roosevelt became wary of Japan, perceiving the nation as a direct threat to the
power and security of the United States. These beliefs about military power,
combined with Roosevelts belief that all Japanese are inherently Japanese,
contributed to Roosevelts distrust of Japanese Americans and led to his decision
to sign Executive Order 9066.
III.

Criticism
A.

Objective Evaluation
Robinson proves his thesis that Greg Roosevelt played an active and
central role in the removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast by using
chronological format to clearly state his arguments, using and objectively
analyzing primary source documents such as Roosevelts column Roosevelt
Says in the Macon Daily Telegraph and Stimsons diary entries.
Robinson presents his thesis in a chronological format, detailing
Roosevelts childhood admirations of China, his perceptions of Japanese naval
control in college, Roosevelts racial prejudice during his presidency, as well as
the political pressures on Roosevelt to evacuate Japanese Americans, antiJapanese hysteria during World War II, and the advising from Secretary of War
Henry L. Stimson. Robinson is able to connect these events and behaviors to
Roosevelts final decision throughout the book and logically inform the reader of
the complexities of Roosevelts decision to enact Executive Order 9066. ]
By using and objectively analyzing primary source documents, Robinson
solidifies his argument that Roosevelt played an active role in the evacuation of
Japanese Americans. To demonstrate Roosevelts racial prejudice, Robinson
quotes Roosevelts article in The Macon Daily Telegraph, where Roosevelt
explains that immigration should continue to be restricted for a good many
years to come in order to allow the nation to digest the people it had already
taken in, announcing that he agrees with nativist sentiment (29). Robinson also
quotes Secretary of State Henry Stimsons diary to prove that he did give

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Roosevelt bad advice about the execution of executive Order 9066, Stimson had
many reservations that Roosevelt refused to discuss with him. Robinson describes
an entry of Stimsons, saying that Stimson believed a racially discriminatory
policy was not acceptable, (Robinson 94). Robinson later describes Stimson
trying to discuss the moral issues of mass evacuation with Roosevelt, but
Roosevelt said that he was too busy (Robinson 115). These documents provide
insight into Roosevelts personal views and opinions, as well as the attitude he
carried about the moral and constitutional implications of the evacuation, showing
that FDR played a central and active role in the removal of Japanese Americans
from the West Coast.
B.

Subjective Evaluation
I enjoyed the text due to its complexity, yet logical style. As the book was
in chronological format, it was easy to follow. Even more so was Robinsons
clarity in presenting each argument and tying it to his main thesis that Roosevelt
was a central player in the creation and implementation of Executive Order 9066.
Robinson revealed seemingly obscure details and discussed exactly how they
influenced Roosevelt, exploring Roosevelts admiration for Alfred Thayer
Mahans writings as a young boy, and was able to analyze how those influences
motivated his actions years later during his presidency.
Before reading the book, I was only aware of the implications of mass
anti-Japanese hysteria throughout the United States that led to the removal of
Japanese Americans for protection against anti-Japanese violence. I was unaware
of the racial and military implications that Robinson discussed. It was very
interesting to read about Roosevelts personal prejudices, and the fact he would be
comfortable discussing eugenics and mass sterilization, even in a joking manner
(113). After analyzing Robinsons assertions, I definitely agree that Roosevelt was
a central player in the creation and execution of Executive Order 9066, and that
the issue was much more complex than public anti-Japanese opinion and the
threat of anti-Japanese violence in the United States.

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IV.

Testing Conclusions
A.

Reviews
Dickinson, Matthew J. Greg Robinson, By Order of the President: FDR and the
Internment of Japanese Americans. The American Historical Review.
108, no. 5 (2003): 1475-476. Accessed September 16, 2014.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/530039.
Dickinson writes that Robinson provided a well-researched
monograph, but Dickinson argued that Robinsons logic is unconvincing.
Dickinson does not agree with Robinsons thesis that Roosevelt played a
central role in the removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.
Dickinson believes that Robinsons sources are conjectural at best.
Howard, John. By Order of the President: FDR and the Internment of Japanese
Americans by Greg Robinson. The Arkanss Historical Quarterly 61, no. 4
(2002): 431-33. Accessd September 16, 2014.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/40022658.
John Howard gives By Order of the President positive reviews,
stating that Robinson provides new insight to Roosevelts role in the
creation and execution of Executive Order 9066. Howard discusses
Robinsons analysis of sources, asserting that the analysis is logical and
concise.
Russell, Margaret M. By Order of the President: FDR and the Internment of
Japanese Americans by Greg Robinson. Journal of American Ethnic
History 23, no. 1, (2003): 115-15. Accessed September 16, 2014.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/27501392.
Russell writes that Robinsons historical insights are persuasive
and accurate, detailing his arguments of Roosevelts racism and
presidential style. Russell provides a positive review of By Order of the
President, claiming it is a welcome contribution to the annals of both
presidential biography and Japanese American internment (115).

B.

Evaluation of One Review

Dickinson Matthew J. Dickinson reviews By Order of the President: FDR
and the Internment of Japanese Americans in the December 2003 edition of the

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American Historical Review. He provides a generally positive critique of Greg
Robinsons monograph, praising him for his unique perspective on the issue of
FDRs responsibility in the removal of the Japanese Americans during World War
II, although he asserts that Robinsons arguments concerning the motives of FDR
to be conjectural. I chose to critique Dickinsons review as it most contrasts my
own, which asserts that Robinsons book was persuasive and insightful.
Dickinson describes Robinsons assertions concerning the motives of FDR
to sign Executive Order 9066 as less persuasive than the argument that the
removal of Japanese Americans was a violation of American civil rights. I
disagree, as Robinsons arguments are logical and concise. Using articles and
letters written by Franklin D Roosevelt himself, Robinson is able to accurately
assess Roosevelts racial prejudice, opinions about Japan as a threat to Pacific
control, and the threat of war with Japan. His arguments are not conjectural, but
rather based on adequate evidence. It is logical to assert that FDRs personal
prejudices against the Japanese heavily influenced his policies about the rights of
Japanese under the United States government.
Overall, Dickinsons review seems to reach for arguments against
Robinsons examinations of FDRs motivations. Even though Robinson primarily
argues that Roosevelt played an active role in the creation and execution of
Executive Order 9066, Robinson provides an objective assessment of FDRs
motivations, maintaining, Because of Roosevelts approach to the internment, the
motivation behind his actions is difficult to determine. (Dickinson 1475).
Dickinson uses this quote to prove that Robinsons arguments are illogical and
reasoning that FDRs personal feelings about the Japanese were irrelevant to his
executive actions and political behavior. This, of course is not the case. Robinson
provides objective evidence of Roosevelts opinions and analyzes his political
style from his time as a naval commander throughout his presidency, and asserts
that, while it is difficult to pin down Roosevelts exact motivations, it is necessary
to evaluate his personal prejudices, experiences, and views in order to attempt to
determine Roosevelts motivations. In addition, Robinsons main argument does
not rely solely on Roosevelts motivations, but rather his actions in the removal of

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Japanese Americans as ordered by Executive Order 9066, which Robinson proved
through direct evidence that Roosevelt played a large role in the creation and
enforcement.
V.

Works Cited
Robinson, Greg. "Bio." Greg Robinson. May 11, 2011. Accessed September 23, 2014.
http://www.gregjrobinson.com/.