One of the darkest chapters in the history of the United States is the internment of Japanese citizens along the West Coast during World War II. During this time, fearing sabotage from Japanese Americans, the United States forcibly interned over 110,000 Japanese Americans, many of whom were already American citizens. Ronald Reagan apologized on behalf of the United States for the actions in 1988, and the U.S. would eventually pay out more than $1.6 billion to those interned and to their families.
The move was, of course, supported by many state and local officials at the time. The Governor of California, for example, was a strong supporter of such internment camps. Off of Pocket Trivia: US History - who was that Governor? Was it Culbert Olson, Ronald Reagan, Goodwin Jess Knight or Earl Warren?
What makes this question so interesting is the correct answer: Republican Governor Earl Warren. Warren supported the move during his time as California Attorney General and as Governor. It was a move that Warren defended for his entire life.
The irony, of course, is that Warren would become Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and be remembered as one of its most liberal members and ardent defenders of civil rights.
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