Between Two Worlds: The Survival of Twentieth Century Indians Page: 190
This book is part of the collection entitled: Oklahoma Historical Society Monographs and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the UNT Libraries.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
190
since 1946. Strange as it may seem today, his wartime
experience with another minority group, the Japanese-
Americans, led Secretary of the Interior Oscar Chapman to
recommend him to President Truman to be Commissioner of
Indian Affairs. As head of the War Relocation Authority, he
supervised the tragic removal and detention of tens of thou-
sands of Japanese-Americans, who were held at special camps,
some of which were located on Indian reservations. In
suggesting that Truman appoint Myer, Chapman discussed
his qualifications for the job: "He did an outstanding job in the
maintenance and relocation of the Japanese evacuated from
the Pacific Coast region, which program was fraught with
many troublesome aspects, including the maintenance of good
public relations during the emotionalism of war." Chapman
added: "I feel that this total experience well fits him for the
position of Commissioner of Indian Affairs."7
Almost immediately upon assuming office, Myer focused his
agency's attention on the step-by-step transfer of Bureau
functions. Building on early Interior Department plans for
federal withdrawal, Myer was also aided by the postwar
climate of the country. The Cold War with the Soviet Union
and the early days of the Korean War had produced a sense of
extreme American nationalism and less tolerance of differences
both outside and inside American society. Increasingly, many
Americans saw Indian reservations, not as people's home-
lands, but as strange anomalies irrelevant to modern times.
Moreover, the increased awareness of civil rights and growing
repudiation of segregation during the Truman administration
helped reinforce the overly optimistic belief that reservation
life segregated Indian peoples from the benefits of joining the
mainstream of American life.8
Myer's policies were also aided by other factors. Commis-
sioners Collier and Zimmerman had previously indicated the
readiness of certain tribes for federal withdrawal. In addition,
Commissioner Myer had at his disposal massive surveys that
reinforced his position. The Special Presidential Commission
on the Organization of the Executive Branch of Government,
better known as the Hoover Commission, filed a task force
report on Indian affairs in 1949, that, among other suggestions,
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View 39 pages within this book that match your search.Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
Between Two Worlds: The Survival of Twentieth Century Indians (Book)
Book containing historical information about Native American-U. S. Government relations during the 20th Century, including different pieces of legislation passed against and in support of the American Indians. Index begins on page 236.
Relationship to this item: (Has Format)
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Gibson, Arrell Morgan. Between Two Worlds: The Survival of Twentieth Century Indians, book, 1986; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc862903/m1/206/?q=War+of+the+Rebellion.: accessed August 15, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; .