With current civil discourse calling for the removal of the names of confederate military officers from public spaces and military bases, the American Institute of Parliamentarians (AIP) adopted a resolution at their last annual meeting suggesting General Henry M. Robert as a suitable candidate for the renaming of any military bases.

The General was instrumental in bringing the democratic process to all meetings throughout the United States as the original author of Robert’s Rules of Order. His works brought order, civility and fair play for all attendees of deliberative assemblies, and his legacy continues with now the 12th Edition of RONR being published in September of 2020.

His family moved north away from their southern homestead and roots in South Carolina in objection to the practice of slavery. Henry went to West Point and stayed with the Union army when the Civil War broke out while other southerners at West Point resigned and left with Robert E. Lee to serve in the Army of the Confederacy.

He was assigned as an Assistant Engineer in the fortification of Washington and then several coastal cities. This led to his fateful encounter in New Bedford, Mass, where he was appointed leader of a civic meeting, but with no experience in parliamentary procedure. The meeting ending badly and set young Lt Robert on his course of study and the eventual writing of Robert’s Rules of Order.

Enclosed here is the Resolution received by RRA from AIP. We encourage everyone to follow AIP’s lead and write to your respective House and Senate representatives suggesting General Robert as a suitable candidate for renaming of any military bases.

To aid you further, we have prepared a draft letter that can be downloaded and edited for sending to your representatives.