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{{cquote|Both Cornelia and Walter advocated for sterilization of the unfit and the creation of a fit white race through birth control. Both sides of eugenics rest on the premise that only those deemed fit to propagate the race should be allowed to live or procreate. Unlike the radical democratic populism that Pierce backed through most of his life, his adherence to the tenets of eugenics exposed a side of politics that elevated certain groups into a position of political and economic power based on their race and physical capabilities.|||"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," p. 411}}

{{cquote|Both Cornelia and Walter advocated for sterilization of the unfit and the creation of a fit white race through birth control. Both sides of eugenics rest on the premise that only those deemed fit to propagate the race should be allowed to live or procreate. Unlike the radical democratic populism that Pierce backed through most of his life, his adherence to the tenets of eugenics exposed a side of politics that elevated certain groups into a position of political and economic power based on their race and physical capabilities.|||"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," p. 411}}

Comstock laws identified birth control with obscenity and therefore banned its propagation through mail. In 1933, Pierce reintroduced a "Doctor's Bill" which would amend criminal code sections to circumvent Comstock Act provisions by declaring that prohibitions on obscenity cannot apply to contraception.<ref name=schwartz,pp.372-79>"Walter M. Pierce and the Birth Control Movement," pp. 372-79.</ref> He contacted Margaret Sanger to request support from the National Committee on Federal Legislation for Birth Control, and subsequent lectures by Sanger led to increased apparent willingness from senators and representatives in support of Pierce's bill. However, Catholics strongly opposed the legislation, and it faced defeat in Congress.<ref name=schwartz,pp.372-79/>

Comstock laws identified birth control with obscenity and therefore banned its propagation through mail. In 1933, Pierce reintroduced a "Doctor's Bill" which would amend criminal code sections to circumvent Comstock Act provisions by declaring that prohibitions on obscenity cannot apply to contraception.<ref name=schwartz,pp.372-79>"Walter M. Pierce and the Birth Control Movement," pp. 372-79.</ref> He contacted Margaret Sanger to request support from the National Committee on Federal Legislation for Birth Control, and subsequent lectures by Sanger led to increased apparent willingness from senators and representatives in support of Pierce's bill. However, continued opposed the legislation, particularly from Catholics, ensured its defeat in Congress.<ref name=schwartz,pp.372-79/>

In the U.S. House, Pierce, a [[New Deal]]er whose support for statist control of the economy was denounced by business interests as socialistic, continued his open hatred of blacks, Jews, and Japanese-Americans. In 1937, the chamber passed the Gavagan–Wagner [[anti-lynching bill]] by a wide margin with support from Republicans and most Northern Democrats;<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-1/h27 TO PASS H. R. 1507, AN ANTI-LYNCHING BILL.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> Pierce was absent on the vote though indicated his intent to oppose the legislation.<ref name=mccoy,pp.409-10/> He voted against the 1940 Gavagan–Fish anti-lynching bill,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/76-3/h96 TO PASS H.R. 801, A BILL TO MAKE LYNCHING A FEDERAL CRIME.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> opposed allowing Jewish children to flee from Nazi Germany into the U.S., and vociferously demanded an ''en masse'' persecution of Japanese-Americans, viewing FDR's internment as insufficient.

In the U.S. House, Pierce, a [[New Deal]]er whose support for statist control of the economy was denounced by business interests as socialistic, continued his open hatred of blacks, Jews, and Japanese-Americans. In 1937, the chamber passed the Gavagan–Wagner [[anti-lynching bill]] by a wide margin with support from Republicans and most Northern Democrats;<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-1/h27 TO PASS H. R. 1507, AN ANTI-LYNCHING BILL.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> Pierce was absent on the vote though indicated his intent to oppose the legislation.<ref name=mccoy,pp.409-10/> He voted against the 1940 Gavagan–Fish anti-lynching bill,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/76-3/h96 TO PASS H.R. 801, A BILL TO MAKE LYNCHING A FEDERAL CRIME.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> opposed allowing Jewish children to flee from Nazi Germany into the U.S., and vociferously demanded an ''en masse'' persecution of Japanese-Americans, viewing FDR's internment as insufficient.