How did the sinking of the Reuben James in 1941 affect U.S. policy in World War II ?

To some extent, it is possible to argue that the sinking
of the Reuben James had little effect on U.S. foreign policy with
respect to World War II.  There was no immediate reaction to the sinking in terms of
Congressional action or military action on the part of the
US.

However, it can be argued that the sinking of the
Reuben James contributed to a decrease in isolationism in the US. 
It was not long after the sinking of the ship that Congress repealed many of the
provisions of the Neutrality Acts that had been passed in the 1930s.  By repealing these
provisions, Congress was moving the US towards a more active role in the
war.

One can argue, then, that the sinking of the
Reuben James helped push the US towards a less isolationist
stance.  It should be noted, however, that America was still officially neutral towards
Germany even after the sinking and did not actually go to war with Germany until Germany
declared war on the US after the Pearl Harbor attack.