Early on the afternoon of December 7, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his chief foreign policy aide, Harry Hopkins, were interrupted by a telephone call from Secretary of War Henry Stimson and told that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor ... at about 5:00 p.m., following meetings with his military advisers, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt calmly and decisively dictated to his secretary, Grace Tully, a request to Congress for a declaration of war ... he had composed the speech in his head after deciding on a brief, uncomplicated appeal to the people of the United States rather than a thorough recitation of Japanese perfidies, as Secretary of State Cordell Hull had urged.President Roosevelt then revised the typed draft - marking it up, updating military information, and selecting alternative wordings that strengthened the tone of the speech ... he made the most significant change in the critical first line, which originally read, "a date which will live in world history" ... Grace Tully then prepared the final reading copy, which Roosevelt subsequently altered in three more places.
On December 8, at 12:30 p.m., "FDR" addressed a joint session of Congress and the Nation via radio ... the Senate responded with a unanimous vote in support of war; only Montana pacifist Jeanette Rankin dissented in the House ... at 4:00 p.m. that same afternoon, President Roosevelt signed the declaration of war ... his "Day Of Infamy" speech is as follows:
"Yesterday, December seventh, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation, and at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with it's Government and it's Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack on Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."
--President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, December 8, 1941
--sja
9 comments:
Oh My!
I guess we all have different memories of 7 December, 1941 .... them of us what have them ... mine are vague, but among me first and oldest.
Before then, about the only thing I clearly remember, independent of help from others, was staying up until Daddy came home late at night from work ... me having a treat while he had his coffee and a snack.
That continued ... but with a difference ... in the days that followed, it was done in the dark.
For them too young to remember, radios had tubes and were made in America back then.
The Pearl Harbor video closes noting that Congress approved FDR's war request with but one dissenting vote ... it was Jeannette Rankin of Montana, who served but two terms in the House. The first was 1916-1917 as the first woman ever elected to Congress, voting against our entry into WWI in 1917 ... the only negative vote back then too, methinks.
After reading your post, and I seemed to be reading it "verbally in my mind", with the fervor and hope that the President wanted us to know..then....it occurred to me...I think that type of "gusto", for lack of a better word, doesn't seem to sit in the same chair in the same office today.
I believe if our grandparents, great grandparents were going through the times we are going through now, with the same people in office of today, would they feel the same pull of "getting the job done" so to speak.
We'll never know...
Love your posts.
Barbara, back in those days, our Presidents weren't so concerned with offending our enemies at the expense of our safety and survival ... thanks for stopping by!
Bob, the country is still in the dark!
Truer words have been spoken ,,, just not recently!
I would have thought that 9/11/01 would have joined 12/7/41 ... and maybe it has ... just a matter of the beholder.
No reason to ponder Barbara ... your grandfather, and his father too, would have long ago responded differently so that they would not have been going through that which we are experiencing.
The fabric of the clothes of the people has become that of the Emperor.
Roosevelt, like Lincoln, had a silver-tipped pen. He knew how to turn a phrase.
Yes he did Nothingprofound, thanks for stopping by!
Well, there's peaches to eat over at NPP ... if they're any good, we'll take some over to the shop.
Try them out and let me know ... breaking for supper but will be back in the Shop at 10.
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