XVII
“A date which will live in infamy”
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT’S JOINT ADDRESS TO CONGRESS LEADING TO A DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST JAPAN
(1941)
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT WAS SERVING AN UNPRECEDENTED THIRD TERM AS President of the United States when the Japanese launched a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Prior to the attack, most of the attention of the press and the public had been focused on the war being waged in Europe between the Axis powers (Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy) and the Allies (Britain, France, and eventually the Soviet Union). America had remained technically neutral even though we were selling weapons to Britain.
Roosevelt became involved in politics despite contracting polio in the fall of 1921 at the age of thirty-nine. His legs would never regain their strength. He learned to walk again by putting heavy braces on his legs, swinging his hips and holding onto someone’s arm and a cane. His mother had assumed he would take over the country estate and live out his life as an invalid, but Roosevelt had other ideas.
When Roosevelt nominated Al Smith for president at the 1928 Democratic convention, he described Smith as “the ‘Happy Warrior’ of the political battlefield.” He might have been describing himself.
The stock market crashed in 1929. Roosevelt, who promised a “New Deal,” defeated incumbent Herbert Hoover in 1932 with 57 percent of the popular vote and 89 percent of the Electoral College. When Roosevelt took the oath of office, unemployment was 25 percent.
In his first inaugural address, Roosevelt took on what he determined to be America’s enemy at that time. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” he stated.
His presidency began during the Great Depression. Banks were under duress, having closed in many states. Roosevelt ordered a bank holiday and pushed through banking regulation that did not take over the banks as many had feared, but instead allowed them to reopen or reorganize if needed.
On March 12, 1933, Roosevelt held his first of what would become thirty fireside chats during his presidency, broadcast over the radio. In each one, he talked directly to the American people. This allowed him to set the tone and deliver the message he wanted to deliver instead allowing the press to edit it. During the first chat, he explained the rationale behind the bank holiday and the legislation. The nation was understandably nervous, and his words provided comfort and room for movement toward reform to be accepted.
Roosevelt was known for being firm and optimistic. “Demoralization caused by vast unemployment is our greatest extravagance,” he said. He refused “to accept as a necessary condition of our future a permanent army of unemployed.” Roosevelt won his second election in 1936 with 60 percent of the popular vote and 98 percent of the Electoral College. Believing he had secured a mandate, he soon pushed too far with what he called court reform. It failed.
In the fall of 1938, Roosevelt spoke in Canada, noting that “We in the Americas are no longer in a far-away continent, to which the eddies of controversies beyond the seas could bring no interest or no harm.” Though he spoke of the importance of the rest of the world to the United States, he insisted on neutrality until we were forced into the war.
In 1940, Roosevelt told the delegates at the Democratic National Convention that they could vote for whomever they wanted; they wanted him. He won an unprecedented third term with 55 percent of the popular vote and 85 percent of the Electoral College. In May 1941, in another fireside chat, Roosevelt prepared the nation for war, declaring a state of “unlimited national emergency.” And he communicated the seriousness of the war the nation was about to enter:
Today the whole world is divided between human slavery and human freedom—between pagan brutality and the Christian ideal. We choose human freedom—which is the Christian ideal. . . . We will accept only a world consecrated to freedom of speech and expression—freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—freedom from want—and freedom from terror.
In September 1941, Roosevelt put the nation on notice about the Nazi threat during a fireside chat, stating, “The danger is here now.” He did not mention Japan. While Roosevelt and the nation were focused on the threat of Nazi Germany, Japan was planning an attack on Pearl Harbor.
The attack began about 8:00 on a Sunday morning and ended less than two hours later with more than 2,000 Americans dead; eight battleships and ten other ships were lost. We were caught unaware. The nation was in shock.
That day, Roosevelt dictated the main portion of the speech he would deliver to Congress the next day. The speech provided the background for what he was requesting—a declaration of war. The motion passed with only one vote against.
We were at war, determined to fulfill the promise in Roosevelt’s speech, which said, “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.... With confidence in our armed forces, with the un-bounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.”
—JGC
Mr. Vice President, and Mr. Speaker, and Members of the Senate and House of Representatives:
Yesterday, December 7, 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 its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in 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 against 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 un-bounding 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 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
