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. Roosevelt made no attempt to paper over the great damage that had been caused to the Roosevelt also made a point of emphasizing that "our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger" and highlighted reports of Japanese attacks in the Pacific between Hawaii and San Francisco. Text of Roosevelt's Speech Killing over 2,000 people, the attack on P… But this day was different. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii shocked almost everyone in the United States military and left Pearl Harbor vulnerable and unprepared. Rather than taking the active voice—i. The Infamy Speech was brief, running to just a little over seven minutes. Even though most of the world was engaged in and suffering the crippling effects of World War II, the United States was declared neutral and not directly involved.
It was intended not merely as a personal response by the President, but as a statement on behalf of the entire American people in the face of a great The first paragraph of the speech was carefully worded to reinforce Roosevelt's portrayal of the United States as the innocent victim of unprovoked Japanese aggression. "Avenge December 7!" https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/fdrs-pearl-harbor-address-video That all changed one day later, however, when the Japanese bombed ships, airfields, and civilians living on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation delivered 8 December 1941, Washington, D.C. The new feeling of unity which suddenly welled up in the chamber on December 8, the common purpose behind the leadership of the President, the joint determination to see things through, were typical of what was taking place throughout the country.The White House was inundated with telegrams praising the president's stance ("On that Sunday, we were dismayed and frightened, but your unbounded courage pulled us together. Secretary of State His revised statement was all the stronger for its emphatic insistence that posterity would forever endorse the American view of the attack. US Government propaganda poster of 1942
The speech was broadcast live by radio and attracted the largest audience in US radio history, with over 81% of American homes tuning in to hear the President.It was a most dramatic spectacle there in the chamber of the House of Representatives. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. 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. We must now turn every effort to building the greatest and most efficient Army, Navy and Air Force in the world.Roosevelt's framing of the Pearl Harbor attack became, in effect, the standard American narrative of the events of December 7, 1941.
148 (77th Congress, 1st Session), in Hermann G. Steltner, "War Message: December 8, 1941 — An Approach to Language", in Samuel Irving Rosenman, quoted in Brown 1998, p. 119Quoted by Benjamin L. Alpers, "This Is The Army", in See for instance CNN, "Day of Terror — a 21st century 'day of infamy'", September 2001.
The The overall tone of the speech was one of determined realism. 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 unbounding 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 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire. "Now [war] has come and we must meet it as united Americans regardless of our attitude in the past toward the policy our Government has followed.
The wording was deliberately passive.
(168 Address by the President of the United States, December 8, 1941, in See Senate Document No. In so doing, he sought to silence the The speech's "infamy" line is often misquoted as "a Roosevelt's speech had an immediate and long-lasting impact on American politics.
In his speech, Roosevelt declared that December 7, 1941, the day that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, would remain "a date which will live in … Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives: Yesterday, December 7th, 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.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Pearl Harbor Speech (Complete Text) The speech by American President Fanklin Roosevelt that committed the nation to World War - for a second time. The applause, the spirit of cooperation, came equally from both sides. 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. ^ Presidential Materials, September 11: Bearing Witness to History, Smithsonian Institution (2002) ("Printed copy of the Presidential address to Congress Reminiscent of Franklin D. Roosevelt's address to Congress after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor")
I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost.