On the afternoon of December 7, 1941, a meeting between President Roosevelt and his chief adviser, Harry Hopkins, was interrupted by a telephone call from Secretary of War Henry Stimson.
Nicknamed the "Date of Infamy Speech," it is one of the most famous political speeches of the 20th century. The sound recording was made available by the National Archives of the United States. on Monday, December 8, 1941, in Washington, D.C.
It has been brightened for clarity.This speech was made by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to a Joint Session of Congress at 12:30 p.m. The featured image (detail) is courtesy of Pixabay. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now.
The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politics-we approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Text courtesy of the Library of Congress. 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 With confidence in our armed forces with the unbounding determination of our people we will gain the inevitable triumph so help us God. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. 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. 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. 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.Īs Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.īut always will our whole Nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. 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. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. YESTERDAY, Decema 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. Speaker, and Members of the Senate and House of Representatives: Though Roosevelt referred to December 7th as a “date which will live in infamy,” the speech itself is usually called the “Day of Infamy Speech,” or simply the “Infamy Speech,” or the “Pearl Harbor Speech.” Roosevelt delivered the following speech to a Joint Session of the United States Congress on December 8, 1941, one day after the Empire of Japan’s attack on the U.S.