A Date Which Will Live In Infamy
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. 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 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.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Address to the United States Congress, December 8, 1941
The audio-only of the speech can be heard here.
By martian, Friday, 7 December , 2007 @ 9:59 am
If Americans had reacted to this heinous attack as the Democrats have talked so many people into reacting to the aftermath of 911, we’d all be speaking either German or Japanese right now (depending on which side of the continent you lived on).
By Sylvia, Friday, 7 December , 2007 @ 12:41 pm
It was my mom’s fifth birthday party and the little girls had been dancing to a song on the radio when the announcement came over the airwaves. An intense time, but Americans rallied together. Thank you, Gaius, for posting the speech.
By TimF, Friday, 7 December , 2007 @ 4:42 pm
This fireside chat from Dec. 9th, 1941 is pretty good too: http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/120941.html
As Orrin Judd of Brothersjudd has pointed out, the conventional wisdom that Hitler was a fool to declare war on the US is incomplete. With this speech, FDR successfully goaded him into it knowing that Germany was the greater danger, but that the American public wouldn’t support a declaration of war without some instigating factor.
By LYNNDH, Friday, 7 December , 2007 @ 4:50 pm
My Dad was onboard the USS Tangier, tied to the Utah. He saw everything from his battle-station up high topside in the radio antennas. He passed away this past March at age 89. There were time then and later in the war that he never imagine reaching age 89.