Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation: Main Idea
Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation: Main Idea
FDR's Gonna Bring the Pain to Japan's Astral Plane
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's hundreds of Japanese aircraft dropping in for a sneak-attack on America's military bases on Oahu!
Wait. What?
Sounds unbelievable, right? But that's exactly what happened on December 7th, 1941, while U.S. military personnel at Pearl Harbor were just finishing up their Sunday breakfast.
Without warning, warm, mostly-sunny Oahu found itself under attack. By the time the ambuscade was over, 2,400 Americans were dead, 188 U.S. planes were destroyed, and sixteen really big U.S. ships were damaged or destroyed.
Guess who was quite displeased about this turn of events? That's right: then-POTUS Franklin D. Roosevelt. In his presidential campaign, he'd promised to avoid sending Americans to war, since a lot of the country was still smarting from being involved in World War I. He also felt like there was enough going on at home, what with Great Depressions and bajillions of new government programs and whatnot.
Basically, the attack on Pearl Harbor was not only a huge and tragic shock, but it also threw a ginormous wrench in all of FDR's big POTUS-y plans.
This speech is FDR's reaction to Japan's attack, and it's everything a person could hope for and more in a post-unprovoked-ambush speech: it's shocked, it's angry, it's articulate, and it's got a nice vengeance-y aftertaste that really brings out its distinctly American bouquet.
It's the perfect pre-war aperitif, and FDR recommends serving it with no chill.
Questions
- Why did President Roosevelt change his stance on getting the U.S. involved in World War II? Was this a wise move?
- What was the Lend-Lease Act, and how does it play into the whole FDR-World War II-American isolationism thing that was going on?
- President Roosevelt had recently moved the American Pacific fleet from San Diego to Hawaii; what do you think might have been different about December 7, 1941 if he hadn't made that move?
- What is required for the United States to officially declare war on another nation? Like, what are the prerequisites? What's the process? How often has it happened, and why?
Chew On This
FDR should've stuck to his guns and kept America out of World War II; politicians always make campaign promises they don't keep.
FDR was right to bring the U.S. into World War II even though he'd said he wouldn't; being flexible in the face of adversity is a good quality for a leader to have.
Quotes
Quote #1
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of 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. (1)
Talk about cutting to the chase. This opening line wastes no time in letting everyone know the low-down on the situation in Hawaii.
Quote #2
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. (2)
Here we get a mini-glimpse of how flabbergasted President Roosevelt was by this whole situation. He'd been thinking "Let's make peace" while Japan had apparently been thinking "Let's do the opposite of make peace," and that had to be a bitter pill to swallow.
Quote #3
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. (5-6)
A crime of passion, maybe FDR might've been a little more understanding. But this, this clearly premeditated attack with a bunch of deception slathered over the top of it like mayonnaise? That's not cool, and FDR is prepared to unleash the fury in response.
Quote #4
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 […] 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. (18-21)
In other words: We know what you did, we're gonna get you back, and you are gonna be so sorry.
Quote #5
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. (26)
Know what tastes even sweeter than plain old revenge? Government-sanctioned revenge. And sanctioned it was, approved by every Senator and Congressman up in the joint except one.