(18) 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. (16) 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. (15) 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. (14) As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. (13) 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. (12) The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. (11) Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.Īnd this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. (10) Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. (9) In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. (8) I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. (7) The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Full Text: for those of you that cant Mister Vice President, Mister Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives: Yesterday, Decem- 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. (6) 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) 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. (4) 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. (3) 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. (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. "The 'reading copy,' typed triple-spaced and in a loose-leaf binder, has not been seen since James Roosevelt brought it back to the White House after the speech on December 8, 1941, and placed it atop a coat rack," notes the National Archives in a postscript to their original story.(1) 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.
The copy Roosevelt used for delivering the speech to Congress was misplaced and remains a missing document.The length of the speech was about six minutes and was broadcast on radio nationwide with more than 80 percent of households tuning in.On the marked-up version, Hopkins wrote "Deity" and under that, notes which ultimately became: " With confidence in our armed forces- with the unbounding determination of our people- we will gain the inevitable triumph- so help us God." His aide Harry Hopkins added one revision that led to the second most-quoted line of the speech.This speech was created in under 24 hours, largely by FDR, on one of busiest, most tension-filled days of his presidency. Usually, the process for writing and revising his speeches took from three to ten days.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. While he worked with speechwriters routinely, Roosevelt mostly wrote this speech himself, dictating it to his secretary, Grace Tully. 7, 1941 listen to full Audio version of speech.Before the revision, "a date which will live in infamy" was the less memorable, less emotional "a date which will live in world history.".Some of our favorite details from their story include: National Archives provides a fascinating and thorough account of how the speech came to be written and revised, as well as images of the typed first draft with edits handwritten by Roosevelt. The first draft, with FDR's handwritten edits.