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[MechDX]

Never forget that day.

Presidential Speeches Index






Franklin Roosevelt - Pearl Harbor Speech
December 8, 1941






Pearl Harbor Speech by F.D.R.

To the Congress of the United States

Yesterday, Dec. 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.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or 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. 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.

This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday 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.

Always will we 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 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 very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

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, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.


Franklin Roosevelt

I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

--Isoroku Yamamoto

Its Wikipedia but cool insight on that famous quote:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isoroku_Yamamoto's_sleeping_giant_quote

Yamamoto believed that Japan could not win a protracted war with the United States, and moreover seems to have believed that the Pearl Harbor attack had become a blunder — even though he was the person who came up with the idea of a surprise attack. The Reluctant Admiral relates that "Yamamoto alone" (while all his staff members were celebrating) spent the day after Pearl Harbor "sunk in apparent depression." He is also known to have been upset by the bungling of the Foreign Ministry which led to the attack happening while the countries were technically at peace, thus making the incident an unprovoked sneak attack that would certainly enrage the enemy.[2]

The line serves as a dramatic ending to the attack, and may well have encapsulated some of his real feelings about it, but it has yet to be verified. After the war, a similar rumor disseminated among Occupation insiders that upon learning the attack had been a success, Admiral Yamamoto had said to those around him, "Gentlemen, we have just kicked a rabid dog." This would have been a tactical metaphor and not intended as an insult, since he was generally fond of America and Americans.

The other common quotation attributed to Yamamoto predicting the future outcome of a naval war against the United States is: "I can run wild for six months … after that, I have no expectation of success". [3] As it happened, the Battle of Midway, the critical naval battle considered to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific, indeed did occur six months after Pearl Harbor (Midway ended on June 7th, exactly 6 months later).

 

[sixteen-bit]

A day which will live in infamy.

 

[MightyKAC]

Yeah, today and August 6th were always pretty awkward days here in Japan.

 

[CHEEZMO™]

 

[Dreams-Visions]

pretty fascinating moment in our history.

and geez, with all the controversy surrounding these random Yamamoto quotes, it seems they shouldn't be included at all. We have no documentation to prove that he said any of them, so I guess we only accept them at this point because it makes us feel good to do so. That's not good enough for historical record unless an asterisk is going to accompany it everywhere.

 

[ahoyhoy]

Never forget OH GOD LET ME FORGET:

 

[VeryGooster]

I really want to visit the site one of these days.

The best thing to come out of that movie is this quote from Roger Ebert:

"Pearl Harbor" is a two-hour movie squeezed into three hours, about how on Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese staged a surprise attack on an American love triangle.

 

[Marleyman]

Having my birthday on this day always gave way to stories from my elders about Pearl Harbor. I didn't realize however that we were at peace with Japan at the time.

 

[MechDX]

pretty fascinating moment in our history.

and geez, with all the controversy surrounding these random Yamamoto quotes, it seems they shouldn't be included at all. We have no documentation to prove that he said any of them, so I guess we only accept them at this point because it makes us feel good to do so. That's not good enough for historical record unless an asterisk is going to accompany it everywhere.

I believe there has to be some truth that he said something to that effect. Even Hitler stated he didnt want a war with the United States because he knew that our industrial power would come into play.

 

[MechDX]

Having my birthday on this day always gave way to stories from my elders about Pearl Harbor. I didn't realize however that we were at peace with Japan at the time.

Of the factual stories used in Bay's movie was the peace medals given to the U.S. right before the attack. And if I remember correctly they were attached to the bomb's Doolittle's Raiders dropped on Japan.

 

[JetBlackPanda]

I always try and eat at a Japanese place for lunch today, when you think about where we are today and where we were in 1941 its kind of amazing.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Having my birthday on this day always gave way to stories from my elders about Pearl Harbor. I didn't realize however that we were at peace with Japan at the time.

"peace" isn't a very good description of the relationship at the time. more like "tense" and "powder keg". but in the sense of bullets flying, I guess you could say we were at peace. the Japanese oil and expansion demands coupled with the subsequent oil and trade embargo changed that.

I believe there has to be some truth that he said something to that effect. Even Hitler stated he didnt want a war with the United States because he knew that our industrial power would come into play.

I prefer facts in my bowl of History soup, not conjecture. For all we know, he said nothing of the sort and word of mouth passed it along until it became the grand story it is today.

 

[MechDX]

"peace" isn't a very good description of the relationship at the time. more like "tense" and "powder keg". but in the sense of bullets flying, I guess you could say we were at peace. the Japanese oil and expansion demands coupled with the subsequent oil and trade embargo changed that.



I prefer facts in my bowl of History soup, not conjecture. For all we know, he said nothing of the sort and word of mouth passed it along until it became the grand story it is today.

"History is written by the victors"-- someone

 

[ChiTownBuffalo]

Yeah, today and August 6th were always pretty awkward days here in Japan.

I'm curious, how is EO9066/Japanese-American Internment covered in Japan?

Tokyo Rose used to run this Japanese grocery near me. I was actually surprised to learn my hood used to be the old Chicago J-town.

 

[2th]

 

[CHEEZMO™]

"History is written by the victors"-- someone

I believe that quote is from Modern Warfare 2.

 

[The Albatross]

A day which will live in infamy.

First post nailed it

 

[MechDX]

I believe that quote is from Modern Warfare 2.

Actually it was Churchill

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/history_is_written_by_the_victors/150112.html

Slightly ahead of Infinity Ward.

 

[CHEEZMO™]

Actually it was Churchill

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/history_is_written_by_the_victors/150112.html

Actually, I was joking.

 

[JetBlackPanda]

Actually, I was joking.

Actually, I was joking -Cheezmo

really though. Dec 7th changed history.

 

[The Albatross]

"History is written by the victors"-- someone

Yeah because the United States was soo victorious on December 7, 1941...

 

[MechDX]

Yeah because the United States was soo victorious on December 7, 1941...

Sarcasm? I really hope so.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Yeah because the United States was soo victorious on December 7, 1941...

lol

 

[CHEEZMO™]

Aerial view of the initial blows struck against American ships, as seen from a Japanese plane over Pearl Harbor.

 

[Hydrogen Bluebird]

Being from the Philippines, the Pearl Harbor attacks have always been a part of our history books.

Never Forget.

 

[The Albatross]

Sarcasm? I really hope so.

Actually not sarcasm. Saying, "history is written by the victors," implying that Pearl Harbor didn't happen or didn't happen the way that every respected historian on earth has thought that it did is so stupid. Pearl Harbor was pretty well understood in 1942, before the United States, or the Allies, had come close to winning World War II, and it is as near to unanimously understood as any historical event can be today.

Churchill is well known for having brilliant, pithy quotes, and this one is no different, but it's misused by every ignoramus who wants to undermine historians.

If the contemporary, historically accurate view of Pearl Harbor is some biased manifestation of the "victors," then please, enlighten us, what actually happened on December 7th?

 

[Meus Renaissance]

A before and after

 

[Kabouter]

I always liked this quote by the Japanese foreign minister's aide who was present at the signing of the official surrender:

I saw many thousands of sailors everywhere on this huge vessel, and just in front of us were delegates of the victorious powers in their military uniforms, glittering with gold. Looking at them I wondered how Japan ever thought she could defeat all those nations

It seems like such an obvious truth in retrospect, yet one undoubtedly not so obvious to a nation at war for so long, and under the influence of militarists for longer still.

 

[The Albatross]

There's ample historical evidence that many sound-thinking Japanese officials and military leaders were completely against attacking the United States, knowing that any prolonged war with the United States was ultimately impossible to win. A lot of NPR shows this week have had excellent interviews analyzing this.

It's one of history's great questions.

 

[DangerStepp]

I always liked this quote by the Japanese foreign minister's aide at the signing of the official surrender:

It seems like such an obvious truth in retrospect, yet one undoubtedly not so obvious to a nation at war for so long, and under the influence of militarists for longer still.

Wow. Humbling words.

I still find it weird how our generation has the equivalent of the Pearl Harbor attacks.

 

[JetBlackPanda]

Fatman and Little Boy was not a "response" to Pearl Harbor. We had been at war with Japan for 4 years and the horrors of that conflict is what dictated its end.

edit: not to mention the coming arms race and the cold war but that is a different story all together.

 

[way more]

There's ample historical evidence that many sound-thinking Japanese officials and military leaders were completely against attacking the United States, knowing that any prolonged war with the United States was ultimately impossible to win. A lot of NPR shows this week have had excellent interviews analyzing this.

It's one of history's great questions.

I caught some of that and it's a perfect way to explain the difference between tactics and strategy. As they said on the show, the execution was tactical brilliance but it was the greatest strategic blunder of the century.

 

[UnluckyKate]

A before and after

Adapted respond with chirurgical strike.

 

[zomaha]

Wow. Humbling words.

I still find it weird how our generation has the equivalent of the Pearl Harbor attacks.

Not necessarily. It's not like we were attacked by a single nation that we can go out and defeat and have sign a peace treaty.

 

[JetBlackPanda]

 

[Jokergrin]

 

[Dreams-Visions]

A before and after

damn.

 

[DangerStepp]

Not necessarily. It's not like we were attacked by a single nation that we can go out and defeat and have sign a peace treaty.

Right, but I was referring to the attack itself in terms of utter surprise and devastation.

 

[The Albatross]

I caught some of that and it's a perfect way to explain the difference between tactics and strategy. As they said on the show, the execution was tactical brilliance but it was the greatest strategic blunder of the century.

Aye, aye, as tragic as it all is, it's a great military paradox.

 

[ChiTownBuffalo]

Right, but I was referring to the attack itself in terms of utter surprise and devastation.

And this time, we're not locking up the people we've demonized as a result of the attacks. Well, not like, all of them.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

A before and after

Yes, the exact next action the US did was use a nuclear bomb. The next day they did it only in response to pearl harbor... You could try a little harder not to troll for once.

 

[Clydefrog]

Wow, that's Pyramid Rock on the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base! My favorite beach on the windward side. You have to drive across the runway to reach the beach; that runway was the first attacked before the planes flew over the mountains to Pearl Harbor.

I took nearly a similar picture The beach today:

The runway:

 

[Salmonax]

If the contemporary, historically accurate view of Pearl Harbor is some biased manifestation of the "victors," then please, enlighten us, what actually happened on December 7th?

I think they were referring to the unsubstantiated Yamamoto quote.

 

[MechDX]

Actually not sarcasm. Saying, "history is written by the victors," implying that Pearl Harbor didn't happen or didn't happen the way that every respected historian on earth has thought that it did is so stupid. Pearl Harbor was pretty well understood in 1942, before the United States, or the Allies, had come close to winning World War II, and it is as near to unanimously understood as any historical event can be today.

Churchill is well known for having brilliant, pithy quotes, and this one is no different, but it's misused by every ignoramus who wants to undermine historians.

If the contemporary, historically accurate view of Pearl Harbor is some biased manifestation of the "victors," then please, enlighten us, what actually happened on December 7th?

Um....I was referring to the Yamamoto quote and if it was an actual quote. I have no idea where you got the idea I was questioning if the attack on Pearl harbor ever happened. And also I am not one of those conspiracy nuts who think FDR knew about the attack and purposely let it happen.

 

[ocadman]

Visited Hawaii for the first time a couple weeks ago. It was really crazy to see the USS Arizona with oil still leaking from the ship. I found it really awesome though the Arizona survivors wanted to be buried along with their crewmates.

 

[MetatronM]

Actually not sarcasm. Saying, "history is written by the victors," implying that Pearl Harbor didn't happen or didn't happen the way that every respected historian on earth has thought that it did is so stupid. Pearl Harbor was pretty well understood in 1942, before the United States, or the Allies, had come close to winning World War II, and it is as near to unanimously understood as any historical event can be today.

Churchill is well known for having brilliant, pithy quotes, and this one is no different, but it's misused by every ignoramus who wants to undermine historians.

If the contemporary, historically accurate view of Pearl Harbor is some biased manifestation of the "victors," then please, enlighten us, what actually happened on December 7th?

Huh? Even ignoring that that poster's comment was clearly about speculation of the Axis leaders' states of mind prior to Pearl Harbor, "history is written by the victors" with regards to Pearl Harbor is the reason why it is taught today as this:

"On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes launched a cowardly and unprovoked surprise attack on American citizens on American soil that resulted in America's entry into World War II in the Pacific and, ultimately, the defeat of the Empire of Japan."

and not this:

"On December 7, 1941, several brave Japanese pilots launched a bold preemptive assault on a critical American military installation in an attempt to save lives, protect Japanese national security interests in Eastern and Southern Asia, and prevent war from engulfing the Pacific."


Is there really some vast network of Pearl Harbor deniers out there or something?

 

[PhoenixDark]

 

[MechDX]

Visited Hawaii for the first time a couple weeks ago. It was really crazy to see the USS Arizona with oil still leaking from the ship. I found it really awesome though the Arizona survivors wanted to be buried along with their crewmates.

Saw it about 15 years ago and the trip on the boat over to the memorial brought tears to my eyes. Listening to the stories from the survivors is heart wrenching.

 

[nitewulf]

Tora Tora Tora is a very good movie:

 

[Veidt]

Response: