LAD #36

Franklin D. Roosevelt, president during the year 1941, was shocked to hear that on December 7, Japanese fighter planes swooped down from the skies at Pearl Harbor. The planes killed 2,335 military soldiers, but they failed to destroy major targets such as the U.S. Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers. Roosevelt the next day assembled Congress and gave one of the greatest speeches of American history, one that rivaled Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Martian Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech. He starts of the speech with its famous line, "Yesterday, December 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." He explains that the United States was at peace with Japan and Japan also looked "toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific." Roosevelt also stated that the attack came one hour before the Japanese Ambassador delivered a message that revealed not threat of an attack. It was obvious, according to Roosevelt, that this attack was premeditated for many months or weeks. Ironically, during this time, the Japanese government was deceiving the United States by making it look like they were hoping for continued peace. Many Americans lost their lives at Pearl Harbor, however, Japanese forces also attacked many other islands such as Wake Island, Guam, and the Philippine Islands. Roosevelt then proclaims that we will defend this nation and "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." He does not hesitate that say that, despite the danger, "we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God." War then is declared on December 8, 1941 on Japan and three days later, the United States is in war with Italy and Germany.