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Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his “Day of Infamy” speech—which called for the United States to declare war on Japan after the attacks on Pearl Harbor—before a Joint Session of the United States Congress on December 8, 1941. Born in 1882 in Hyde Park, NY, Roosevelt, often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and the United States’ longest-serving president. The New York Democrat served four terms in office, beginning in 1933 and continuing until his death in 1945. During that time, he became well-known for his use of the new medium of radio to communicate with the public and generate support for domestic and foreign policies. FDR delivered his “Day of Infamy” speech to Congress via the national radio networks one day after Japanese fighter pilots’ surprise attack on the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, on Oahu, Hawaii, destroyed much of the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet. The speech characterizes the Japanese attack as an unprovoked and underhanded assault, invoking themes of Patriotism and National Identity and framing the War as a Fight Between Good and Evil. Within hours, Congress voted to declare war on Japan. This began the United States’ direct involvement in World War II (WWII).
Note on Citations: This study guide uses the transcript of FDR’s speech available through the US National Archives. This transcript does not include page numbers, so this guide will use paragraph numbers to cite direct quotes.
FDR opens his speech by formally acknowledging the governmental officials he is addressing in the Joint Session of Congress, including Vice President Henry Wallace, Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, and members of the Senate and House of Representatives. While he does not mention the listening public, the speech was also broadcast across the nation over the major radio networks.
After addressing his audience, FDR introduces his chief topic—the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Instead of emphasizing details of the destruction wrought the previous day, FDR highlights Japan’s duplicity and the US’s innocence. He frames the attack on Pearl Harbor as not merely destructive, but also outrageous and shameful, declaring that December 7 will remain “a date which will live in infamy” (Paragraph 1).
FDR proceeds to describe the state of relations between the US and Japan just before the attack. His assertions that the US was “at peace with” Japan, and “at the solicitation of Japan” engaged in negotiations “toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific” position the attack as an unprovoked assault by an untrustworthy enemy (Paragraph 2), in contrast with the US, which he portrays as sincerely invested in maintaining peaceful relations.
FDR goes on to emphasize the great distance between Hawaii and Japan. Because the Japanese fighter pilots had to travel so far, it is obvious that the attack on Pearl Harbor “was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago,” despite ongoing peace negotiations between the US and Japan (Paragraph 3). FDR castigates the Japanese government for deceiving the US through diplomatic assurances of its peaceful intentions.
FDR then goes on to provide a brief summary of the damage done in the Japanese attack, noting with regret that a very large number of American lives have been lost. He also notes that, on the same night, Japanese forces launched surprise attacks across the pacific region—in Malaya (present-day Malaysia), Hong Kong, the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, and Midway Island.
Instead of issuing new words of condemnation, he then asserts that “the facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves” (Paragraph 6). Presuming that others will agree with his own assessment of those events, he further asserts that “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” (Paragraph 6).
Having presented the problem—Japan’s attacks on the US and its allied territories in the Pacific—FDR outlines his solution: military action. He notes that he has already acted in his capacity as commander in chief of the armed forces to direct defensive measures. He asserts his confidence that the US will prevail in the coming conflict. After characterizing the US as the victim of Japan’s “treachery,” FDR concludes his speech by asserting the nation’s moral and military strength.
Finally, FDR finishes with a direct for Congress to officially declare war on Japan. In keeping with the narrative of Japanese aggression constructed throughout the speech, FDR ask Congress to make this declaration retroactively, to “declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan […] a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire” (Paragraph 12).