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Primary sourceSpeech8 December 1941

Day of Infamy Speech

Franklin Delano Roosevelt · 8 December 1941

FDR's December 8, 1941 address to Congress asking for a declaration of war against Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

FDR personally composed and delivered this speech, using it to bring the United States into World War II.

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Typed page titled 'TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:' containing the opening paragraphs of the address beginning 'Yesterday, December 7, 1941', with handwritten edits and marks in pencil or ink on the page.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, 'Day of Infamy' speech draft, December 8, 1941. U.S. National Archives.

About this source

What it is

This is the speech President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered to a joint session of Congress on December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. National Archives holds the typed draft, which shows Roosevelt's own handwritten edits, including his change of the opening line to call December 7 'a date which will live in infamy.'

Why it matters

The attack killed and wounded thousands of Americans and shocked the nation. Roosevelt dictated the speech himself rather than accepting a longer draft proposed by Secretary of State Cordell Hull, choosing a short, direct appeal. Congress responded almost unanimously by declaring war, and the United States entered World War II that same day.

Look closer

  • Why do you think Roosevelt changed 'world history' to 'infamy' in the opening line?
  • What can the handwritten edits on the draft tell you about how speeches are made?
  • Why might Roosevelt have chosen a short, simple speech instead of a long explanation?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Franklin D. Roosevelt on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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