Franklin D. Roosevelt responded to Pearl Harbor most famously in his “Day of Infamy” speech to Congress on December 8, 1941, the day after the attack. In that address, he condemned the surprise assault, described it as a deliberately planned act of aggression by Japan, and called on Congress to recognize that a state of war existed between the two nations.
Main message
Roosevelt characterized December 7, 1941, as a moment that Americans would remember for its shocking and treacherous nature, stressing that the United States had been at peace and in diplomatic talks with Japan when the attack occurred. He emphasized that Japanese forces had launched coordinated strikes not only on Pearl Harbor but also on other U.S. and Allied territories across the Pacific, underscoring the scope and planning of the offensive.
Purpose of his words
In the speech, FDR’s goals were to explain the gravity of the attack, unify the public, and justify entering World War II. He expressed confidence that, no matter how long it took, the American people, backed by their armed forces, would fight through to complete victory and ensure such aggression could not endanger the United States again.
