President Franklin Roosevelt began writing his December 8th “Infamy” speech on December 7th, 1941.
Millions of people first heard the news about Pearl Harbor on the radio:
In his speech, FDR asked Congress for a declaration of war.
He began with the words: “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.”
(Here is a link to a full audio copy of the speech.)
“WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (AP) — Congress declared war against Japan today….The Senate and House had assembled together to hear President Roosevelt ask the declaration. They cheered him enthusiastically and then pushed the resolution through with not a moment’s waste of time….Roosevelt’s words to the joint session, second in a generation to hear a President ask for a declaration of war, were solemn but brief.”
— Associated Press, December 8, 1941
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Image, December 8, 1941
