Infamy Speech — December 8, 1941 speech by FDR on the bombing of Pearl Harbor
FDR's address to Congress on December 8, 1941 led to a near-unanimous declaration of war against Japan, formally entering the U.S. into World War II.
Key Facts
- Date of speech
- December 8, 1941
- Radio audience share
- Over 81% of adult American listeners
- Pearl Harbor aircraft used
- 353 Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft
- Pearl Harbor casualties
- Over 2,400 civilians and military personnel
- Forum
- Joint session of Congress
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
On December 7, 1941, Imperial Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, deploying 353 aircraft that destroyed American ships and aircraft and killed over 2,400 people. Japan simultaneously declared war on the United States and the British Empire, prompting President Roosevelt to consult his cabinet and prepare an urgent address to Congress.
On December 8, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a brief but forceful speech to a joint session of Congress, opening with the now-iconic line describing December 7 as 'a date which will live in infamy.' The address portrayed the United States as a victim of unprovoked aggression, appealing to patriotism and national unity rather than abstract idealism, and was broadcast live to the largest radio audience in American history.
Congress voted nearly unanimously to declare war on Japan, bringing the United States formally into World War II. The speech drew widespread public praise, with the White House receiving numerous supportive telegrams. Its rhetorical impact proved lasting; the phrase 'a date which will live in infamy' entered the cultural lexicon and has since been invoked in comparisons to other national tragedies such as the Kennedy assassination and the September 11 attacks.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Side B
1 belligerent