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FDR Asks Congress to Declare War on Japan (7:47)

On the day after the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt tells a joint session of Congress that the United States must take up arms in response.

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Speeches & Audio (29)

  • FDR Asks Congress to Declare War on Japan
    FDR Asks Congress to Declare War on Japan

    Audio Clip (7:47)

    On the day after the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt tells a joint session of Congress that the United States must take up arms in response.

    Audio Clip (7:47)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Delivers D-Day Prayer
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Delivers D-Day Prayer

    Audio Clip (3:37)

    In a national radio broadcast on June 6, 1944, as 160,000 Allied troops land in Normandy in an attempt to liberate France, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asks America to join him in a prayer.

    Audio Clip (3:37)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address

    Audio Clip (3:39)

    On March 3, 1933, the newly elected president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, promises a country battered by the Great Depression a renewed prosperity, setting forth plans to put the government to work.

    Audio Clip (3:39)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's Second Inaugural Address
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's Second Inaugural Address

    Audio Clip (2:01)

    In contrast to the grim economic landscape in 1933 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt took office, his second term begins with a brighter outlook. In his January 20, 1937, inaugural address, Roosevelt commends Americans for their hard work over the past four years, but cautions that they must continue their efforts.

    Audio Clip (2:01)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's Third Inaugural Address
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's Third Inaugural Address

    Audio Clip (1:39)

    The only U.S. president ever elected to a third term, Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his third inaugural address on January 20, 1941. His remarks stress America’s obligation to take action during the international crisis.

    Audio Clip (1:39)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Accepts Fourth Term Nomination
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Accepts Fourth Term Nomination

    Audio Clip (2:08)

    Broadcast from a Pacific coast naval base to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on July 20, 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt accepts his party’s nomination for an unprecedented fourth presidential bid and speaks about postwar preparations now that victory is close at hand.

    Audio Clip (2:08)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's Fourth Inaugural Address
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's Fourth Inaugural Address

    Audio Clip (6:22)

    With the country at war at the start of his unprecedented fourth term as president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers a short and somber inaugural address at a simple ceremony without a parade or ball on January 20, 1945.

    Audio Clip (6:22)
  • FDR's Fireside Chat on the Drought and the Dust Bowl
    FDR's Fireside Chat on the Drought and the Dust Bowl

    Audio Clip (2:46)

    On September 6, 1936, in one of his famous fireside chat radio broadcasts, President Franklin Roosevelt describes the conditions he observed firsthand on a tour of the many states devastated by drought.

    Audio Clip (2:46)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt on New Deal Programs
    Franklin D. Roosevelt on New Deal Programs

    Audio Clip (2:25)

    In his April 28, 1935, fireside chat radio broadcast, President Franklin D. Roosevelt praises the newly adopted Works Relief Program and discusses the new Social Security Act recently introduced in Congress.

    Audio Clip (2:25)
  • Report on the Tehran Conference
    Report on the Tehran Conference

    Audio Clip (1:55)

    Reporting from Moscow, NBC News covers the November 28, 1943, meeting in Tehran, Iran, between the leaders of the three major Allied powers: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin. The "Big Three" met to discuss war strategy, including the opening of a western front in Europe.

    Audio Clip (1:55)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Reports on Teheran and Cairo Conferences
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Reports on Teheran and Cairo Conferences

    Audio Clip (2:36)

    Following the 1943 Big Four meetings in Teheran and Cairo, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers a Christmas Eve broadcast promising the nation that they can look forward to peace, though at a high cost.

    Audio Clip (2:36)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Moscow Conference
    Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Moscow Conference

    Audio Clip (1:15)

    Watch the speech given by Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Moscow Conference during World War II.

    Audio Clip (1:15)
  • Franklin Roosevelt Returns From Yalta
    Franklin Roosevelt Returns From Yalta

    Audio Clip (3:41)

    In February 1945, "Big Three" leaders, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, met at Yalta to discuss the reorganization of post-war Europe. In an address to Congress on March 1, 1945, President Roosevelt reports the achievements of the gathering.

    Audio Clip (3:41)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt on the Liberation of Rome
    Franklin D. Roosevelt on the Liberation of Rome

    Audio Clip (1:51)

    In a broadcast to the nation, on June 5, 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt tells Americans that, with the fall of Rome, the first of the Axis capitals "is now in our hands."

    Audio Clip (1:51)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's War Progress Report
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's War Progress Report

    Audio Clip (0:57)

    In his progress report on World War II on July 28, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt informs the nation that "the first crack in the Axis has come" as Italian Premier Mussolini falls from power.

    Audio Clip (0:57)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt on American Progress in World War II
    Franklin D. Roosevelt on American Progress in World War II

    Audio Clip (1:00)

    With the United States now entered into World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt uses the occasion of Washington’s birthday to broadcast to the nation on February 23, 1942, an outline of America’s progress in the war.

    Audio Clip (1:00)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Makes Statement of Neutrality
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Makes Statement of Neutrality

    Audio Clip (3:04)

    Following Great Britain's declaration of war with Germany on September 3, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers a nationwide broadcast later that day to affirm America's neutrality.

    Audio Clip (3:04)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Establishes United States as Arsenal of Democracy
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Establishes United States as Arsenal of Democracy

    Audio Clip (1:08)

    President Franklin D. Roosevelt heralds the defense program of the United States and urges Americans to support an increase in aid to Great Britain to help defeat the Axis powers.

    Audio Clip (1:08)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Stab in the Back" Speech
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Stab in the Back" Speech

    Audio Clip (3:07)

    On June 10, 1940, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt prepares to deliver the commencement address at the University of Virginia where his son is graduating with a law degree, Italy declares war on France and Great Britain. Rather than deliver his prepared speech, Roosevelt instead expresses his opposition to Mussolini's move and calls on America to end its isolationism.

    Audio Clip (3:07)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Encourages Greek Resistance
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Encourages Greek Resistance

    Audio Clip (1:37)

    On June 10, 1943, the United States transferred a 173-foot anti-submarine patrol ship named King George II to Greece to aid in their resistance efforts. At the ceremony, President Franklin D. Roosevelt expresses hope that Greece will soon be liberated from the control of Axis powers.

    Audio Clip (1:37)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's Fourth of July Address
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's Fourth of July Address

    Audio Clip (2:07)

    In a broadcast from his home in Hyde Park, New York, on July 4, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt warns Americans who wish not to get involved in the war that "the United States will never survive as a happy and fertile oasis of liberty surrounded by a cruel desert of dictatorship."

    Audio Clip (2:07)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt on Financing the War
    Franklin D. Roosevelt on Financing the War

    Audio Clip (2:41)

    In his fireside chat radio broadcast on April 28, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt presents his seven-point economic stabilization plan to deal with the country’s unprecedented wartime spending.

    Audio Clip (2:41)
  • Franklin Roosevelt Praises the Boy Scouts
    Franklin Roosevelt Praises the Boy Scouts

    Audio Clip (1:30)

    In 1941, on the 31st anniversary of the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America, President Roosevelt addresses the organization.

    Audio Clip (1:30)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 Labor Day Speech
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 Labor Day Speech

    Audio Clip (1:37)

    In his Labor Day radio broadcast in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt reminds his fellow citizens of the need to devote America’s industrial effort to building weaponry in order to "crush Hitler and his Nazi forces."

    Audio Clip (1:37)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's Labor Day Address 1942
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's Labor Day Address 1942

    Audio Clip (1:23)

    In an address to the nation on Labor Day 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt summarizes an earlier meeting with Congress in which he urged cooperation to pass his seven-point economic plan to fight inflation, which was presented to both houses on April 28.

    Audio Clip (1:23)
  • Franklin Roosevelt Rededicates the Statue of Liberty
    Franklin Roosevelt Rededicates the Statue of Liberty

    Audio Clip (1:23)

    On October 28, 1936, the statue's 50th anniversary, President Franklin Roosevelt delivers a speech during a re-dedication ceremony.

    Audio Clip (1:23)
  • Franklin Roosevelt Dedicates Museum of Modern Art
    Franklin Roosevelt Dedicates Museum of Modern Art

    Audio Clip (1:48)

    On May 10, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers a dedication speech for New York's Museum of Modern Art as the new establishment opens its doors.

    Audio Clip (1:48)
  • FDR Dedicates Will Rogers Memorial
    FDR Dedicates Will Rogers Memorial

    Audio Clip (1:37)

    In August 1935, American humorist Will Rogers was killed in an airplane accident near Point Barrow, Alaska. In a radio broadcast on November 4, 1938, from Hyde Park, New York, President Franklin Roosevelt pays homage to Rogers and dedicates a memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma.

    Audio Clip (1:37)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Handles Banking Crisis
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Handles Banking Crisis

    Audio Clip (0:55)

    On March 6, 1933, newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders the temporary closing of all banks in an effort to stem a financial crisis. On March 12, Roosevelt delivers his first fireside chat radio broadcast to assure the American people that their savings are safe.

    Audio Clip (0:55)

Videos (23)

  • FDR: A Voice of Hope
    FDR: A Voice of Hope

    Video Clip (4:06)

    Elected in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was a reassuring presence for many Americans through the trials of the Great Depression.

    Video Clip (4:06)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal

    Video Clip (1:54)

    How did President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal get the American economy back on track, and which components still have a major impact on today's society?

    Video Clip (1:54)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Creates Social Security
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Creates Social Security

    Video Clip (1:38)

    Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act as part of his New Deal efforts to rescue flailing Americans from the devastating effects of the Depression.

    Video Clip (1:38)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's Personal Strength
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's Personal Strength

    Video Clip (3:21)

    How did Franklin D. Roosevelt's flexibility and charisma help him tackle the challenges of his presidency?

    Video Clip (3:21)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's Last Presidential Term
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's Last Presidential Term

    Video Clip (1:54)

    Franklin D. Roosevelt's capable handling of two major crises--the depression and WWII-- earned him a legacy as one of the greatest U.S. multi-term presidents.

    Video Clip (1:54)
  • Inaugural Address: Franklin D. Roosevelt
    Inaugural Address: Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Video Clip (2:32)

    Excerpts from Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inaugural address on Saturday, March 4, 1933.

    Video Clip (2:32)
  • Tennessee Valley Authority - Nature's Power Harnessed
    Tennessee Valley Authority - Nature's Power Harnessed

    Video Clip (3:00)

    In the early 1930's, few people had greater reasons to be angry with mother nature than the residents of Tennessee River Valley. Every spring brought on an onslaught of rain which totaled six feet each year. In a Modern Marvels video, discover how the valleys power was tamed and harnessed.

    Video Clip (3:00)
  • Black Blizzard
    Black Blizzard

    Video Clip (2:56)

    On May 9th, 1934 a giant storm rose up out of the great plains. A menacing wall of soil and dust headed east across the land, thick enough to block out the sun.

    Video Clip (2:56)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Denies Communist Agenda
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Denies Communist Agenda

    Video Clip (1:35)

    Find out how Franklin D. Roosevelt responded to being called a communist by his detractors during his 1936 presidential campaign.

    Video Clip (1:35)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt: The World War II Years
    Franklin D. Roosevelt: The World War II Years

    Video Clip (3:50)

    Examine President Franklin D. Roosevelt's role in World War II. Find out how he led the United States from isolationism to victory.

    Video Clip (3:50)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt and Pearl Harbor
    Franklin D. Roosevelt and Pearl Harbor

    Video Clip (2:20)

    Take a look at the events leading to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which prompted President Roosevelt to declare war on the Japanese and enter World War II.

    Video Clip (2:20)
  • Japanese Internment in America
    Japanese Internment in America

    Video Clip (2:47)

    In 1942, thousands of Japanese Americans living in the United States are forced into war relocation camps.

    Video Clip (2:47)
  • D-Day
    D-Day

    Video Clip (1:42)

    On June 6, 1944, the Allies invade Western Europe in the largest amphibious attack in history.

    Video Clip (1:42)
  • Winston Churchill
    Winston Churchill

    Video Clip (2:24)

    The British Bulldog inspired his countrymen in their fight against Adolf Hitler and helped lead the Allies to victory during World War II.

    Video Clip (2:24)
  • Attack on Pearl Harbor
    Attack on Pearl Harbor

    Video Clip (1:49)

    On December 7, 1941, Japan launches a surprise attack on American soil at Pearl Harbor.

    Video Clip (1:49)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Fireside Chat
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Fireside Chat

    Video Clip
  • FDR Meets Churchill in Quebec
    FDR Meets Churchill in Quebec

    Video Clip (1:21)

    At a famous meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Quebec, Canada, the men discuss United Nations issues and plans that will bring peace to the East.

    Video Clip (1:21)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Warns of Difficult War
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Warns of Difficult War

    Video Clip (0:57)

    Watch as Franklin D. Roosevelt declares war on Japan in the wake of Pearl Harbor and warns the American public to steel themselves for the difficulties that lie ahead.

    Video Clip (0:57)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's Second Presidential Term
    Franklin D. Roosevelt's Second Presidential Term

    Video Clip (1:31)

    After Franklin D. Roosevelt was reelected in one of the greatest landslides in American history, he had a surprisingly shaky second term.

    Video Clip (1:31)
  • Attempt to Kill Franklin Roosevelt
    Attempt to Kill Franklin Roosevelt

    Video Clip (2:43)

    In 1933, Italian immigrant Giuseppe Zangara attempted to assassinate President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

    Video Clip (2:43)
  • The Ballad of Roosevelt
    The Ballad of Roosevelt

    Video Clip (2:14)

    Danny Glover performs a Langston Hughes poem inspired by unfulfilled promises to the poor.

    Video Clip (2:14)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Reports to the New American Congress
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Reports to the New American Congress

    Video Clip (1:52)

    The new American Congress, chosen by the people during Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration, gathered at the Capitol to hear his inspiring message of courage and hope.

    Video Clip (1:52)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Moscow Conference
    Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Moscow Conference

    Video Clip (1:15)

    Watch the speech given by Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Moscow Conference during World War II.

    Video Clip (1:15)

Photo Galleries (7)

  • Franklin D. Roosevelt
    Franklin D. Roosevelt

    20 Photos

    See pictures from the life and presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

    (20 Photos)
  • New Deal Programs
    New Deal Programs

    14 Photos

    In the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt launched an ambitious series of social programs and legislation known as the "New Deal," designed to lift the United States out of the economic downturn of the Great Depression.

    (14 Photos)
  • Soup Kitchens and Bread Lines
    Soup Kitchens and Bread Lines

    10 Photos

    As the United States slipped into the economic turmoil of the Great Depression, millions of Americans turned to soup kitchens and bread lines for their daily survival.

    (10 Photos)
  • The Dust Bowl
    The Dust Bowl

    13 Photos

    In the 1930s, agricultural damage coupled with drought and windstorms, resulted in severe storms and destruction in the region that became known as the Dust Bowl.

    (13 Photos)
  • World War II Political Leaders
    World War II Political Leaders

    9 Photos

    View photos of World War II political leaders.

    (9 Photos)
  • World War II Posters
    World War II Posters

    16 Photos

    View photos of famous posters from the World War II era.

    (16 Photos)
  • End of World War II
    End of World War II

    8 Photos

    View pictures from VE day and VJ day as Americans celebrate the end of World War II.

    (8 Photos)

Interactives (1)

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Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd U.S. president (1933-1945), led the nation through both the Great Depression and World War II.

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