Dr. Jerry Sanson
Louisiana Maneuvers and Military Museum
President Franklin Roosevelt learned early during his first term that he had a natural ability to communicate effectively with the American people using the radio waves. His first Fireside Chat on March 12, 1933, explaining his initial New Deal legislation approved by Congress, especially the National Banking Act which sought to reestablish a sound foundation under the economy, led to some depositors returning funds they had withdrawn from banks out of fear of losing it. Roosevelt effectively used radio addresses to communicate with Americans on other occasions as the need arose and honed his skills before the microphone.
He became a familiar presence in American homes in a way that no other president before him could have done. The primitive level of radio technology limited presidents who served prior to Herbert Hoover, and Hoover’s voice and personality did not lend themselves well to radio. He used radio with some effect in the 1928 presidential election campaign against Democrat Al Smith, who spoke with a heavy New York accent, but he was no match for Roosevelt during the 1932 campaign.
Roosevelt’s voice conveyed terrible news to America on December 8, 1941, after Japanese aircraft swooped down on Pearl Harbor. He asked Congress for a declaration of war and put the country on an emergency war footing. He addressed the nation again sixteen days later, this time to console and inspire Americans and to comfort them during the Christmas season. He delivered his message on Christmas Eve by radio from the White House with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill at his side. Churchill also spoke to the nation after FDR’s remarks. Roosevelt’s talk began in a typical fashion for him as he closely identified with his audience, addressing them as “Fellow workers for freedom:”
Fellow workers for freedom. There are many men and women in America, sincere and faithful men and women, who are asking themselves this Christmas; How can we light our trees? How can we give our gifts? How can we meet and worship with love and with uplifted spirit and heart in a world at war, a world of fighting and suffering and death?
How can we pause, even for a day, even for Christmas Day, in our urgent labor of arming a decent humanity against the enemies which beset it? How can we put the world aside, as men and women put the world aside in peaceful years, to rejoice in the birth of Christ? These are natural-inevitable-questions in every part of the world which is resisting the evil thing. And even as we ask these questions, we know the answer.
There is another preparation demanded of this Nation beyond and beside the preparation of weapons and materials of war. There is demanded also of us the preparation of our hearts, the arming of our hearts.
And when we make ready our hearts for the labor and the suffering and the ultimate victory which lie ahead, then we observe Christmas Day-with all of its memories and all of its meanings-as we should. Looking into the days to come I have set aside a day of prayer, and in that proclamation, I have said:
‘The year of 1941 has brought upon our Nation a war of aggression by powers dominated by arrogant rulers whose selfish purpose is to destroy free institutions. They would thereby take from the freedom-loving peoples of the earth the hard-won liberties gained over many centuries.
But our strength, as the strength of all men everywhere, is of greater avail as God upholds us.
Therefore, I . . . do hereby appoint the first day of the year 1942 as a day of prayer, of asking forgiveness for our shortcomings of the past, of consecration to the tasks of the present, of asking God’s help in days to come.
We need His guidance that this people may be humble in spirit but strong in the conviction of the right, steadfast to endure sacrifice, and brave to achieve a victory of liberty and peace.’
Our strongest weapon in this war is that conviction of the dignity and brotherhood of man which Christmas Day signifies-more than any other day or any other symbol.
Against enemies who preach the principles of hate and practice them, we set our faith in human love and in God’s care for us and all men everywhere.
It is in that spirit, and with particular thoughtfulness of those, our sons and brothers, who serve in our armed forces on land and sea, near and far-those who serve for us and endure for us that we light our Christmas candles now across the continent from one coast to the other on this Christmas Eve.
We have joined with many other Nations and peoples in a very great cause. Millions of them have been engaged in the task of defending good with their lifeblood for months and for years.
One of their great leaders stands beside me. He and his people in many parts of the world are having their Christmas trees with their little children around them, just as we do here. He and his people have pointed the way in courage and in sacrifice for the sake of little children everywhere.
And so, I am asking my associate, my old and good friend, to say a word to the people of America, old and young. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain.
We know from the archives at the Franklin Roosevelt Presidential Library at Hyde Park, New York, that his normal practice was to ask his staff for a draft script for his addresses and edit the manuscript to express his exact thoughts. We can be assured that some of the thoughts and phrases used in this address are his personal words. His 1941 Christmas Eve Message is not one of his famous speeches, but it served its purpose and provided assurance that a country still in shock from the Pearl Harbor attack needed.