Remembering the Day of Infamy

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Eighty three years ago today Pearl Harbor was attacked.

The next day President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a speech before Congress that was broadcast live. 

In his first draft, Roosevelt described Dec. 7th as a “a date which will live in world history.”

Then he crossed out “world history” and scribbled in: “infamy.”

It’s an incredible example of the power of language and speechwriting. 

Because of the addition of one word, history remembers that address as the “the Day of Infamy” speech.

According to a Wikipedia page dedicated to the speech: “It is one of the most famous speeches of American politics. It was broadcast live by radio and attracted the largest audience in American radio history, with over 81% of adult American listeners tuning in.” 

My father was one of the people who heard the speech live. 

At the time he was a sophomore at Columbia High School in South Orange, N.J.

Here is how he tells the story: 

On the morning of Dec 7th, a friend, Frank Baldwin, called to offer him two tickets to a concert at Frank Dailey’s Meadowbrook, a club in Cedar Grove. Gene Krupa’s orchestra was playing. Dad invited Betty Griffinger, a girl who lived across the street.

Part way through, the announcer interrupted to say: “The Empire of Japan has attacked the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands.” 

The band struck up the national anthem and everyone left.

The next day the entire student body was summoned to the auditorium. A radio was placed on stage and the students and teachers listened to Roosevelt’s address live.

The speech started at 12:30 pm and lasted just six minutes and 30 seconds. 

Advisors had urged Roosevelt to speak longer to provide the context of strains in Japanese-American relations and explain that efforts had been made to find a peaceful solution. 

Roosevelt thought a short speech would be more dramatic. He intentionally used the passive voice to emphasize America’s status as a victim.

Thirty three minutes after the speech, Congress declared war on Japan. 

Pearl Harbor would continue to play a role in my fathers life.

On the same day, twenty-two years after the attack, he proposed to my mother. 

He said he chose Dec. 7 to make it easier to remember the anniversary.

They were on their way to dinner in New York City. Dad was driving a gold colored Pontiac convertible.

He told mom that he wanted to stop off at Washington’s Rock, a landmark atop the Watchung Mountain range. 

Washington Rock had been a strategic lookout for General George Washington during the American Revolution. From this spot in  June 1777, he monitored British troop movements. 

Dad said he picked Pearl Harbor Day so he could more easily remember the anniversary.

He picked Washington Rock to recall the place.

 Life is defined by a few big moments.

It’s important to remember and mark them.

BRIEF OBSERVATIONS

AI ADVICE: I went to text a friend in the middle of the night and my phone tried to discourage me from doing that.

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