The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island. Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. To the right, in uniform in front of Rayburn, is Roosevelt’s son James, who escorted his father to the Capitol. Behind him are Vice President Henry Wallace (left) and Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivers his “Day of Infamy” speech to Congress on December 8, 1941. 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. Franklin Roosevelt would go on to lead the United States through the next several years of the war.

The address to the Congress is still considered one of the most famous American speeches made during the 20 th century. Congress, the President’s speech was a precursor to the formal congressional declaration of war against Japan within an hour of the speech. Delivered at 12:30 PM EST on December 8 th to a Joint Session of the U.S. Roosevelt’s speech or address to the United States Congress on December 8 th, 1941 after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor has become known as the Day of Infamy Speech.

Day of infamy speech central idea