No. 2 Franklin Roosevelt 1941
On Dec. 7, 1941, over 350 Japanese attack planes launched from six aircraft carriers descended on the Hawaiian island of Oahu on a sleepy Sunday morning. The attackers achieved complete surprise, flying over unsuspecting civilians before dropping their bombs and torpedoes on U.S. ships and installations at the Pearl Harbor naval base. All told, eight ships, including five battleships, were sunk. Over 2,300 sailors were killed, including 1,177 alone on the USS Arizona. Frustrated by the US embargo and wishing to gain a freehand in Southeast Asia to obtain oil and other natural resources, Japan had calculated that such an attack would destroy the US Pacific Fleet and buy enough time to win complete control of the western Pacific. But instead what Japan had feared most - a devastating and swift US reprisal - was realized in just four years. President Roosevelt responded to Japan's provocation with one of the most famous speeches in American history. On Dec. 8, speaking in front of the joint session of Congress, Roosevelt decried Japanese treachery while asking Congress for an immediate declaration of war. Congress promptly acceded, declaring war on Japan a scant 30 minutes after Roosevelt's speech, with just one dissenting vote. "Yesterday, December 7th, 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 ... " "I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us ..." "I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire." The president's speech was also heard by over 80 percent of American households, live on the radio. He steeled Americans for the uncoming struggles against Japan, and also Nazi Germany, until final victory was achieved.
