frpw001.wav

Moving August 1939 Radio address regarding the Polish Crisis, directed against the concept of "Peace by Fear".

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RealAudio 3.0 Version.

FDR_090139F.wav
(Updated 1/18/00)

A radio address to the American people on the first day of WWII, stressing the neutrality of the nation as distinguished from its citizen's consciences and the determination of the government to stay out of the war.

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FDR_090139-OutOfTheWar.wav
(Archived 1/18/00)

An excerpt from above, stressing the determination of the government to stay out of the war.

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fdr390921.rm
(Archived 2/20/99)

The entire speech Roosevelt delivered before an Extraordinary Session of Congress urging the overturning of legislation enforcing an embargo upon sales to beligerant nations with a new "cash and carry" provision which would allow nations like Britain and France to purchase needed materials.

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FDR_1940_Democratic_Convention.wav

Roosevelt promises not to send American troops "to fight in foreign lands", "except in case of attack".

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FDR_Arsenel_of_Democracy.wav

Roosevelt urges Americans to support him by making America "the great arsenal of democracy".

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FDR-SOTUA410106-'4Freedoms'.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

Excerpt from FDR's 1941 State of the Union address where he first proposes the "Four Freedoms" which the United States was determined from then on to support "everywhere in the world" - namely, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want & freedom from fear. It becomes apparent, as one listens to this speech, that the President was addressing his remarks almost as much to us in our time as he was to the peoples of the world in his own.

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FDR-FiresideChat410527All.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

The entire half hour "Fireside Chat" broadcast of May 27th, 1941, broadcast by the President to "all the Americas" with the Governing Board of the Pan American Union and the Canadian Foreign Minister beside him. In it, in terms so eloquent that one can teach the entire historical content of pre-war foreign policy issues in the Americas from it, FDR outlines exactly how and why Nazi Germany was a direct threat to the interests of the Americas.

*Webmaster's Note: This is one of the greatest speeches of the twentieth century. Students of this period of history are well advised to listen and re-listen to this broadcast, in its entirety and in the segments excerpted from it in the files archived below, in order to fully obtain from it the rich content and keen understanding it provides.

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FDR410527A-WorldDomination.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

From the above, a quick and concise declaration of exactly what immediate issues confront the Americas with regard to Nazi Germany.

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FDR410527B-OurOwnSelfInterest.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

From the same as the above, a frank admission that the assistance of Great Britain in her war against Nazi Germany is a clear act of protection of American self interests.

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FDR410527C-TermsHitlerWouldImposeOnTheAmericas.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

From the same as the above, the most clearly defined and concise description of the totality of effects that a Nazi Germany triumphant over Great Britain would have upon the Americas.

*Note to Teachers: Every student in the Americas studying the Second World War should have this broadcast segment played to them as part of their studies - it is not only one of the greatest moments of the spoken word in the twentieth century, it also a statement of sheer analytical excellence and profound academic importance.

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FDR410527D-ControlOfTheSeas.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

From the same as the above, a clear description of exactly why Nazi Germany must gain control of the seas in order to prevent inevitable defeat in her war against Great Britain.

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FDR410527E-SilencedPeoplesMarkedForSlavery.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

From the same as the above, FDR remembers those peoples crushed by the Nazis and promises that their righteous anger against their oppressors, and those of Germans imprisoned and driven out of their homelands by the Fascists, will ultimately overthrow them once their struggle for control of the seas is lost.

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FDR410527F-RateOfUKMerchantShipLosses.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

From the same as the above, the President, with the permission of the British government, frankly admits the exact ratio of sinkings versus shipbuilding by Britain and the U.S., which foreboding figures underscore the sense of moment and urgency confronting the democracies.

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FDR410527G-SelfDefenceInModernSense.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

From the same as the above, FDR explains exactly why "self defence" by the Americas against Nazi Germany necessarily means the defence of far-flung islands and territories.

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FDR410527H-ProclamationOfUnlimitedNationalEmergency.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

From the same as the above, FDR concludes this fireside chat with a climactic finish - the declaration of a State of Unlimited National Emergency, in which the President calls for strong powers for himself and for the government to enact measures intended to greatly hasten preparations for war against Nazi Germany should the security of the Americas be threatened.

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Day_of_Infamy_Speech.wav

The entire "Day of Infamy" speech, delivered before a joint session of Congress, asking for a Declaration of War against Japan.

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RealAudio 3.0 Version.

FDR411224.rm
(Archived 1/18/00)

With Prime Minister of Great Britain Winston Churchill beside him, FDR delivers a Christmas greeting to the nations united in war against the Axis.

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FDR440606.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

The President's broadcast to the nation on D-Day, in its entirety, where he leads the nation in prayer for the success of the nation's arms and the sustenance of the country's efforts in support of them.

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FDR-SOTUA450106.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

Sounding extremely haggard and tired, the President recounts in this "Fireside Chat" the contents of the State of the Union message that, rather than read to the Congress, FDR had sent to the Congress by way of delivered text earlier that day. In this "chat", he refers to the turnaround in the Battle of the Bulge and his exhortation to the American people to "redouble our efforts" in the prosecution of the war against Nazi Germany and Imperialist Japan.

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FDR-SOTUA450106-BattleOfTheBulge.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

From the above, the President speaks of the turnaround of events in the Battle of the Bulge and expresses his "complete confidence" in General Eisenhower.

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FDR_Last_Congress_Address.wav

The President makes the only public mention of his disability during his last address to Congress concerning the Yalta "Big Three" Summit Conference, March 1, 1945.

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RealVideo 5.0 Version. (Archived 1/8/99)

fdryalta.wav

From the above, his report to Congress on the results of the Yalta Conference.

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fdrruss.wav

Radio address where the President incorrectly predicts "we are going to get along with...the Russian people very very well."

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FDRDies450412.wav
(Archived 1/18/00)

CBS News bulletin announcing the death of the President at Warm Springs, Georgia.

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GodfreyReportsFDRFuneralProcession.wav
(Archived 1/18/00)

Famed American entertainer Arthur Godfrey reports live on the funeral procession of the late President.

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For more FDR media, go to The Historical Sound & Picture Archive.