He was honest, direct, and absolutely clear: Within hours of the attack he dictated the first draft of one of the greatest speeches of the 20 th century, arguably one of the greatest speeches in American history. Franklin Roosevelt took the weight of the free world on his paralyzed legs and carried America into the future – away from our isolationist past and into the age of the global superpower.Īt the worst moment of his life he rose to the occasion, providing desperately needed vision and confidence to a staggered nation. Britain and Russia were on the verge of collapse.īut as the smoke cleared from the mangled wreckage, it revealed a truly great leader.

The Nazis controlled Europe and North Africa. President Franklin Roosevelt’s beloved Navy lay in smoking ruins in Pearl Harbor, as the Japanese Empire launched well-coordinated attacks across a 4,000 mile front.

It was the worst day of his presidency, the worst day of his life – and the worst military defeat in American history.

Day of infamy campaign