March 15, 1941: On Lend Lease a speech from President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Please enjoy March 15, 1941: On Lend Lease a great episode of the legendary Franklin D. Roosevelt - A Classic Old Time radio Show.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
President Reynolds, My friends, thisdinner of the White House Correspondence Association is
unique. It is the first oneat which I have made a speech in
all these eight years. It differsfrom the press conferences that you and I

(00:23):
hold twice a week, for youcannot ask me any questions tonight, and
everything that I have to say isword forward on the record. For eight

(00:45):
years, you and I have beenhelping each other. I've been trying to
keep you informed of the news ofWashington, of the nation, and of
the world. From the point ofview of the President, You, more
than you realize, have been givingme a great deal of information about what

(01:07):
the people of this country are thinkingand sane. In our press conferences,
as at this dinner tonight, weinclude reporters representing papers and news agencies of
many other lands, to most ofthem. It is a matter of constant

(01:30):
amazement that press conferences such as ourscan exist in any nation in the world.
That is especially true in those landswhere freedoms do not exist, where
the purposes of our democracy and thecharacteristics of our country and of our people

(01:53):
have been seriously distorted. Such misunderstandingare not new. I remember a quarter
of a century ago that in theearly days of the First World War,
the German government received solemn assurances fromtheir representatives in the United States that the

(02:16):
people of America were disunited, thatthey cared more for peace at any price
than for the preservation of ideals andfreedom, that there would even be riots
and revolutions in the United States ifthis nation ever asserted its own interest.

(02:40):
Let not dictators of Europe or Asiadoubt our unanimity. Now, before the
present war broke out on September one, nineteen thirty, I was more worried,

(03:02):
more worried about the future than manypeople, indeed than most people.
The record shows that I was notworried enough that, however, is water
over the dam. Do not letus waste time in reviewing the past,

(03:23):
or fixing or dodging the blame ofit. History cannot be rewritten by wishful
thinking. We the American people,are writing new history today. The big
news, the big news story ofthis week is this. The world has

(03:46):
been told that we as a unitednation, realize the danger that confronts us,
and that to meet that danger,our democracy has gone into action.

(04:09):
We know that although Prussian autocracy wasbad enough in the First War, Nazism
is far worse. In this Naziforces are not seeking mere modifications in colonial

(04:32):
maps or in minor European boundaries.They openly seek the destruction of all elected
systems of government on every continent,including our own. They seek to establish
systems of government based on the regimentationof all human beings by a handful of

(04:59):
intervi vitual rulers will seize power byforce. Yes, these men and their
hypnotized followers call this a new order. It is not new, and it
is not order or order among nationspresupposed something enduring, some system of justice

(05:30):
under which individuals, over a longperiod of time, are willing to live.
Humanity will never permanently accept a systemimposed by conquest and based on slavery.
These modern tyrants find it necessary totheir plans to eliminate all democracies,

(05:55):
eliminate them one by one, thenations of Europe, And indeed, we
ourselves did not appreciate that purpose.We do not. The process of the
elimination of the European nations receded accordingto Plants through nineteen thirty nine and well

(06:25):
into nineteen forty, until the schedulewas shot to pieces by the unfeatable defenders
of Britain. The enemies of democracywere wrong in that calculations for a very

(06:51):
simple reason. They were wrong becausethey believed that democracy could not adjust itself
the terrible reality of a world atwar. They believed that democracy, because
of its profound respect for the rightsof man, would never arm itself to

(07:13):
fight. They believed that democracy,because of its will to live at peace
with its neighbors, could not mobilizeits energies even in its own defense.
They know now that democracy can stillremain democracy, and speak and reach conclusions,

(07:39):
and arm itself adequately for defense.From the bureaus of propaganda the Axis
powers came the confident prophecy that theconquest of our country would be an inside

(08:01):
job, a job accomplished not byoverpowering invasion from without, but by disrupting
confusion and disunion and moral disintegration fromwithin those who believe that knew little of

(08:22):
our history. America is not acountry which can be confounded by the appeass
the defeatists, the backstairs manufacturers ofPanics. It is a country that talks
out its problems in the open,where any man can hear. We've just

(08:46):
now engaged in a great debate.It is not limited to the Hall of
Congress. It was argued, arguedin every newspaper, on every wave over,
every cracker barrel in all the land. And it was finally settled and

(09:07):
decided by the American people themselves.Yes, the decisions of our democracy may
be slowly arrived at, but whenthat decision is made, it is proclaimed

(09:30):
not with the voice of any oneman, but with a voice of one
hundred and thirty millions. It isbinding on us all, and the world
is no longer left in dumb.This decision is the end of any attempts

(09:54):
that appeasement in our land, theend of urging us to get along with
dictators the end of compromise with tyrannyand the forces of oppression, and the
urgency is now. We believe firmlythat when our production output is in full

(10:18):
swing the democracies of the world wewill be able to prove that dictatorships cannot
win. But now, now thetame element is of supreme importance. Every
plane, every other instrument of war, old and new, every instrument that

(10:39):
we can spare, now we willsend overseas, because that is the common
sense of stratic the great time ofthis day. The deep dealty rests upon

(11:03):
each numbery one of us is tomove products from the assembly lines of our
factories through the battle lines of democracy. Non we can have speed, we
can have effectiveness if we maintain ourexisting unity. We do not have,

(11:24):
and never will have, the falseunity of a people browbeaten by fretch,
misled by propagandas Ours is a unitythat is possible only among free men and
women who recognize the truth and faithreality, with intelligence and courage. Today,

(11:46):
at last, today, at longlife. Ours is not a partial
effort. It is a total effort, and that is the only way to
guarantee ultimate safety. Beginning a yearago, we started the erection of hundreds
of plants, We started the trainingof millions of mens. Then, at

(12:11):
the moment that the Aide of DemocraciesBill was passed this week, we were
ready, ready to recommend the sevenbillion dollar appropriation on the basis of capacity
production. As our clients. Thearticles themselves why they cover the whole range

(12:33):
of munitions of war and the facilitiesbought transporting them across the thieves that aid
the democracies. Bills agreed on byboth houses of the Congress on Tuesday afternoon

(12:54):
life I signed it one half hourlater. Five minutes after that, I
approved a list of articles for immediateshipment, and today Saturday night, many
of them are already on their way. On Wednesday, I recommended an appropriation

(13:22):
for new material to the extent ofseven billion dollars, and the Congress is
making patriotic speed in making the moneyavailable. Here in Washington, we are
thinking in terms of speed and speednow, and I hope that that watch

(13:45):
work speed and speed now will findits way into every home in the nation.
We shall have to make sacrifices everyone of us. Tenth of those
sacrifices will depend on the speed withwhich we act. Now. I must

(14:07):
tell you tonight, in plain language, what this undertaking means to you,
to you and your daily life.Whether you are in the armed services,
whether you're a steel worker or asteveard, or a machinist, or a
housewife, a farmer or a banker, a store keeper or a manufacturer,

(14:31):
to all of them, it willmean sacrifice in behalf of your country and
your liberty. Yes, you willfeel the impact of this gigantic effort in

(14:52):
your daily lives. You will feelit in a way that will face to
you many inconveniences. You will haveto be content with law profits law profits
from business because obviously your taxes willbe higher. You will have to work
longer at your bench or your plow, or your machine or your desk.

(15:20):
Let me make it clear that thenation is calling for the sacrifice of some
privileges, not for the sacrifice offundamental rights, and most of us will

(15:43):
do it willingly. That kind ofsacrifice is for the common national protection and
welfare, for all defense against themost ruthless brutality in all history, for
the ultimate victory of a whale lightnow so violently minute. A high hearted

(16:04):
effort on our part that will leadto failure. This is no part time
job. The concept our business asusual of normalcy must be forgotten until the
task is finished. Yes, it'san all out effort, and nothing short

(16:32):
of an all out effort will win. Therefore, we are dedicated from here
on to a constantly increasing tempo ourproduction, a production greater than we now
know or have ever known before,a production that does not stop and should

(16:57):
not pause. Tonight, I amappealing to the heart and to the mind
of every man and every woman withinour border, love liberty. I ask
you to consider the needs of ournations at this hour, to put aside

(17:18):
all personal differences until the victory iswon. The light of democracy must be
kept. Willing to the perpetuation ofthis light, Each each of us must
do his own share. The singleeffort of one individual may seem small,

(17:44):
but there are one hundred and thirtymillion individuals over here, and there are
many more millions in Britain and elsewherebravely shielding the great flame of democracy from
the blackout of barbarous It is notenough for us merely to trim the wick

(18:07):
or polish the glass. The timehas come when we must provide the pure,
in ever increasing amounts, to keepthat flame alike. There will be
no divisions, no divisions of partyor section, or race, or nationality

(18:30):
or religion. There is not oneamong us who does not have a speak
in the outcome of the effort inwhich we are now engaged. A few
weeks ago I spoke far freedom,freedom of speech and expression, freedom of

(18:52):
every person worship God in his ownway, freedom from want, freedom from
fear. They are the ultimate stake. They may not be immediately attainable throughout

(19:14):
the world. But humanity does movetoward those glorious ideals through democratic processes.
And if we fail, if democracyis superseded by slavery, then those four
freedoms, or even the mention ofthem, will become forbidden things. Centuries

(19:42):
will pass before they can be revived. By winning, now, we strengthen
the meaning of those freedoms, Weincrease the stature of mankind, established the
dignity of human life. I haveoften thought that there is a vast difference

(20:08):
between the word loyalty and the wordobedience. Obedience can be obtained and enforced
in a dictatorship by the use ourthreat, or extortion or blackmail, or

(20:29):
it can be obtained by a failureon the part of government to tell the
truth to its citizens. Loyalty isdifferent. It springs from the mind that
is given the facts, that retainsancient ideals, and proceeds without coercion to

(20:55):
give suppart to its own government.That is true in England, and in
Greece, and in China and inthe United States. Today, and in
many other countries, millions of menand women are praying for the return of

(21:18):
a day when they can give thatkind of life. Lord, it cannot
be bought. Dollars alone will notwin this war. Let us not delude
ourselves to that. Today nearly amillion and a half American citizens are hard

(21:41):
at work in our armed forces.The spirit the determination of these men of
our army and navy are worthy ofthe highest traditions of our country. No
better men ever served under Washington orJohn Paul Jones are grant or le or

(22:03):
pushing. That is a post Iadmit, but it is not an idle
one. Upon the national will,the sacrifice and the work depends the output
of our industry and our agriculture.Upon that will depends the survival of the

(22:30):
vital bridge across the ocean, thebridge of ships that carry the arms and
the food for those who are fightingthe good fight. Upon that will depends
our ability to aid other nations whichmay determine to offer resistance. Upon that

(22:55):
will may depend practical assistance to peoplenow living in nations that have been overrun,
should they find the opportunity to strikeback in an effort to regain their
liberty. And may that day comesoon. This will, the American people

(23:27):
will not be frustrated either by threatsfrom powerful enemies abroad or by small,
selfish groups of individuals at homes.The determination of America must not and will
not be obstructed by war properteering.It must not be obstructed by unnecessary it

(23:52):
strikes of workers, by short suidedmanagement, or but the third danger,

(24:15):
deliberate sabotie. For unless we win, there will be no freedom for either
management or labor. Wise labor leadersand wise business managers, we'll realize how

(24:36):
necessary it is to their own existenceto make common sacrifice for this great cause.
There is no longer the slightest questionof doubt that the American people recognize

(24:56):
the extreme seriousness of the present situations. That is why they have demanded and
gone a policy of unqualified, immediateor out aid for Britain, for Greece,
for China, and for all thegovernments in exile whose homelands are temporarily

(25:18):
occupied by the AGGRESSA, and fromnow on that aid will be increased,
and yet again increased, until popolvictory has been won. The British are

(25:42):
stronger than ever the magnificent morale thathas enabled them to endure all the dark
days and the shadowed nights of thepast ten months. They have the full
support and help of Canada, ofthe other dominions of the rest of their

(26:02):
empire, and the bully and supportof none the British people throughout the world
who still think in terms of thegreat freedom. The British people are grace
for invasions whenever such attempt may cometomorrow, next week, next month.

(26:32):
In this historic crisis, Britain isblessed with a brilliant and great leader in
Winston Tripia. But knowing him,no one knows better than mister Churchill himself

(27:03):
that it is not alone his stirringwords and valiant deeds that give the British
their superb morale. The essence ofthat morale is in the masses of framed
people who are completely clear in theirminds about the one essential fact that they

(27:27):
would rather die as three men thanlive as things. These plain people,
civilians as well as soldiers and sailorsand airmen, women and girls as well

(27:56):
as men and both, they arefighting in the front line of civilization at
this moment, and they are holdingback line with a forty two will forever
be the pride and the inspiration ofall free men on every continent on every

(28:22):
aisle of the field. The Britishpeople and that Grecian allies need ships.
From America, they will get ships. They need planes from America, they

(28:48):
will get planes. Yes, fromAmerica. They need food, and from
America they will get food. Theyneed tanks and guns and ammunitions and supplies
of all kinds. From America.They will get tanks and guns and ammunitions

(29:14):
and supplies of all kinds. Chinalikewise expresses the magnificent will are millions of
plain people to resist the dismemberment oftheir historic nations. China, through the

(29:38):
generalism all Chang Kai Chek asks ourhelp. America has said that China shall
have our help. And so ourcountry is going be what our people have

(30:03):
proclaimed. It must be the arsenalof democrats. Our country is going to
play its full power. And whenno I didn't say, if I said,
when dictatorships disintegrate, and pray God, that'll be sooner than any of

(30:26):
us now dare to hope, thenour country must continue to play its great
part in the period our world canreconstruction for the good of humanity. We

(30:49):
believe that the rallying cry of thedictators they're boasting about a master race will
prove to be pure, stop andnonsense. There never has been, there
isn't now, and there never willbe any race of people on the earth

(31:11):
fit to serve as masters over theirfellow man. The world has no use
for any nation which, because ofsize or because of military might, asserts
the right to boostep the world powerover the bodies of our nations and other

(31:37):
races. We believe that any nationality, no matter how small, has the
inherent right to its own nationhood.We believe that the men and women of
such nations, no matter what side, can, through the processes of peace,

(31:59):
serve themselves and serve the world.By protecting the common man's security,
improve the standards of healthful living,provide market for manufacture for agriculture. Through
that kind of peaceful service, everynation can increase its happening, banish the

(32:22):
terrors of war, and abandon man'sinhumanity to man. Never in all our
history, never in all our history, of Americans faced a job so well
worth. Why may it be saidof us in the days to come,

(32:46):
that our children and our children's childrenrise up and call us breath. Ladies,
and Jeff, I have heard thePresident of the United States deliver and
address before the annual dinner of theWhite House Correspondence Association in Washington.