FDR and America's last declaration of war

In the hours following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt and his aides discussed the speech he would deliver the next day to Congress. Of course, he would ask for a declaration of war.

But FDR's aides disagreed regarding whether the speech should be what historians now call "the long version," which would review in lawyerly detail Japanese-American relations going back over decades; or whether it should be "the short version," saying essentially: "Look, they attacked us; we're at war."

FDR settled on "the short version." The speech lasted just over seven minutes, including interruptions for applause.

Here's the first sentence of the typed "short version" draft

Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in world history, the United States of America was simultaneously and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

If you remember how FDR began the address, you know the above sentence is not the one he spoke before Congress.

Here's how FDR actually bagan:

Yesterday, December 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. (Bold mine)

Who changed world history to infamy and simultaneously to suddenly?

FDR did.

And who added those --- pause cues?

Again, FDR.

The why of Roosevelt's changes and pause cues is obvious.

You can view and enlarge a facsimile of the first page of the draft with FDR's changes in his own hand here at the FDR Memorial Library site.

You'll also see a picture of FDR signing the war declaration. Notice he's wearing a black memorial armband. Some have said he did that in respect for the Pearl Harbor dead.

Not so. Roosevelt wore the armband in memory of his mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt, who died three months earlier. At the time, wearing armbands in memory of recently deceased family members or close friends was a fading but not uncommon custom.

FDR was the last President to formally ask Congress for a declaration of war.