AmericanRhetoric.

com
FranklinDelanoRoosevelt
TheFourFreedoms

Delivered6January,1941(photoofFDRonseparateoccasion)

AUTHENTICITYCERTIFIED:Textversionbelowtranscribeddirectlyfromaudio th Mr.President,Mr.Speaker,membersofthe77 Congress:

Iaddressyou,themembersofthisnewCongress,atamomentunprecedentedinthehistory oftheunion. IusethewordunprecedentedbecauseatnoprevioustimehasAmerican securitybeenasseriouslythreatenedfromwithoutasitistoday. SincethepermanentformationofourgovernmentundertheConstitutionin1789,mostofthe periodsofcrisisinourhistoryhaverelatedtoourdomesticaffairs. And,fortunately,onlyone ofthesethefouryearwarbetweentheStateseverthreatenedournationalunity. Today,thankGod,130,000,000Americansin48Stateshaveforgottenpointsofthecompass inournationalunity. Itistruethatpriorto1914theUnitedStatesoftenhasbeendisturbedbyeventsinother continents. WehaveevenengagedintwowarswithEuropeannationsandinanumberof undeclaredwarsintheWestIndies,intheMediterraneanandinthePacific,forthe maintenanceofAmericanrightsandfortheprinciplesofpeacefulcommerce. Butinnocase hadaseriousthreatbeenraisedagainstournationalsafetyorourcontinuedindependence. WhatIseektoconveyisthehistorictruththattheUnitedStatesasanationhasatalltimes maintainedoppositionclear,definiteoppositiontoanyattempttolockusinbehindan ancientChinesewallwhiletheprocessionofcivilizationwentpast.Today,thinkingofour childrenandoftheirchildren,weopposeenforcedisolationforourselvesorforanyotherpart oftheAmericas.

TranscriptionbyMichaelE.Eidenmuller. PropertyofAmericanR hetoric.com. Copyright2008.Allrightsreserved.

Page1

AmericanRhetoric.com
Thatdeterminationofours,extendingoveralltheseyears,wasproved,forexample,inthe earlydaysduringthequartercenturyofwarsfollowingtheFrenchRevolution. Whilethe NapoleonicstrugglesdidthreateninterestsoftheUnitedStatesbecauseoftheFrench footholdintheWestIndiesandinLouisiana,andwhileweengagedintheWarof1812to vindicateourrighttopeacefultrade,itisneverthelessclearthatneitherFrancenorGreat Britainnoranyothernationwasaimingatdominationofthewholeworld. Andinlikefashion,from1815to1914ninetynineyearsnosinglewarinEuropeorin AsiaconstitutedarealthreatagainstourfutureoragainstthefutureofanyotherAmerican nation. ExceptintheMaximilianinterludeinMexico,noforeignpowersoughttoestablishitselfinthis hemisphere.AndthestrengthoftheBritishfleetintheAtlantichasbeenafriendlystrengthit isstillafriendlystrength. EvenwhentheWorldWarbrokeoutin1914,itseemedtocontainonlysmallthreatofdanger toourownAmericanfuture. Butastimewenton,asweremember,theAmericanpeople begantovisualizewhatthedownfallofdemocraticnationsmightmeantoourown democracy. WeneednotoveremphasizeimperfectionsinthepeaceofVersailles.Weneednotharpon failureofthedemocraciestodealwithproblemsofworldreconstruction.Weshouldremember thatthepeaceof1919wasfarlessunjustthanthekindofpacificationwhichbeganeven beforeMunich,andwhichisbeingcarriedonundertheneworderoftyrannythatseeksto spreadovereverycontinenttoday.TheAmericanpeoplehaveunalterablysettheirfaces againstthattyranny. Isupposethateveryrealistknowsthatthedemocraticwayoflifeisatthismomentbeing directlyassailedineverypartoftheworldassailedeitherbyarmsorbysecretspreadingof poisonouspropagandabythosewhoseektodestroyunityandpromotediscordinnationsthat arestillatpeace.During16longmonthsthisassaulthasblottedoutthewholepatternof democraticlifeinanappallingnumberofindependentnations,greatandsmall. Andthe assailantsarestillonthemarch,threateningothernations,greatandsmall. Therefore,asyourPresident,performingmyconstitutionaldutyto"givetotheCongress informationofthestateoftheunion,"Ifinditunhappilynecessarytoreportthatthefuture andthesafetyofourcountryandofourdemocracyareoverwhelminglyinvolvedineventsfar beyondourborders. Armeddefenseofdemocraticexistenceisnowbeinggallantlywagedinfourcontinents. If thatdefensefails,allthepopulationandalltheresourcesofEuropeandAsia,andAfricaand AustralAsiawillbedominatedbyconquerors. Andletusrememberthatthetotalofthose populationsinthosefourcontinents,thetotalofthosepopulationsandtheirresourcesgreatly exceedthesumtotalofthepopulationandtheresourcesofthewholeoftheWestern Hemisphereyes,manytimesover.

TranscriptionbyMichaelE.Eidenmuller. PropertyofAmericanR hetoric.com. Copyright2008.Allrightsreserved.

Page2

AmericanRhetoric.com
Intimesliketheseitisimmatureand,incidentally,untrueforanybodytobragthatan unpreparedAmerica,singlehandedandwithonehandtiedbehinditsback,canholdoffthe wholeworld. NorealisticAmericancanexpectfromadictatorspeaceinternationalgenerosity,orreturnof trueindependence,orworlddisarmament,orfreedomofexpression,orfreedomofreligion orevengoodbusiness. Suchapeacewouldbringnosecurityforusorforourneighbors. Thosewhowouldgiveupessentiallibertytopurchasealittletemporarysafetydeserve neitherlibertynorsafety. Asanationwemaytakeprideinthefactthatwearesoftheartedbutwecannotaffordtobe softheaded. Wemustalwaysbewaryofthosewhowithsoundingbrassandatinkling cymbalpreachthe"ism"ofappeasement. Wemustespeciallybewareofthatsmallgroupof selfishmenwhowouldclipthewingsoftheAmericaneagleinordertofeathertheirown nests. Ihaverecentlypointedouthowquicklythetempoofmodernwarfarecouldbringintoour verymidstthephysicalattackwhichwemusteventuallyexpectifthedictatornationswinthis war. Thereismuchloosetalkofourimmunityfromimmediateanddirectinvasionfromacrossthe seas. Obviously,aslongastheBritishNavyretainsitspower,nosuchdangerexists. Evenif therewerenoBritishNavy,itisnotprobablethatanyenemywouldbestupidenoughto attackusbylandingtroopsintheUnitedStatesfromacrossthousandsofmilesofocean,until ithadacquiredstrategicbasesfromwhichtooperate. ButwelearnmuchfromthelessonsofthepastyearsinEuropeparticularlythelessonof Norway,whoseessentialseaportswerecapturedbytreacheryandsurprisebuiltupovera seriesofyears.Thefirstphaseoftheinvasionofthishemispherewouldnotbethelandingof regulartroops. Thenecessarystrategicpointswouldbeoccupiedbysecretagentsandby theirdupesandgreatnumbersofthemarealreadyhereandinLatinAmerica.Aslongas theaggressornationsmaintaintheoffensivethey,notwe,willchoosethetimeandtheplace andthemethodoftheirattack. AndthatiswhythefutureofalltheAmericanRepublicsistodayinseriousdanger. Thatis whythisannualmessagetotheCongressisuniqueinourhistory. Thatiswhyeverymember oftheexecutivebranchofthegovernmentandeverymemberoftheCongressfacegreat responsibility,greataccountability.Theneedofthemomentisthatouractionsandourpolicy shouldbedevotedprimarilyalmostexclusivelytomeetingthisforeignperil. Forallour domesticproblemsarenowapartofthegreatemergency. Justasournationalpolicyininternalaffairshasbeenbaseduponadecentrespectforthe rightsandthedignityofallourfellowmenwithinourgates,soournationalpolicyinforeign affairshasbeenbasedonadecentrespectfortherightsandthedignityofallnations,large andsmall. Andthejusticeofmoralitymustandwillwinintheend.

TranscriptionbyMichaelE.Eidenmuller. PropertyofAmericanR hetoric.com. Copyright2008.Allrightsreserved.

Page3

AmericanRhetoric.com
Ournationalpolicyisthis: First,byanimpressiveexpressionofthepublicwillandwithoutregardtopartisanship,weare committedtoallinclusivenationaldefense. Secondly,byanimpressiveexpressionofthepublicwillandwithoutregardtopartisanship, wearecommittedtofullsupportofallthoseresolutepeopleeverywherewhoareresisting aggressionandaretherebykeepingwarawayfromourhemisphere.Bythissupportwe expressourdeterminationthatthedemocraticcauseshallprevail,andwestrengthenthe defenseandthesecurityofourownnation. Third,byanimpressiveexpressionofthepublicwillandwithoutregardtopartisanship,we arecommittedtothepropositionthatprinciplesofmoralityandconsiderationsforourown securitywillneverpermitustoacquiesceinapeacedictatedbyaggressorsandsponsoredby appeasers.Weknowthatenduringpeacecannotbeboughtatthecostofotherpeople's freedom. Intherecentnationalelectiontherewasnosubstantialdifferencebetweenthetwogreat partiesinrespecttothatnationalpolicy.Noissuewasfoughtoutonthislinebeforethe Americanelectorate. AndtodayitisabundantlyevidentthatAmericancitizenseverywhere aredemandingandsupportingspeedyandcompleteactioninrecognitionofobviousdanger. Therefore,theimmediateneedisaswiftanddrivingincreaseinourarmamentproduction. Leadersofindustryandlaborhaverespondedtooursummons.Goalsofspeedhavebeen set.Insomecasesthesegoalsarebeingreachedaheadoftime.Insomecasesweareon scheduleinothercasesthereareslightbutnotseriousdelays.Andinsomecasesand,I amsorrytosay,veryimportantcasesweareallconcernedbytheslownessofthe accomplishmentofourplans. TheArmyandNavy,however,havemadesubstantialprogressduringthepastyear.Actual experienceisimprovingandspeedingupourmethodsofproductionwitheverypassing day.Andtoday'sbestisnotgoodenoughfortomorrow. Iamnotsatisfiedwiththeprogressthusfarmade.Themeninchargeoftheprogram representthebestintraining,inability,andinpatriotism.Theyarenotsatisfiedwiththe progressthusfarmade. Noneofuswillbesatisfieduntilthejobisdone. Nomatterwhethertheoriginalgoalwassettoohighortoolow,ourobjectiveisquickerand betterresults. Togiveyoutwoillustrations: Wearebehindscheduleinturningoutfinishedairplanes.Weareworkingdayandnightto solvetheinnumerableproblemsandtocatchup.

TranscriptionbyMichaelE.Eidenmuller. PropertyofAmericanR hetoric.com. Copyright2008.Allrightsreserved.

Page4

AmericanRhetoric.com
Weareaheadofscheduleinbuildingwarships,butweareworkingtogetevenfurtherahead ofthatschedule. Tochangeawholenationfromabasisofpeacetimeproductionofimplementsofpeacetoa basisofwartimeproductionofimplementsofwarisnosmalltask.Andthegreatestdifficulty comesatthebeginningoftheprogram,whennewtools,newplantfacilities,newassembly lines,newshipwaysmustfirstbeconstructedbeforetheactualmaterialbeginstoflow steadilyandspeedilyfromthem. TheCongressofcourse,mustrightlykeepitselfinformedatalltimesoftheprogressofthe program. However,thereiscertaininformation,astheCongressitselfwillreadilyrecognize, which,intheinterestsofourownsecurityandthoseofthenationsthatwearesupporting, mustofneedsbekeptinconfidence. Newcircumstancesareconstantlybegettingnewneedsforoursafety.Ishallaskthis Congressforgreatlyincreasednewappropriationsandauthorizationstocarryonwhatwe havebegun. IalsoaskthisCongressforauthorityandforfundssufficienttomanufactureadditional munitionsandwarsuppliesofmanykinds,tobeturnedovertothosenationswhicharenow inactualwarwithaggressornations.Ourmostusefulandimmediateroleistoactasan arsenalforthemaswellasforourselves.Theydonotneedmanpower,buttheydoneed billionsofdollarsworthoftheweaponsofdefense. Thetimeisnearwhentheywillnotbeabletopayforthemallinreadycash. Wecannot,and wewillnot,tellthemthattheymustsurrendermerelybecauseofpresentinabilitytopayfor theweaponswhichweknowtheymusthave. Idonotrecommendthatwemakethemaloanofdollarswithwhichtopayfortheseweapons aloantoberepaidindollars.Irecommendthatwemakeitpossibleforthosenationsto continuetoobtainwarmaterialsintheUnitedStates,fittingtheirordersintoourown program.Andnearlyalloftheirmaterialwould,ifthetimeevercame,beusefulinourown defense. Takingcounselofexpertmilitaryandnavalauthorities,consideringwhatisbestforourown security,wearefreetodecidehowmuchshouldbekepthereandhowmuchshouldbesent abroadtoourfriendswho,bytheirdeterminedandheroicresistance,aregivingustimein whichtomakereadyourowndefense. Forwhatwesendabroadweshallberepaid,repaidwithinareasonabletimefollowingthe closeofhostilities,repaidinsimilarmaterials,oratouroptioninothergoodsofmanykinds whichtheycanproduceandwhichweneed.

TranscriptionbyMichaelE.Eidenmuller. PropertyofAmericanR hetoric.com. Copyright2008.Allrightsreserved.

Page5

AmericanRhetoric.com
Letussaytothedemocracies:"WeAmericansarevitallyconcernedinyourdefenseof freedom.Weareputtingforthourenergies,ourresources,andourorganizingpowerstogive youthestrengthtoregainandmaintainafreeworld.Weshallsendyouineverincreasing numbers,ships,planes,tanks,guns.Thatisourpurposeandourpledge." Infulfillmentofthispurposewewillnotbeintimidatedbythethreatsofdictatorsthatthey willregardasabreachofinternationallaworasanactofwarouraidtothedemocracies whichdaretoresisttheiraggression.Suchaidisnotanactofwar,evenifadictatorshould unilaterallyproclaimitsotobe. Andwhenthedictatorsifthedictatorsarereadytomakewaruponus,theywillnotwait foranactofwaronourpart. TheydidnotwaitforNorwayorBelgiumortheNetherlandstocommitanactofwar.Their onlyinterestisinanewonewayinternationallaw,whichlacksmutualityinitsobservance andthereforebecomesaninstrumentofoppression.Thehappinessoffuturegenerationsof Americansmaywelldependonhoweffectiveandhowimmediatewecanmakeouraid felt.Noonecantelltheexactcharacteroftheemergencysituationsthatwemaybecalled upontomeet.Thenation'shandsmustnotbetiedwhenthenation'slifeisindanger. Yes,andwemustprepare,allofusprepare,tomakethesacrificesthattheemergency almostasseriousaswaritselfdemands.Whateverstandsinthewayofspeedand efficiencyindefense,indefensepreparationsofanykind,mustgivewaytothenationalneed. Afreenationhastherighttoexpectfullcooperationfromallgroups.Afreenationhasthe righttolooktotheleadersofbusiness,oflabor,andofagriculturetotaketheleadin stimulatingeffort,notamongothergroupsbutwithintheirowngroup. Thebestwayofdealingwiththefewslackersortroublemakersinourmidstis,first,to shamethembypatrioticexample,andifthatfails,tousethesovereigntyofgovernmentto savegovernment. Asmendonotlivebybreadalone,theydonotfightbyarmamentsalone.Thosewhomanour defensesandthosebehindthemwhobuildourdefensesmusthavethestaminaandthe couragewhichcomefromunshakablebeliefinthemanneroflifewhichtheyare defending.Themightyactionthatwearecallingforcannotbebasedonadisregardofallthe thingsworthfightingfor. Thenationtakesgreatsatisfactionandmuchstrengthfromthethingswhichhavebeendone tomakeitspeopleconsciousoftheirindividualstakeinthepreservationofdemocraticlifein America. Thosethingshavetoughenedthefiberofourpeople,haverenewedtheirfaithand strengthenedtheirdevotiontotheinstitutionswemakereadytoprotect.

TranscriptionbyMichaelE.Eidenmuller. PropertyofAmericanR hetoric.com. Copyright2008.Allrightsreserved.

Page6

AmericanRhetoric.com
Certainlythisisnotimeforanyofustostopthinkingaboutthesocialandeconomicproblems whicharetherootcauseofthesocialrevolutionwhichistodayasupremefactorinthe world.Forthereisnothingmysteriousaboutthefoundationsofahealthyandstrong democracy. Thebasicthingsexpectedbyourpeopleoftheirpoliticalandeconomicsystemsare simple.Theyare: Equalityofopportunityforyouthandforothers. Jobsforthosewhocanwork. Securityforthosewhoneedit. Theendingofspecialprivilegeforthefew. Thepreservationofcivillibertiesforall. Theenjoymentofthefruitsofscientificprogressinawiderandconstantlyrising standardofliving. Thesearethesimple,thebasicthingsthatmustneverbelostsightofintheturmoiland unbelievablecomplexityofourmodernworld.Theinnerandabidingstrengthofoureconomic andpoliticalsystemsisdependentuponthedegreetowhichtheyfulfilltheseexpectations. Manysubjectsconnectedwithoursocialeconomycallforimmediateimprovement.As examples: Weshouldbringmorecitizensunderthecoverageofoldagepensionsandunemployment insurance. Weshouldwidentheopportunitiesforadequatemedicalcare. Weshouldplanabettersystembywhichpersonsdeservingorneedinggainfulemployment mayobtainit. Ihavecalledforpersonalsacrifice,andIamassuredofthewillingnessofalmostall Americanstorespondtothatcall.Apartofthesacrificemeansthepaymentofmoremoney intaxes.InmybudgetmessageIwillrecommendthatagreaterportionofthisgreatdefense programbepaidforfromtaxationthanwearepayingfortoday.Nopersonshouldtry,orbe allowedtogetrichoutoftheprogram,andtheprincipleoftaxpaymentsinaccordancewith abilitytopayshouldbeconstantlybeforeoureyestoguideourlegislation. IftheCongressmaintainstheseprinciplesthevoters,puttingpatriotismaheadpocketbooks, willgiveyoutheirapplause.

TranscriptionbyMichaelE.Eidenmuller. PropertyofAmericanR hetoric.com. Copyright2008.Allrightsreserved.

Page7

AmericanRhetoric.com
Inthefuturedays,whichweseektomakesecure,welookforwardtoaworldfoundedupon fouressentialhumanfreedoms. Thefirstisfreedomofspeechandexpressioneverywhereintheworld. ThesecondisfreedomofeverypersontoworshipGodinhisownwayeverywhereinthe world. Thethirdisfreedomfromwant,which,translatedintoworldterms,meanseconomic understandingswhichwillsecuretoeverynationahealthypeacetimelifeforitsinhabitants everywhereintheworld. Thefourthisfreedomfromfear,which,translatedintoworldterms,meansaworldwide reductionofarmamentstosuchapointandinsuchathoroughfashionthatnonationwillbe inapositiontocommitanactofphysicalaggressionagainstanyneighboranywhereinthe world. Thatisnovisionofadistantmillennium.Itisadefinitebasisforakindofworldattainablein ourowntimeandgeneration.Thatkindofworldistheveryantithesisofthesocallednew orderoftyrannywhichthedictatorsseektocreatewiththecrashofabomb. Tothatneworderweopposethegreaterconceptionthemoralorder.Agoodsocietyisable tofaceschemesofworlddominationandforeignrevolutionsalikewithoutfear. SincethebeginningofourAmericanhistorywehavebeenengagedinchange,inaperpetual, peacefulrevolution,arevolutionwhichgoesonsteadily,quietly,adjustingitselftochanging conditionswithouttheconcentrationcamporthequicklimeintheditch.Theworldorderwhich weseekisthecooperationoffreecountries,workingtogetherinafriendly,civilizedsociety. Thisnationhasplaceditsdestinyinthehandsandheadsandheartsofitsmillionsoffreemen andwomen,anditsfaithinfreedomundertheguidanceofGod.Freedommeansthe supremacyofhumanrightseverywhere.Oursupportgoestothosewhostruggletogainthose rightsandkeepthem.Ourstrengthisourunityofpurpose. Tothathighconcepttherecanbenoendsavevictory.

TranscriptionbyMichaelE.Eidenmuller. PropertyofAmericanR hetoric.com. Copyright2008.Allrightsreserved.

Page8