FIRESIDE CHATS FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT FREE

It is obvious what would happen if all of these great reservoirs of power were cut off from each other either by enemy action or by self-imposed isolation: Look too at North America, Central America and South America. Look at the (British Isles) Islands of Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the Dutch Indies, India, the Near East and the Continent of Africa, with their (re)sources of raw materials – their resources of raw materials, and of peoples determined to resist Axis domination. Look at the vast area of Russia, with its powerful armies and proven military might. Look at the vast area of China, with its millions of fighting men. But let me illustrate what would happen if we followed such foolish advice. They advise us to pull our warships and our planes and our merchant ships into our own home waters and concentrate solely on last ditch defense. There are those who still think, however, in terms of the days of sailing ships. It is the old familiar Axis policy of 'divide and conquer.' The object of the Nazis and the Japanese is to of course separate the United States, Britain, China and Russia, and to isolate them one from another, so that each will be surrounded and cut off from sources of supplies and reinforcements. We must fight at these vast distances to protect our supply lines and our lines of communication with our allies – protect these lines from the enemies who are bending every ounce of their strength, striving against time, to cut them.

Actually, though, we are taking a heavy toll of the enemy every day that goes by. Until our flow of supplies gives us clear superiority we must keep on striking our enemies wherever and whenever we can meet them, even if, for a while, we have to yield ground. We fight at these vast distances because that is where our enemies are. We must all understand and face the hard fact that our job now is to fight at distances which extend all the way around the globe. The broad oceans which have been heralded in the past as our protection from attack have become endless battlefields on which we are constantly being challenged by our enemies. Many questions will, I fear, remain unanswered tonight, but I know you will realize that I cannot cover everything in any one short report to the people. That is the reason why I have asked you to take out and spread before you (the) a map of the whole earth, and to follow with me in the references which I shall make to the world-encircling battle lines of this war. It is warfare in terms of every continent, every island, every sea, every air-lane in the world. It is different from all other wars of the past, not only in its methods and weapons but also in its geography. The present great struggle has taught us increasingly that freedom of person and security of property anywhere in the world depend upon the security of the rights and obligations of liberty and justice everywhere in the world.

FIRESIDE CHATS FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT FREE

He and the brave men who served with him knew that no man's life or fortune was secure without freedom and free institutions. He held to his course, as it had been charted in the Declaration of Independence. Washington's conduct in those hard times has provided the model for all Americans ever since – a model of moral stamina. Throughout the 13 states there existed fifth columnists – and selfish men, jealous men, fearful men, who proclaimed that Washington's cause was hopeless, and that he should ask for a negotiated peace. In a sense, every winter was a Valley Forge. Washington's Birthday is a most appropriate occasion for us to talk with each other about things as they are today and things as we know they shall be in the future.įor eight years, General Washington and his Continental Army were faced continually with formidable odds and recurring defeats.

Fireside chats franklin roosevelt