Gunderson 11
according to the Schlager Group. While President Roosevelt was delivering his speech to
Congress, as evident from the greeting of “Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the
Senate, of the House of Representatives,” he also had to take into account that he would be
addressing the entire nation via radio. The vast majority American households were tuned
in to this address. The public at this time was in a state of shock, fear, and despair and in
need of strong, effective rhetoric from the leader of their country. Not only was the
president addressing his nation, he was addressing the world. This speech also had
intentions of making it known to the Japanese that there would be consequences for their
actions. In addressing the entire world, Roosevelt made it known to everyone the United
States new stance regarding the war.
Throughout this speech, Roosevelt uses the pronouns ‘our’ and ‘us’, giving the
American people the sense that they are included in these decisions. These words help
unite the American people and give them a sense of cohesiveness. “No matter how long it
may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their
righteous might, will win through to absolute victory” (Roosevelt 1). The president does an
outstanding job of creating this sense of cohesiveness among the American people with his
use of plural pronouns, making the public feel amalgamated as a country. By choosing to
begin with the phrase “Yesterday, December 7, 1941”, Roosevelt is addressing the
immediate historical past. “This placement of yesterday contributes to the overall past-
present-future structure of the address and to the connotative values of ‘time’ in it”
(Stelzner 423). Roosevelt is establishing the date so that it will never be forgotten.
“Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our
interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces-with the unbounding