Freedom from Fear - Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd US Pres. - The 4 Freedoms Speech, Jan. 6, 1941

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Wed Jun 5, 2024, 11:46 PM - Edit history (1)

- Andre Dutra, 2024
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- FDR and The Four Freedoms Speech, State of the Union Address, January 6, 1941. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library and Presidential Museum.

Franklin Roosevelt was elected president for an unprecedented third term in 1940 because at the time the world faced unprecedented danger, instability, and uncertainty.

Much of Europe had fallen to the advancing German Army and Great Britain was barely holding its own. A great number of Americans remained committed to isolationism and the belief that the United States should continue to stay out of the war, but President Roosevelt understood Britain's need for American support and attempted to convince the American people of the gravity of the situation.

In his Annual Message to Congress (State of the Union Address) on January 6, 1941, Franklin Roosevelt presented his reasons for American involvement, making the case for continued aid to Great Britain and greater production of war industries at home. In helping Britain, President Roosevelt stated, the United States was fighting for the universal freedoms that all people possessed.

As America entered the war these "four freedoms" - the freedom of speech, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear - symbolized America's war aims and gave hope in the following years to a war-wearied people because they knew they were fighting for freedom. Roosevelt’s preparation of the Four Freedoms Speech was typical of the process that he went through on major policy addresses.

The ideas enunciated in the Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms were the foundational principles that evolved into the Atlantic Charter declared by Winston Churchill and FDR in August 1941; the United Nations Declaration of January 1, 1942; President Roosevelt’s vision for an international organization that became the United Nations after his death; and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948 through the work of Eleanor Roosevelt...
https://www.fdrlibrary.org/four-freedoms

- Four Freedoms Speech, Annual Message to Congress (State of the Union), Jan. 6, 1941. 2 min clip.

[NNadir]

1. I recently attended a forum on this speech at the FDR historic site put on by Cornell.

During the Q&A after one of the lectures, I noted that my personal preference would be freedom from religion.

But yes, it was a great speech, apparently dictated by FDR to his aides without much revision.

[appalachiablue]

4. Interesting, it's a monumental speech and he was brilliant president

in desperate and dangerous times. FDR had the strength and courage to face serious personal struggles and world challenges, fortunately for us.

I understand about the religion freedom.

Thanks for posting!

[NNadir]

5. If you're ever in the area, it's a must see.

This was my wife's and my third trip.

It's overpowering, you really feel the presence.

For me, the most moving place was Valkill, Eleanor's home a short drive away. She was, in my opinion, the greatest Democrat of the 20th century, and without her, FDR might not have been the second greatest.

She defined the best of America.

[Drum]

2. I live on Roosevelt Island in NYC, and the south end of our little island

… beside Manhattan is the FDR Four Freedoms Park.

https://www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org/

It’s really pretty and very inspiring.

[appalachiablue]

3. Yes I want to see it definitely, and hopefully Hyde Park some day. It's been

a while but I used to go to NYC all the time and had relatives there. Mom moved there during WW2 when dad was overseas.

The FDR Memorial in DC is wonderful too. Fala's there and a fine memorial to Eleanor Roosevelt.

Thanks for posting!