Mateusz Bogdanowicz
The Core American Values of the
"Declaration of Independence" (1776)
as Reflected in Franklin Delano
Roosevelt’s "Fireside Chats"
(1939-1944)
Echa Przeszłości 13, 327-339
2012
M ateusz Bogdanowicz
K ated ra Filologii Angielskiej
U niw ersytet W arm ińsko-M azurski w Olsztynie
THE CORE AMERICAN VALUES
OF THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
(1776) AS REFLECTED IN FRANKLIN DELANO
ROOSEVELT’S
FIRESIDE CHATS
(1939-1944)
T h e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e w a s n o t o n ly a s ig n if ic a n t d o c u m e n t for t h e p io n e e r in g s t a t e s y s te m u n d e r c o n s tr u c tio n a n d i ts c itiz e n s ; i t w a s a n u n p r e c e d e n te d c a s e o n a m u c h w id e r sc a le . N e v e r b e fo re h a d a n a tio n t e r m i n a t e d a “so c ia l a g r e e m e n t” b e tw e e n th e r u l e d a n d t h e r u l e r . T h r o u g h o u t th e y e a r s , th e p r in c ip le s in c lu d e d i n th e d o c u m e n t c o n s titu te d a s e t o f core t e n e t s close to t h e h e a r t o f e v e ry A m e ric a n . S in c e 1776, th e v a lu e s o f th e D e c l a r a t i o n - b e i t d e lib e r a te ly o r n o t - h a v e c o n s e q u e n tly b e e n s p r e a d in t h e U n ite d S ta te s . H o w ev er, th e f r e q u e n c y o f e m p h a s i s t h a t c e r ta in v a lu e s r e c e iv e d in d if f e r e n t h is to r ic c ir c u m s ta n c e s d iffe re d o v e r t h e s p a n o f y e a rs . I t a p p e a r s a r u le t h a t th e id e a s o f th e D e c l a r a t i o n b e c o m e v iv id ly m a n i fe s te d a t th e m o m e n ts o f p e ril. T h e id e a ls t h a t w e re b r o u g h t to t h e fo re g ro u n d s p e a k v o lu m e s a b o u t th e n a t u r e o f th e t h r e a t s . A n a n a ly s is o f F r a n k lin D e la n o R o o se v e lt’s ra d io F i r e s i d e C h a t s p ro v id e s r ic h food fo r t h o u g h t in th is re s p e c t. T h e c o m p a ris o n o f th e tw o so u rc e s b r in g s c o n c lu s io n s t h a t c a s t e x tr a lig h t o n t h e e v e n ts o f th e tim e s a s w e ll a s o n w h a t v a lu e s g a in e d m o s t a t t e n t i o n a t t h e tim e s o f th e u l tim a te c h a lle n g e s .
T h e id e a o f F D R ’s C h a t s w a s n o t a w a r tim e in v e n tio n1. T h e a im w a s to in fo rm th e n a tio n a b o u t th e s itu a tio n i n t h e c o u n try , g o v e r n m e n t’s p la n s a n d P r e s i d e n t ’s re fle c tio n s . C a s u a l a n d im p r o v is e d a s th e C h a t s m a y h a v e
1 T h e y s t a r t e d o n S u n d a y , 1 2 M a r c h 1 9 3 3 , Fireside Chats o f F ra n klin Delano Roosevelt,
(2 2 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t tp :/ /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /fd r .h tm l> ; cf. K . M ic h a łe k , N a drodze ku potędze. H istoria Stanów Zjednoczonych A m eryki 1961-1945, K iW , W a r s z a w a 1 9 9 3 , p . 3 4 5 .
s e e m e d , th e y w e re c a re fu lly p la n n e d a n d in te n d e d to h a v e a c le a r - c u t im p a c t o n th e lis te n e r s . T h e F i r e s i d e C h a t s w e re a s o r t o f “l itm u s p a p e r ” to t e s t th e so c ia l m o o d s; t h e y a llo w e d R o o se v e lt to s o u n d o u t w h a t A m e ric a w a s a n d w h a t i t w a s n o t p r e p a r e d for. T h e p r e - w a r C h a t s (1 9 3 3 -1 9 3 9 ) w e re m e a n t to u n i t e th e n a tio n , a n d r a is e th e s p i r i t s in th e m id s t o f th e G r e a t D e p re s s io n . T h e h o m e eco n o m ic c o n d itio n w a s d r a m a tic in 1933, th e s u c c e ss o f th e P r e s i d e n t ’s a t t e m p t s to im p ro v e th e s itu a tio n s e e m e d d e b a ta b le 2. T h u s effe c tiv e c o m m u n ic a tio n w ith th e n a tio n a p p e a r e d c ru c ia l. T h e b r o a d c a s ts w e re to p ro v id e R o o se v e lt w ith th e n e e d e d p o litic a l b a c k u p to cope w ith th e eco n o m ic a n d so c ia l s it u a t i o n 3. T h e r e w a s l ittle ro o m fo r in t e r n a t i o n a l p o litic s in th o s e p r e - w a r C h a t s 4.
C o n v ersely , th e w a r tim e b r o a d c a s ts (1 9 3 9 -1 9 4 4 ) w e re b o u n d w ith th e in t e r n a t i o n a l a ffa irs , t h u s s ig n ific a n tly m o re clo sely r e la te d to th e v a lu e s of th e D e c l a r a t i o n . T h e C h a t s b e c a m e m o re u n iv e r s a l in m e a n in g , w h ic h m a d e th e m c o m p e llin g a n d m e a n in g f u l n o t o n ly fo r th e A m e ric a n s . N o t o n ly d id th e b r o a d c a s ts a p p ly to th e U n ite d S t a t e s o r N o r th A m e ric a , b u t a lso to u c h e d u p o n th e c h a lle n g e s v ita l fo r t h e e n tir e w o rld . T h a t c o n c lu s io n s e e m s th e f ir s t a n a lo g y b e tw e e n th e C h a t s a n d th e D e c l a r a t i o n; t h e y b o th a u g u r e d g e o p o litic a l c h a n g e s a n d a re m o d e lle d w o rld o r d e r a n d th e f u tu r e b a la n c e o f p o w e rs.
* * *
T h e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e w a s ro o te d in th e E u r o p e a n A ge of E n lig h te n m e n t; th e r e f o r e , n o t e n tir e ly w a s i t a n “A m e ric a n in v e n tio n ”. T h e m o s t e v id e n t E u r o p e a n - o r ig in c o n c e p t in th e D e c l a r a t i o n is t h a t c o n c e rn in g th e r e la tio n s b e tw e e n th e r u l e r a n d th e ru le d , d e v e lo p e d b y J e a n J a c q u e s R o u s s e a u 5 . E v e ry h u m a n b e in g is b o r n w ith a s e t o f c e r ta in c a r d in a l r ig h ts , s u c h a s th e r i g h t to liv e, fre e d o m a n d p u r s u i t o f h a p p in e s s . T h e s e r ig h ts a r e in a lie n a b le sin c e th e y h a v e b e e n g r a n te d b y th e G od. T h e D e c l a r a t i o n , t h e r e
2 A c tu a lly , a lo t o f F D R ’s “N e w D e a l ” m e a s u r e s h a d n o t b e e n o r i g i n a l l y R o o s e v e l t ’s (e .g . p u b lic w o r k s o r r e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f i n d u s t r y s c h e m e s ) . T h e y w e r e a n e x t e n s i o n or p l a n s o f th e p r e v io u s a d m in is t r a t io n u n d e r H e r b e r t H o o v e r . T h e o th e r s - o f F D R ’s a u t h o r s h i p - a r e a s s e s s e d b y h i s t o r i a n s i n v a r i o u s w a y s a s fo r t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e i r s . C f. K . M ic h a łe k , N a drodze...,
p p . 3 1 0 - 3 1 1 ; J . P o w e ll, How F D R ’s N ew Deal H arm ed M illions o f Poor People. (7 N o v . 2 0 1 1 ), [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .c a t o .o r g /p u b _ d is p la y .p h p ? p u b _ id = 3 3 5 7 >; W .E . L e u c h t e n b u r g , The FD R Years: On Roosevelt a n d H is Legacy, C o lu m b ia U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s (7 N o v 2 0 1 1 ), [o n lin e ] < h ttp :// w w w .w a s h i n g t o n p o s t .c o m / w p - s r v / s t y l e / l o n g t e r m / b o o k s / c h a p 1 / f d r y e a r s .h t m >. 3 T h e f u l l c o n t e n t s o f t h e o r ig in a l Chats a v a i l a b l e a t (1 8 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t t p :/ / w w w .m h r i c .o r g / f d r /f d r .h t m l >. 4 A ll t h e Chats f r o m t h e p e r io d 1 2 M a r c h 1 9 3 3 - 2 4 J u n e 1 9 3 9 w e r e e x c l u s i v e l y d e v o t e d to t h e h o m e m a t t e r s , e c o n o m y a n d c r i s is . C f. t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e Fireside Chats, ( 2 2 N o v . 2 0 1 1 ), [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /fd r .h tm l>.
5 J .J . R o u s s e a u , The Social Contract or Principles o f Political R ight. E n g . t r a n s l . G .D .H . C o le , (6 F e b . 2 0 1 2 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h ttp ://w w w .c o n s t it u t io n .o r g /j jr /s o c o n .h t m > , B o o k 1, c h a p t e r s 6 , 7 , 8; B o o k 2 , c h a p t e r 1 2 ; B o o k 3 , c h a p t e r 10 .
fo re, w a s a r e v o lu tio n a r y a c t e s ta b lis h in g a s y s te m o f in te r p e r s o n a l r e la tio n s w ith in th e n e w s t a t e o rg a n is m . T h e re m in is c e n c e s o f t h e ab o v e a r e o b s e rv a b le in th e F i r e s i d e C h a t s . R o o se v e lt f r e q u e n tly r e f e r s to h u m a n d ig n ity a n d h u m a n r i g h t s in g e n e r a l6. I t is n o tic e a b le i n th e f r a g m e n ts c o n c e rn in g h is a p p e a ls fo r h u m a n i t a r i a n h e lp fo r c iv ilia n s in th e N a z i-G e rm a n y -o c c u p ie d c o u n tr ie s7. T h e r ig h ts to
liv e , fre e d o m fro m f e a r a n d p u r s u i t o f h a p p in e s s a r e r e g u la r ly e m p h a s iz e d8.
A d d itio n a lly , t h e P r e s i d e n t p u t i t c le a rly t h a t th e m e n tio n e d r i g h t s a p p ly to
a l l n a tio n s - in c lu d in g th e so c ie tie s o f th e c o u n tr ie s t h a t w e re h o s tile to th e U n ite d S t a t e s9. D u e to s u c h a n a p p r o a c h R o o se v e lt p r o m o te d in a lie n a b ility o f th e h u m a n r ig h ts , r e g a r d le s s o f th e c u r r e n t s itu a tio n .
T h e ab o v e l e t P r e s i d e n t R o o se v e lt s e p a r a te tw o e le m e n ts in d is p e n s a b le fo r th e f u tu r e p o litic s o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s w ith b o t h th e w in n e r s a n d th e lo s e rs . T h e p a r t i n g o f th e so c ie ty fro m th e r u le r ( s ) a llo w e d fo r c r itic iz in g th e
s y s t e m s w ith o u t d a m n in g t h e p e o p l e . R e g a r d le s s w h a t th e e x te n t o f so cial s u p p o r t fo r H itle r, M u s s o lin i o r H ir o h ito th e r e w a s in t h e i r c o u n trie s , s u c h a s tr a t e g y o p e n e d th e U n ite d S t a t e s a w a y to d e f e a t b u t n o t to h u m i l i a t e th e en em y . T h e id e a o f s e p a r a tio n is c le a r in th e D e c l a r a t i o n , too; i t d re w a lin e b e tw e e n th e K in g ’s v io la tio n s to w a r d s th e C o lo n ie s a n d th e B r itis h so cie ty ( r e f e r re d to a s th e “B r i t i s h B r e t h r e n ”1 0). I t n e e d s to b e u n d e r s to o d i t is n o t th e n a t i o n s b u t s t a t e s t h a t g e t in v o lv e d in w a rs . T h e ju x ta p o s itio n of th e tw o c a te g o rie s : n a t i o n a n d s t a t e h a d b e e n a n in v e n tio n o f th e D e c l a r a t i o n ; h o w e v e r i t w a s su c c e s s fu lly a p p lie d to th e C h a t s , too. T h e re , P r e s i d e n t R o o se v e lt s k ilfu lly u s e d th e a b o v e r e a s o n in g o n th e f u n d a m e n ta ls , w h e n h e r e f e r r e d to t h e r e s p e c te d A m e r ic a n v a lu e s ; h e k n e w h is c o m p a tr io ts w o u ld a c c e p t no in f r in g e m e n t o f t h o s e1 1.
Q u o tin g t h e D e c l a r a t i o n , i t m a y b e s a id t h a t th e A m e ric a n w a r c re e d is to a c c e p t th e “a c q u ie sc e in th e n e c e ssity , w h ic h d e n o u n c e s o u r s e p a r a tio n , a n d h o ld th e m , a s w e h o ld th e r e s t o f m a n k in d , e n e m ie s in w a r, in p e a c e
6 C f. Fireside C hat d a t e d 2 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 9 , 2 7 M a y 1 9 4 1 , 11 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 1 to n a m e b u t a f e w e x a m p l e s , ( 1 5 N o v . 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t tp : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 8 .h t m l>.
7 F. D . R o o s e v e lt , A ddress o f the P resident delivered by radio from the White House, 28 J u ly 1943, ( 1 2 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 2 5 .h t m l> .
8 F. D . R o o s e v e lt , A ddress o f the P resident delivered by radio from the White House, 26 M ay 1940, ( 2 8 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 5 .h t m l> .
9 C f. F ire sid e C h a t d a t e d 1 1 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 1 , ( 7 O c t . 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n l i n e ] < h t t p : / / w w w .m h r i c .o r g / f d r /c h a t 1 8 .h t m l> . I t w a s e v e n m o r e s o a f t e r 7 D e c . 1 9 4 1 a n d t h e U S a c c e s s i o n to w a r . R o o s e v e l t s t u c k a s t r i c t d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n J a p a n , G e r m a n y a n d I t a l y a s n a t i o n s a n d t h e i r e v i l r u le r s o r p o l i t i c a l p r o p a g a n d is t s . I t i s m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t i n t h e C h a ts: B roadcast from the Oval Room o f the White House, N ationally a n d over a World-wide Hookup: D e c . 1 9 4 1 , o r in
A ddress o f the President: 7 S e p t . 1 9 4 2 , [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 2 2 .h t m l>.
10 C f. t h e t e x t o f t h e D eclaration o f Independence [in :] K . M ic h a łe k , Konstytucja oraz inne podstawowe dokum enty i sym bole am erykańskiej ku ltu ry patriotycznej, M A D A , W a r s z a w a 2 0 0 5 ,
p p . 1 1 - 1 3 .
11A d d ress o f the P resident delivered by radio from the W hite House, 26 M ay 1940,
f r ie n d s ”1 2. I n c lu d in g s u c h a s t a t e m e n t w a s w e ll th o u g h t- o u t. I n F. D . R o o se v e lt’s t a l k s th e U n ite d S t a t e s ’ e n e m ie s w e re r e f e r r e d to a s H itle r, M u s s o lin i, th e A x is, fa s c is m , B e rlin , Tokyo o r “m i l i t a r i s t g a n g s te r s ”1 3. R a r e ly w e re th e y G e r m a n s , I t a l i a n s o r th e J a p a n e s e1 4. T h e a llie s w e re r e f e r r e d to a s th e
B r itis h , B e lg ia n s , P o lis h n a tio n , U n ite d N a tio n s , fo rc e s o f d e m o c ra c y e tc .15
T h e m e s s a g e to A m e ric a a n d th e w o rld w a s s e lf-e x p la n a to ry : th e U n ite d S t a t e s fo u g h t th e e v i l s t a t e s y s t e m s a n d n o t n a t i o n s ,j u s t lik e th e D e c l a r a t i o n
h a d s e p a r a te d t h e tw o b efo re.
A d d itio n a lly , th e u s e o f p lu r a l e x p r e s s io n s , s u c h a s f o r c e s o r p o w e r s ,
a s s o c ia te d w ith m ig h t a n d g r e a tn e s s , w h ic h d r a s tic a lly c o n tr a s te d w ith s in g u la r e x p r e s s io n s s u c h a s t h e A x i s o r f a s c i s m 16, w a s to im p ly w e a k n e s s a n d is o la tio n o f th e enem y. S u c h a n u n e q u iv o c a l d iv is io n h a d a lso b e e n in s p ir e d b y th e D e c l a r a t i o n sin c e - fo r t h e A m e ric a n s - th e c e r titu d e t h e y r e p r e s e n t th e r i g h t v a lu e s h a s a lw a y s b e e n c r u c ia l1 7. I n th e D e c l a r a t i o n , B r i t a i n is p ic tu r e d a s ‘K in g ’, ‘B r itis h C ro w n ’, ‘h e ’ e tc ., w h ile th e A m e ric a n s r e f e r to th e m s e lv e s a s ‘s u b je c ts ’, ‘th e s e c o lo n ie s’, ‘T h ir te e n S t a t e s ’, ‘o n e p e o p le ’, ‘w e ’ a n d so on.
T h e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e h a d e m p h a s iz e d th e r e s tr ic tio n s im p o s e d o n th e C o lo n ie s b y th e C ro w n (s u c h a s lim ite d c itiz e n s h ip , ju d ic ia r y o r l a n d a p p r o p r ia tio n ) ; t h e y h a r m e d v ir tu a lly e v e r y c itiz e n o f t h e N e w W orld. T h e a u th o r s h a d r e a liz e d t h a t i t w a s th e i n d i v i d u a l s w h o m a d e u p th e A m e ric a n s o c ie ty1 8. So d id r e a liz e F r a n k l i n D. R o o sev elt; in h is C h a t s h e w e n t to g r e a t le n g th s to in d ic a te h o w e s s e n tia l th e q u a l i t y a t t i t u d e o f e a c h c itiz e n w a s. H e la id e m p h a s is o n t h e im p o r ta n c e o f d is tin c tiv e n e s s : in d iv id u a ls w e re v a lu a b le fo r th e c o u n tr y a s a w h o le1 9. H e n c e , th e v a lu e o f “le g io n s ”
12 K . M ic h a łe k , K onstytucja..., p p . 1 1 - 1 3 .
13 C f., fo r e x a m p l e , t h e C hat d a t e d 2 8 J u l y 1 9 4 3 , (1 1 N o v . 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / / w w w .m h r i c .o r g / f d r / c h a t 1 8 .h t m l >.
14 I b id e m .
15 C f. A ddress o f the P resident delivered by radio from the White House, 11 J a n u a ry 1944
to n a m e b u t a n e x a m p le , [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 2 8 .h t m l> ; A ddress o f the Presi d en t delivered by radio from H yde Park, N Y 24 December 1943, (1 5 O c t 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t t p :/ / w w w .m h r i c .o r g / f d r / c h a t 2 7 .h t m l >. 16 C f. t h e Chats d a t e d 2 3 F e b . 1 9 4 2 ,1 2 O c t. 1 9 4 2 , 2 8 J u l y 1 9 4 3 o r J u n e 5 1 9 4 4 (1 1 N ov. 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 8 .h t m l >. 17 I t i s s t r i k i n g l y n o t ic e a b l e i n t h e c a s e o f t h e V i e t n a m W a r a n d t h e t r e a t m e n t t h a t th e U S v e t e r a n s r e c e iv e d a t h o m e a f t e r t h a t w a r , c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e i n c e n t i v e s t h a t w e r e o ff e r e d to t h e W W II a n d K o r e a n W a r v e t e r a n s . T h e s o c ie ty , f e e l i n g t h a t t h e c o n f li c t i n V i e t n a m w a s n o t a “g o o d w a r ” ( a n o r ig in a l A m e r ic a n e x p r e s s io n ) , c o n d e m n e d t h e A m e r ic a n s o ld ie r s a n d r e f u s e d g r a n t i n g t h e m p r i v i l e g e s t h a t w e r e a v a i l a b l e to t h e v e t e r a n s o f t h e p r e v io u s c o n f lic t s . 18 S e e n i n t h e f r a g m e n t o n t h e B r i t i s h K in g ’s in j u s t i c e b e g i n n i n g fr o m “H e h a s r e f u s e d h i s a s s e n t to l a w s .. . ” a n d f i n i s h i n g “H e h a s e x c i t e d d o m e s t i c in s u r r e c t i o n s a m o n g s t u s , a n d h a s e n d e a v o r e d t o b r i n g o n t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f o u r f r o n t ie r s , t h e m e r c i l e s s I n d i a n s a v a g e s , w h o s e k n o w n r u le o f w a r f a r e , i s u n d i s t i n g u i s h e d d e s t r u c t i o n o f a l l a g e s , s e x e s a n d c o n d it io n s ” (2 0 O ct. 2 0 1 0 ) , [o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .e a r ly a m e r ic a .c o m /e a r ly a m e r ic a /f r e e d o m /d o i/t e x t .h t m l>. 19 C o m p a r e t h e t e x t o f t h e C hats d a t e d 2 8 A p r il 1 9 4 2 , 1 2 O c to b e r 1 9 4 2 a n d 2 M a y 1 9 4 3 , ( 3 0 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 8 .h t m l >.
o f a w a re , p a tr io tic a n d d e d ic a te d i n d i v i d u a l s w a s in c o m p a ra b le to s u b o r d i n a te d , in tim id a te d a n d in c a p a c ita t e d m a s s e s r u le d b y t h e t o t a l i t a r i a n e n e m y re g im e s . T h is f irm b e lie f w a s a lso a le s s o n F r a n k l i n D. R o o se v e lt d r e w fro m th e D e c l a r a t i o n 20. * * * P o w e r is y e t a n o th e r f u n d a m e n ta l is s u e in th e D e c l a r a t i o n . T h e L o c k e a n c o n c e p t o f so c ia l a g r e e m e n t is c r itic a l h e r e . T h e a u th o r ity o f th e r u l e r s s te m s fro m t h e i r p o w e r b e in g a c c e p te d b y th e r u l e d. T h e g o v e rn m e n t is to r u le in a j u s t m a n n e r. T h e r u le d ob lig e th e m s e lv e s to s u b o r d in a te to s u c h a n a u t h o r ity ; n e v e r th e le s s , t h e y h a v e th e r i g h t to o b je c t to a n u n j u s t p o w e r21. I n t h e p r o p a g a n d is t s e n s e , th e a b o v e id e a w a s c r u c ia l to F r a n k l i n D. R o o sev elt. T h e P r e s id e n t o f a d e m o c ra tic s t a t e w a s s u p p o s e d to le a d h is c o u n tr y a n d n a tio n th r o u g h th e w a r p o s in g a s “th e g o o d le a d e r ”. H e w a n te d to m a k e th e A m e ric a n s p e rc e iv e h im t h a t w a y a n d c o n v in ce th e m to obey h is a u th o r ity r a t h e r t h a n c h a n g e h im in th e n e x t e le c tio n s. A m e a n s fo r R o o se v e lt to a c h ie v e t h a t w a s to m a k e h is c o u n tr y m e n b e lie v e h e w a s a j u s t h e a d - a m o s t tro u b le s o m e t a s k in th e t h e n r e a l i t i e s 22 sin c e th e w a r c o n d itio n s co u ld s p a r k off c ris e s o f p o w e r a n d a c ts o f civ il d is o b e d ie n c e 23. T h e fa c t t h a t R o o se v e lt w a s a u t h o r i t a r i a n a n d c o m m a n d in g d id n o t f a c ilita te th e jo b . S till, h e s k ilfu lly g o t o v e r h is v ic e s to a c c o m p lis h h is h ig h - p r io r ity a im s - u n p r e c e d e n te d ly , h e r e m a in e d in th e office fo r th r e e te r m s .
T h e C h a t s c le a r ly d e m o n s tr a te th e P r e s i d e n t ’s a t t e m p t s to w in h is co m p a t r i o t s ’ favour. H e evoked th e d u tie s a n d re sp o n sib ilitie s o f th e r u le r s a n d th e r u l e d a l i k e . I t s e e m s - m u c h li k e t h e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e
- a m a n if e s ta tio n o f th e n e c e s s a ry d ialo g u e b e tw e e n th e society a n d a u th o r ity 24. T h e D e c l a r a t io n p ro v id e d fo u n d a tio n s fo r c r e a tio n o f a p e c u lia r n a tio n : free ,
20 I t i s c le a r fr o m , e .g . t h e D e c l a r a t i o n p a r a g r a p h b e g in n in g : “N o r h a v e w e b e e n w a n t i n g i n a t t e n t i o n . .. ”, D eclaration o f Independence, (7 D e c . 2 0 1 1 ), [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .e a r ly a m e r i- c a .c o m / e a r l y a m e r i c a / f r e e d o m / d o i / t e x t .h t m l > .
21 C f. t h e s e c o n d a n d th ir d p a r a g r a p h o f t h e D eclaration o f Independence [in :] K . M ic h a łe k , Konstytucja..., p p . 1 1 - 1 3 .
22 I t n e e d s t o b e b o r n e i n m in d t h a t t h e o p p o s it io n a g a i n s t a n y A m e r ic a n i n v o l v e m e n t in t h e r o u g h p o li t ic s o f t h e E u r o p e a n p o w e r s w a s s i g n i f i c a n t i n t h e U S . F D R h a d to s t r u g g le a g a i n s t a p o w e r f u l a n t i - w a r lo b b y i n t h e C o n g r e s s a s w e l l a s w i t h t h e s o c ia l a n d p o li t ic a l m o v e m e n t s o f s i g n i f i c a n t in f l u e n c e s u c h a s Am erica F irst Committee.
23 T h a t w a s a c o m m o n p h e n o m e n o n i n n e i g h b o u r i n g C a n a d a w h e r e t h e M a c k e n z i e K in g ’s C a b i n e t s t r u g g l e d a l l t h e w a r w i t h s o c ia l u n r e s t , p o li t ic a l a n d s o c ia l c r i s e s o v e r c o n s c r ip t io n ( 1 9 4 2 , 1 9 4 4 ) a n d t h e e c o n o m ic a n d f o r e ig n a f f a ir s c h a l l e n g e s o f t h e w a r t i m e . C f. W .A .B . D o u g l a s , B . G r e e n h o u s , O ut o f the Shadow s: C anada in the Second Word War, O U P , T o ro n to - O x fo r d - N e w Y o rk 1 9 7 7 . 24 C f. t h e C hat o n t h e d e c l a r a t i o n o f w a r o n J a p a n , 9 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 1 , (2 3 N o v . 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 8 .h t m l> . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t n e e d s to b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t t h e v a l u e t h a t F D R p u t a b o v e a l l i n p o li t ic s w a s e f f e c t i v e n e s s . S in c e p o w e r a n d c o e r c io n w a s t h e q u i c k e s t a n d u l t i m a t e w a y t o a c h ie v e p o li t ic a l g o a ls , h e w a s u s e d to a p p l y i n g c o e r c io n i n h i s p o li t ic s .
in d e p e n d e n t a n d d a r in g ; y e t, ab o v e a ll, c h e r is h in g t h e r u le o f law . T h e n a tio n w a s a w a r e o f b o th : its d u tie s a n d i ts r ig h ts . A s F r a n k l i n D. R o o se v e lt w a n te d to r e m a in in t h e le a d , h e h a d n o ch o ice b u t to a c t a c c o rd in g ly to w h a t th e p e o p le c o u l d a c c e p t a n d a v o id in g w h a t t h e y c o u l d n o t.
C o n c u rre n tly , th e P r e s i d e n t p o in te d ly m a n if e s te d h is a lle g e d re lu c ta n c e to c o e rc io n2 5 - o n e o f th e f u n d a m e n ts o f th e B r i t i s h fo re ig n p o lic y m a k in g in th e e ig h te e n th c e n tu ry , w h ic h le d - a s u s e d i n a n u n s k ilf u l m a n n e r - to th e e m a n c ip a tio n o f th e t h i r t e e n c o lo n ie s a n d th e c o n c lu s io n o f th e U n ite d S t a te s . T h e society, a c c o rd in g to th e P r e s id e n t, s h o u ld b e a p p e a le d to a n d co n v in c e d ; th u s , th e g o v e r n m e n t s h o u ld p ic tu r e th e s itu a tio n in a f r a n k w a y2 6. I t is, o n th e o th e r h a n d , t h e d u ty o f th e c itiz e n s to r e m e m b e r th a t :
[...] governm ents long established should not be changed for light and tr a n sien t causes; and accordingly all experience h a th shown th a t m ankind are m ore disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, th a n to rig h t them selves by abolishing the forms to which th ey are accustom ed...27.
T h e g o v e r n m e n t’s d u ty is to i n f o r m; s till, i t is a civ il d u ty to b e i n f o r m e d . T h a t w a s h o w th e P r e s i d e n t p u t i t in h is C h a t s . T h e s a m e a p p r o a c h c a n b e n o tic e d in t h e D e c l a r a t i o n . I n h is b r o a d c a s ts , R o o se v e lt p u t h im s e lf in th e p o s itio n o f a “m a n a g e r ” o f th e c o u n try . H e w a n te d to b e p e r c e iv e d a s a p a t r i o t a n d civ il s e r v a n t o f t h e n a tio n . T h e so c ia l p e r c e p tio n o f h is u n d e r s ta n d in g o f a l e a d e r ’s d u tie s a n d h is p la c e in th e so c ie ty w e re p ic tu r e d a s id e n tic a l to h o w th e F o u n d in g F a t h e r s h a d s e e n th o s e y e a r s b e fo re2 8.
T h e D e c l a r a t i o n a s w e ll a s q u ite a p ro p o r tio n o f th e F i r e s i d e C h a t s
w e re c r e a te d i n th e face o f w ar. T h e y w e re a im e d to m e n ta lly p r e p a r e th e s o c ie ty fo r a co n flic t t h a t a la r g e s h a r e o f A m e ric a n s d id n o t fu lly c o m p re h e n d - i n e i t h e r c a se . F o r t h a t re a s o n , th e ta c tic s o f th e a u th o r s in b o th c a s e s w e re id e n tic a l:
a) lis tin g fa u lts , re s tric tio n s a n d v io la tio n s o f th e e n e m ie s o f th e A m erican s; b) a p p e a lin g fo r u n d e r s t a n d i n g th e a u th o r itie s a n d p r e v e n tin g a n y d e fia n c e o f th e g o v e r n m e n t’s d ecisio n s;
c) o u tlin in g t h e e n e m y a c tio n s t a k e n a g a i n s t A m e ric a , w h ic h le f t no a l te r n a tiv e b u t a c tiv e c o u n te r m e a s u r e s2 9. 25 A m o n g o t h e r s , c l e a r l y s e e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n i n t h e C hat d a t e d 2 8 J u l y 1 9 4 3 , (1 3 O ct. 2 0 1 0 ) [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 8 .h t m l>. 26 S e e n in , fo r e x a m p le , t h e f r a g m e n t o n c o n c lu s io n o f t h e A x is P a c t: “o n S e p t e m b e r 2 7 th , 1 9 4 0 , t h i s y e a r , b y a n a g r e e m e n t s i g n e d i n B e r lin , t h r e e p o w e r f u l n a t i o n s , t w o i n E u r o p e a n d o n e i n A s i a , j o i n e d t h e m s e l v e s t o g e t h e r i n t h e t h r e a t t h a t i f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r ic a in t e r f e r e d w i t h o r b lo c k e d t h e e x p a n s i o n p r o g r a m o f t h e s e t h r e e n a t i o n s - a p r o g r a m a im e d a t w o r ld c o n t r o l - t h e y w o u ld u n i t e i n u l t i m a t e a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , ” 2 9 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 0 ; ( 2 2 N o v . 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] <h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 6 .h t m l >.
27D eclaration o f Independence, [in :] K . M ic h a łe k , Konstytucja..., p p . 1 1 - 1 5 .
28 C f. p a r t s o n g o v e r n m e n t n a t u r e i n A ddress o f P resident delivered by radio from the White House, 2 6 M a y , 1 9 4 0 , (1 8 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] <h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 5 .h t m l> .
29 T h e s t r a t e g y i s c l e a r l y s e e n i n e .g . t h e C hat fr o m 9 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 1 , (1 2 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ), [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 8 .h t m l >.
I t w a s n e c e s s a ry to do e v e ry th in g p o ssib le to m a k e th e A m e ric a n s u n d e r s ta n d w h y a n d i n w h a t c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e i r g o v e rn m e n t w a s s e n d in g th e m to w a r 30. T h e A m e ric a n d e c is io n -m a k e rs tr e a t e d th e so ciety a s in te llig e n t, co n scio u s a n d w e ll-in fo rm e d in d iv id u a ls . C o n se q u e n tly , th e y co u ld n o t h a v e b e e n o rd e re d to fig h t w ith o u t a b s o lu te c la r ity a s fo r th e r e a s o n s 31. S in ce in t h a t re s p e c t th e D e c l a r a t i o n se e m e d effective, R o o se v e lt u s e d a n a n a lo g o u s tactic. I n h is F i r e s i d e C h a t s , th e P r e s i d e n t p a id a t t e n t i o n to th e m a t t e r o f th e a u th o r iz a tio n o f t h e g o v e rn m e n t. H e w a s - a s th e so c ie ty h a d c h o s e n so - th e c o u n tr y ’s le a d e r m a d e b y th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s to a c t in a w a r lik e w a y 32. I t is e a s y to t r a c e in th e F i r e s i d e C h a t s th e ech o o f th e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n ce c o n c e p t o f c o m b a tin g th e t o t a l i t a r i a n s y s te m s a s th e e v i l p o w e r s . W h a t is m o re , th e c o m b a t w a s c a r r ie d o u t in c o n c o rd w ith a d e m o c ra tic so cie ty c o n d e m n in g c o e rc io n 33.
T h e D e c l a r a t i o n h a d m a in ly focused o n th e U n ite d S ta te s , its sy s te m a n d in te re s ts . T h a t h a d b e e n th e p e rsp e c tiv e fro m w h ic h th e r e s t o f th e w o rld h a d b e e n p erceiv ed b a c k th e n . T h e v iew s o f F r a n k lin D. R o o sev elt w ere sim ilar, a lth o u g h th e in te r n a tio n a l s itu a tio n a n d th e p o sitio n o f th e c o u n try d r a m a tic a l ly evolved. B y th e n , th e U n ite d S ta te s h a d beco m e a solid a n d w e ll-o rg a n iz ed p o litic a l o rg a n is m in c o m p a ra b ly m o re in f lu e n tia l in in te r n a tio n a l r e la tio n s .
T h e d a n g e r s a n d a llia n c e s h a d a lso c h a n g e d sin c e th e tim e s o f th e D e c l a r a t i o n . T h e re fo re , th e P r e s i d e n t sp o k e p ro p o r tio n a te ly m o re o n t h e w o rld m a t t e r s in h is F i r e s i d e C h a t s . O bviously, h e d id t h a t fro m th e p e rs p e c tiv e of th e A m e ric a n i n t e r e s t s 34. B e tw e e n S e p te m b e r 1939 a n d D e c e m b e r 1941 th e U n ite d S t a t e s w a s fo rm a lly n e u t r a l a n d s tr o n g ly is o la tio n is t to w a r d s th e E u r o p e a n m a tte r s . T h r o u g h th e C h a t s o f th e p e rio d , th e so c ie ty re c e iv e d a c o m p re h e n s ib le m e s s a g e w h y c e r t a i n s te p s h a d to b e m a d e 35 a n d w h a t c o n s e q u e n c e s /b e n e fits th e in itia tiv e s w e re g o in g to b rin g .
30 R o o s e v e l t e x p a n d s o n t h a t - a m o n g o t h e r s i n A ddresses o f President d e l i v e r e d b y r a d io fr o m t h e W h it e H o u s e d a t e d 2 6 M a y 1 9 4 0 a n d 2 9 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 0 , ( 1 0 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 5 .h t m l> . 31 I t h a d b e e n a d e l i c a t e m a t t e r fr o m t h e m o m e n t G e r a ld N y e ’s C o m m i t t e e r e v e a l e d t h e U S b u s i n e s s a n d b a n k e r s ’ h i d d e n a g e n d a b e h i n d e n t e r i n g W W I. 32 “I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e A x is n o t m e r e l y a d m i t s b u t t h e A x is p r o c la im s t h a t t h e r e c a n b e n o u l t i m a t e p e a c e b e t w e e n t h e i r p h i l o s o p h y o f g o v e r n m e n t a n d o u r p h ilo s o p h y o f g o v e r n m e n t . I n v i e w o f t h e n a t u r e o f t h i s u n d e n i a b l e t h r e a t , i t c a n b e a s s e r t e d , p r o p e r ly a n d c a te g o r i c a lly , t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s h a s n o r i g h t or r e a s o n to e n c o u r a g e t a l k o f p e a c e , u n t i l t h e d a y s h a l l c o m e w h e n t h e r e i s a c le a r i n t e n t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f t h e a g g r e s s o r n a t i o n s to a b a n d o n a l l t h o u g h t o f d o m i n a t i n g o r c o n q u e r in g t h e w o r ld ”. T h e C hatd a t e d 2 9 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 0 , (9 N o v . 2 0 1 0 ) , [o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 6 .h t m l> . 33 I t i s c le a r ly r e f le c t e d i n t h e Chats d a t e d 2 6 M a y 1 9 4 0 a n d 2 9 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 0 , (9 N o v . 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] <h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 5 .h t m l>. 34 V i r t u a l l y e v e r y w a r t i m e C hat i s a p r o o f o f t h e t h e s i s , ( 1 9 N o v . 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t tp :/ / w w w .m h r i c .o r g / f d r / c h a t 1 6 .h t m l >.
35 T h e s p e e c h o n The A rsenal o f Democracy s e r v e s a n e x c e l l e n t e x a m p l e h e r e . Radio A ddress D elivered by P resident Roosevelt From Washington, December 29, 1940, (7 N o v . 2 0 1 1 ),
T h e u n w a v e r in g b e lie f in v ic to ry is a n o th e r s t r i k i n g f e a tu r e o f th e F i r e s i d e C h a t s - a g a in m a k in g th e m so s im ila r to th e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e .
I t h a d a lso “g lo w e d ” w ith th e c o n v ic tio n o f su c c e ss - so m u c h a n A m e ric a n v a lu e3 6. N e v e r th e le s s , P r e s i d e n t R o o se v e lt w a s n o t p ro v id in g a ro s y p ic tu re :
th e v ic to ry w a s r e s e n te d a s re m o te a n d r e q u ir in g sa c rific e . N e ith e r d id th e P r e s i d e n t p ro v id e d e lu s io n o f q u ic k s o lu tio n s n o r u n p r o b le m a tic s u c c e s s e s3 7.
I t w a s to re in fo rc e t h e P r e s i d e n t ’s c re d ib ility , a n d so i t d id sin c e th e is o la tio n i s t m o o d s w e re d y in g f a s t, e s p e c ia lly a f te r P e a r l H a rb o r.
To p ro v id e th e A m e ric a n s w ith th e c e r ta in ty t h a t th e a d m in is tr a tio n w e re “th e r i g h t p e o p le in th e r ig h t s e a t s ”, th e F i r e s i d e C h a t s, y e t a g a in , s im ila r ly to th e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e, u s e d a m o s t c o m p re h e n s ib le la n g u a g e . I n b o th c a s e s i t w a s p la in a n d s tr a ig h tf o r w a r d ; f r e q u e n t u s e of m o d a ls a n d s in g le c la u s e s e m p h a s iz e d e m o tio n s a n d sp o k e to th e m o o d s. A t p la c e s , c o llo q u ia lis m s c a n b e fo u n d in b o th c a se s; n o p o litic a l m u m b lin g o r s p e c ia lis t ja r g o n ; j u s t v iv id c o m p a ris o n s a n d r ig h t- o n - th e - m a r k m e ta p h o r s3 8.
T h e c a re fo r b e in g u n d e r s to o d w e ll a n d re c e iv e d p ro p e r ly is c le a rly n o tic e a b le . S u c h c a r e f u ln e s s fo r th e lin g u is tic a s p e c t o f t h e b r o a d c a s ts t r a n s l a t e d in to t h e i r h u g e p o p u la r ity3 9.
T h is p o p u la r ity w a s th e e v e n tu a l ev id e n c e o f so cial a c c e p tan c e . I t w a s y e t a n o th e r le s s o n o f A m e ric a n v a lu e s le a r n e d b y R o o sev elt fro m th e r e a d in g o f th e D e c l a r a t i o n: n o t o n ly th e c o n t e n t, b u t also th e f o r m o f th e m e s s a g e tu r n e d o u t e s s e n tia l. T h e c itiz e n s a b le to u n d e r s ta n d t h e i r le a d e r s fe lt re s p e c te d a n d a p p re c ia te d . U n d e r s ta n d in g b e a r s t r u s t ; i t le a d s to a c c e p ta n c e a n d so cial li k in g . A n d R o o sev elt, th r o u g h h is F i r e s i d e C h a t s, m a n a g e d to a c h iev e th o s e4 0.
* * *
A n o th e r id e a fo u n d in th e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e, v ita l to th e U n i te d S t a t e s p o lic y m a k e rs b e tw e e n 1939 a n d 1945, w e re th e c o n c e p ts o f a n in d e p e n d e n t s t a t e a n d n a tio n a l s e c u rity . N o n - m ilita r is t in t h e i r to n e a s th e
36 T h e e x a m p l e m i g h t b e t h e D e c l a r a t i o n ’s s e c t i o n b e g in n in g : “W e , th e r e f o r e , t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r ic a , i n G e n e r a l C o n g r e s s .. . ”, D eclaration o f Independen ce, [o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .e a r ly a m e r ic a .c o m /e a r ly a m e r ic a /f r e e d o m /d o i/t e x t .h t m l >.
37 S e e , fo r e x a m p le , t h e t e x t o f t h e C hat d a t e d 11 J a n u a r y 1 9 4 4 . (9 N o v . 2 0 1 0 ) , [o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 1 6 .h t m l>.
38 D . M a n k o w s k i, J . R a i s s a , Flashback,: The 70th A nniversary o f Fireside Chats, (1 2 O ct. 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / / w w w .m u s e u m .t v / e x h i b i t i o n s s e c t i o n .p h p ? p a g e = 7 9 >.
39 “T h e Fireside Chats w e r e c o n s id e r e d e n o r m o u s l y s u c c e s s f u l a n d a t t r a c t e d m o r e l i s t e n e r s t h a n t h e m o s t p o p u la r r a d io s h o w s d u r in g t h e G o ld e n A g e o f R a d io ” a n d “E i g h t y p e r c e n t o f t h e w o r d s F D R c h o s e w e r e a m o n g t h e 1 0 0 0 m o s t c o m m o n ly u s e d w o r d s i n t h e E n g l i s h v o c a b u la r y ” a s t h e a u t h o r t h e b o o k o n Fireside C hatsp o in t e d o u t (1 3 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [o n lin e ] < h t tp : / / w w w .g o o d r e a d s .c o m /b o o k /s h o w /5 8 8 7 6 3 1 .F D R _ s _ F ir e s id e _ C h a ts > . S e e : D . M a n k o w s k i, J . R a is s a ,
Flashback...
40 B y 1 9 3 9 , o v e r 80% o f t h e h o u s e h o l d s i n t h e U S h a d h a d a r a d io s e t , n o t m e n t i o n i n g p u b s , r e s t a u r a n t s , o f f ic e s e tc . T h e r e fo r e , t h e c h o ic e o f t h e m a s s m e d iu m fo r p o p u la r iz in g t h e P r e s i d e n t ’s w o r d s w a s e x c e lle n t .
F i r e s i d e C h a t s m a y h a v e s e e m e d , th e y m a n if e s te d A m e ric a n fu ll r e a d in e s s fo r w a r f a r e i f n e c e ssa ry . I t is a n o th e r a n a lo g y b e tw e e n th e C h a t s a n d th e
D e c l a r a t i o n . T h e b r o a d c a s ts e m a n a te w ith d e te r m in a tio n in d e fe n c e o f th e c o u n try ; t h e y d e c la re d e c is iv e n e s s in th e s tr u g g le fo r m a i n t a i n i n g in d e p e n d e n c e - a c ru c ia l is s u e in m a n y C h a t s:
We are planning our own defense w ith the u tm o st urgency, and in its vast scale we m u st in teg rate th e w ar needs of B ritain and th e other free nations w hich are resistin g aggression. This is not a m a tte r of sen tim en t or of controversial personal opinion. It is a m a tte r of realistic, practical m ilitary policy, based on th e advice of our m ilitary experts who are in close touch w ith existing w arfare. These m ilitary and n aval experts and the m em bers of the Congress and th e A dm inistration have a single-m inded purpose - the defense of th e U nited S ta te s41. I n th e t h e n c ir c u m s ta n c e s , in d e p e n d e n c e b e c a m e a n is s u e . T h e s o v e re ig n ty o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s h a d b e e n w o n h a r d ly a b o u t 165 y e a r s b efo re W o rld W a r II. T h u s , th e s ig n if ic a n t f e a r o f lo s in g th e A m e ric a n v a lu e s a f te r s u c h a s h o r t tim e s e e m e d a re a s o n a b le p o litic a l a r g u m e n t. T h e R o o se v e lt a d m in is tr a tio n s p a r e d i t s e l f no p a in s to m a k e th e so c ie ty a w a r e t h a t s u p p o r ti n g t h e a llie s a n d , l a t e r o n , f ig h tin g a g a in s t th e t o t a l i t a r i a n re g im e s w a s a m o ra l a n d civic duty. A s fo r th e d e fe n c e o f th e c o u n try , th e F i r e s i d e C h a t s w e re - in a s e n s e - a n u p g r a d e o f th e d ire c tio n s d r a w n in t h e D e c l a r a t i o n . T h e b r o a d c a s ts e m p h a s iz e d th e q u e s tio n o f in t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e a n d c o n n e c tio n s w ith th e r e s t o f th e w o rld ; t h e y also p o in te d o u t th e h in d r a n c e i n th e s e r e s p e c ts c a u s e d b y t h e o c c u rre n c e o f w a r 42. F o llo w in g th o s e c o n c e p ts, P r e s i d e n t R o o se v e lt w a s c o n s ta n tly in d ic a tin g a n d e x p la in in g t h e n e c e s s ity to p a y a t t e n t i o n to th e fo re ig n a f f a ir s fo r t h e y d ire c tly a ffe c te d n a tio n a l secu rity .
R o o s e v e lt r e p o r te d t h e im m in e n c e to p r e p a r e t h e U n ite d S t a t e s to d e fe n d th e w h o le N o r th A m e r ic a i f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s d e fe n c e w a s to b e e ffe c tiv e . I n h is o p in io n , i t w a s u n w o r k a b le to e ffic ie n tly p r o te c t t h e R e p u b lic a g a i n s t a n y e n e m y in v a s io n b y m e r e d e f e n d in g th e c o u n tr y ’s soil. T h e P r e s i d e n t p o s t u l a t e d to s u p p o r t a n d c o v e r C a n a d a a n d - i f n e c e s s a r y - M ex ico 43. T h a t w a s h o w R o o se v e lt u n d e r s to o d th e d e fe n c e o f th e U n ite d
41 T h e C hat d a t e d 2 9 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 0 , (7 N o v . 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t tp ://w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r / c h a t 1 6 . h t m l >.
42 I t i s r e f le c t e d i n t h e A ddress on N a tio n a l Economic Policy, 28 A p ril 1942, (2 2 O ct. 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] <h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 2 1 .h t m l>.
43 T h a t v i e w w a s o p e n l y c o n t a i n e d i n t h e a d d r e s s d a t e d 2 6 M a y 1 9 4 0 , ( 2 2 O c t. 2 0 1 1 ), [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /c h a t 2 1 .h t m l> . H o w e v e r , F D R h a d p r e s e n t e d s u c h a n a p p r o a c h t o d e f e n c e m a t t e r s i n h i s p r e -w a r s p e e c h e s ; i n C h a u t a q u a ( 1 9 3 6 ) a n d K i n g s t o n (1 9 3 8 ) o p e n ly s t a t i n g t h a t h e w a s d e t e r m i n e d to d e f e n d t h e n e ig h b o u r s a n d t h e c o n t i n e n t i n t h e c a s e o f a n y p e r il t o t h e U S . C hautaqua Speech, (7 D e c . 2 0 1 1 ), [ o n lin e ] < h t t p : / / m a n y e y e s .a l p h a - w o r k s . i b m .c o m / m a n y e y e s / d a t a s e t s / a d d r e s s - d e l i v e r e d - b y - p r e s i d e n t - r o o s e / v e r s i o n s / 1 > ; K ingston Speech [in :] R .F . S w a n s o n (e d .), C anadian-Am erican S u m m it Diplom acy 1923-1973: Selected Speeches a n d Documents, M c C le lla n d a n d S t e w a r t L im it e d , T o r o n to 1 9 7 5 , p . 5 3 .
S t a t e s o f A m e ric a in th e m i c r o sc a le . T h e m a c r o sc a le o b je c tiv e s w e re to fe n d th e d a n g e r o ff th e c o u n try . A n d - in th e F i r e s i d e C h a t s - th e n a tio n w a s r e g u la r ly in fo rm e d a b o u t a ll th o s e id e a s . T h e P r e s i d e n t k e p t a p p e a lin g , e x p la in in g a n d r e f e r r in g to th e is s u e s p r e s e n t in th e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e . B y 1939, in R o o se v e lt’s o p in io n , a n in t e r n a t i o n a l co n flic t h a d t u r n e d o u t im m in e n t, m u c h lik e - y e a r s b e fo re - th e W a r o f I n d e p e n d e n c e h a d . T h e re fo re , w ith e v e ry C h a t b e tw e e n S e p te m b e r 1939 a n d D e c e m b e r 1941, th e P r e s i d e n t w a s - m e th o d ic a lly a n d p u rp o s e f u lly - g e ttin g h is c o u n tr y m e n c lo s e r to th e c o n flic t44. L a t e r on, h e le d h is c o u n tr y th r o u g h th e w a r in t h a t s a m e g r a d u a l a n d c o n s e q u e n t w ay. A s im ila r e ffe c t h a d b e e n a c h ie v e d b y th e a u t h o r s o f th e D e c l a r a t i o n : th e d o c u m e n t h ig h lig h te d a c u te p ro b le m s a n d p o in te d to th e im m in e n c e o f firm a n d u ltim a te s o lu tio n s:
[...] th e R epresentatives of th e U nited S tates of Am erica, [...] in the Name, and by A uthority of the good People of these Colonies, [...] declare, T hat these u n ite d Colonies are, and of R ight ought to be F ree and Independent S tates, th a t they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the B ritish Crown, and th a t all political connection betw een th em and th e S tate of G reat B ritain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; an d th a t as Free and In d ependent S tates, th ey have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, e sta blish Commerce, and to do all o ther Acts an d Things w hich Independent S tates m ay of rig h t do45.
T h e D e c l a r a t i o n a lso d e te r m in e d th e A m e ric a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w a r; its d e f in itio n is s till v a lid . T h e r e f u s a l to o b ey th e B r i t i s h K in g w a s a h is to ric in e v ita b ility , a n d th e W a r o f I n d e p e n d e n c e t u r n e d o u t i ts lo g ical a n d n a t u r a l c o n s e q u e n c e . I n n o w a y c a n w a r b e a m e a n s to g a in p ro fits . F r a n k l i n D. R o o se v e lt s a w to th e f a c t h is fello w c o u n tr y m e n w e re c o n v in c e d th e U n ite d S t a t e s d i d n o t go to w a r fo r f in a n c ia l ta k in g s , t e r r i t o r i a l g a in s o r s p r e a d in g th e A m e ric a n s p h e r e s o f in flu e n c e . O n th e c o n tra ry , th e A m e ric a n in v o lv e m e n t in w a r w a s p ic tu r e d a s s te m m in g fro m th e m o s t n o b le m o tiv e s: h e lp to th e in v a d e d a n d th e w e a k e r, f ig h tin g a g a i n s t d ic ta to r s h ip s a n d f r e e in g th e e n s la v e d . T h o se w e re th e p u r p o s e s o f w a r a s p r e s e n te d i n th e D e c l a r a t i o n a n d in R o o se v e lt’s F i r e s i d e C h a t s . * * * A p r o m in e n t v a lu e t h a t g lo w s fro m a lm o s t e v e r y p a r a g r a p h o f th e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e is u n i t y . U n d e r s to o d a s a n in d is p e n s a b le in g r e d ie n t to s u rv iv e a n y c ris is , i t is th e c e m e n t o f a society. T h e jo in t e ffo rt a n d u n d e r s ta n d in g lim ita tio n s w e re a m u s t to g u a r a n t e e th e s u r v iv a l o f th e c o u n tr y in
44 T h a t a p p r o a c h c a n b e t r a c e d t h r o u g h t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e a d d r e s s e s fr o m t h e p e r io d 3 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 9 - 9 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 1 .
th e fa ce o f a n u l tim a te c h a lle n g e 46. O bviously, o n e c a n n o t a s k fo r a c o m p le te co n fo rm ity ; n o n e th e le s s , t h e C o n g re s s p a s s e d a b ill w h ic h fo rm a lly n a m e d th e D e c l a r a t i o n “T h e U n a n i m o u s [bold - M .B .] D e c la r a tio n o f th e T h ir te e n U n ite d S t a t e s o f A m e r ic a ” - to g i v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n o f fu ll c o n s e n s u s , w h ic h w a s a n e le m e n t o f s k ilfu l so c ia l e n g in e e rin g . I t w a s a u n ity - b in d e r o f far- r e a c h in g p sy c h o lo g ic a l c o n se q u e n c e s.
U n ity a s a p re c io u s v a lu e w a s c le a r ly p r e s e n t in a ll th e w a r tim e F i r e s i d e C h a t s . T h e y a lw a y s s t a r t e d w ith a n a p p e a l, re fe re n c e o r c o m p a ris o n a im e d a t p ro v id in g th e lis te n e r s w ith a s e n s e o f c o m m u n ity 47. A lth o u g h th e P r e s i d e n t a d d r e s s e d h is m o n o lo g u e s to th e A m e ric a n s in th e f ir s t p la c e , th e y c o n c e rn e d th e a llie s w o rld o v e r a s w ell. F r e q u e n t a n d d e lib e r a te r e fe re n c e s to th e s u p p o r te r s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s w e re s u p p o s e d to c r e a te a fe e lin g o f a w o rld w id e , p ro -A m e ric a n c o m m u n ity 48.
T h e a u t h o r s o f th e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e a s w e ll a s F r a n k l i n D. R o o se v e lt w e re p e rfe c tly a w a r e o f h o w i m p o r ta n t th e so c ia l m o ra le w a s; t h u s th e y w e re a c tiv e ly b o o s tin g it. T h e F i r e s i d e C h a t s w e re a s m u c h fille d w ith th e b e lie f in s u c c e ss a s th e D e c l a r a t i o n h a d b e e n . T h e y b o th p ro m o te d th e o p tim is tic a p p r o a c h to p ro b le m s . B y n o m e a n s w a s t h a t a n a d ’v e or t h o u g h tle s s s o r t o f o p tim is m , th o u g h . T h e P r e s id e n t sp o k e o p e n ly a b o u t th e d iffic u ltie s 49. S till, h e s a w th e o b s ta c le s a s c h a lle n g e s to o v erc o m e r a t h e r t h a n a f a te , o r doom . M a n if e s tin g th e s p ir it of h o p e a n d b e lie f in o w n a b ilitie s w a s y e t a n o th e r a n a lo g y b e tw e e n th e D e c l a r a t i o n a n d th e C h a t s .
T h e c h a lle n g e s a r e to b e a c c e p te d : th e e ffo rt a n d s a c rific e o n th e w a y a re s u p p o s e d to , s p ir itu a lly a n d m o ra lly , e n r ic h th e n a tio n . O b s ta c le s s h o u ld n o t d is c o u ra g e in th e p u r s u i t of h a p p in e s s . O n th e o th e r h a n d , p a tie n c e a n d p e r s is te n c e w e re n e c e s s a ry ; o n ly s u c h a b a la n c e d a n d c a r e f u l a p p r o a c h co u ld p ro v id e su c c e ss.
A d d itio n a lly , r e f e r e n c e s to th e P ro v id e n c e a n d th e c a re o f th e A lm ig h ty p ro v e th e D e c l a r a t i o n to b e R o o se v e lt’s in s p ir a tio n. S u c h s te p s w e re m e a n t to in te n s if y th e fe e lin g o f u n ity a n d p ro v id e th e so c ie ty w ith a s tr o n g e r s e n s e o f s e c u rity . T h a t w a s a ll too s im ila r th e a p p r o a c h p r e s e n te d in th e D e c l a r a t i o n.
46 C f. Chats: On N a tio n a l Defense, 2 6 M a y 1 9 4 0 ; On N a tio n a l Security, 2 9 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 0 ; A n nouncing U nlim ited N a tio n a l Em ergency, 2 7 M a y 1 9 4 1 , ( 1 8 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t tp :/ / w w w .m h r i c .o r g / f d r /f d r .h t m l >.
47 D . M a n k o w s k i, J . R a i s s a , F lashback...
48 T h e b e s t e x a m p l e s o f t h a t a r e Chats On Progress o f War a n d P lans fo r Peace, 2 8 J u l y 1 9 4 3 ; O pening T h ird War Loan D rive, 8 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 3 ; On Teheran a n d Cairo Conferences,
2 4 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 3 , ( 1 4 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [ o n lin e ] < h t tp :/ /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /fd r .h tm l> .
49 C f. C h a ts : A n nouncing U nlim ited N a tio n a l Emergency, 2 7 M a y 1 9 4 1 ; On M aintaining Freedom o f the Seas, 11 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 1 , ( 3 0 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [o n lin e ] < h t tp ://w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r / fd r .h t m l> .
* * * T h e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e is a d o c u m e n t o f f u n d a m e n ta l m e a n in g to th e U n ite d S t a t e s5 0. I t h a p p e n s to b e i n t e r p r e t e d a s a r e v o lu tio n a r y re c o rd t h a t i n i t i a t e d a n e w so c io -p o litic a l q u a lity . I n s p ir e d b y th e E u r o p e a n A ge o f E n lig h te n m e n t a s i t w a s , th e D e c l a r a t i o n d id in tr o d u c e a n u m b e r o f o rig in a l, “m a d e in A m e ric a ” so c ia l c o n c e p ts w h ic h in s p ir e d d o c u m e n ts a n d d o c trin e s v ita l in th e U n ite d S t a t e s ’ h is to ry , s u c h a s th e A r t i c l e s o f C o n f e d e r a t i o n , C o n s t i t u t i o n , B i l l o f R i g h t s o r M a n i f e s t D e s t i n y . T h e m a t t e r t h a t m u s t n o t b e o v e rlo o k e d a n a ly s in g th e C h a t s is th e fa c t t h a t th e y w e re a ll b r o a d c a s t b y th e ra d io . A p a r t fro m t h e b r o a d r e a d e r s h ip , it n e e d s to b e u n d e r s to o d t h a t R o o se v e lt’s m e s s a g e to h is p e o p le w a s m e a n t to b e o ra l. L i s t e n i n g to th e F i r e s i d e C h a t s 51,i t is im p o s s ib le to r e s i s t th e fe e lin g t h a t th e sig n ific a n c e o f th e m is s io n w a s c o m p a ra b le to t h a t o f t h e D e c l a r a t i o n . T h e C h a t s p ro v e th e F r a n k l i n D. R o o se v e lt’s a w a r e n e s s t h a t m o m e n to u s e v e n ts w e re h a p p e n in g r i g h t th e n . T h e r e w a s e v e n ro o m fo r th e q u e s tio n s o f ir r e v e r s ib le o r irre v o c a b le n a t u r e , e.g. th e p o litic a l c h a n g e s in N o r th A m e ric a , c r e a tio n o f th e U n ite d N a tio n s o r e r a d ic a tin g t o t a l i t a r i a n s y s te m s fro m E u r o p e5 2. B o th th e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e a n d th e F i r e s i d e C h a t s e m p h a s iz e d th e f u n d a m e n ta l, in d is p u ta b le A m e ric a n p r in c ip le s e q u a lly v a lid in th e e ig h te e n th a s w e ll a s tw e n t i e t h c e n tu rie s .
P e r h a p s t h e o v e r r id in g sig n ific a n c e o f th e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e ,
so c o m m o n ly r e f e r r e d to in th e R o o s e v e ltia n F i r e s i d e C h a t s, w a s th e fa c t t h a t - a t th e b e g in n in g o f th e n e w s t a t e - a n a c tiv e a n d d y n a m ic d o c u m e n t w a s co n ce iv ed . N o t o n ly d id th e D e c l a r a t i o n av o id d e s c rib in g o r le g a liz in g th e s itu a tio n ; i t s h a p e d t h e A m e ric a n a n d , som ehow , g lo b a l r e a lity ; th e F i r e s i d e C h a t s s e e m to p ro v e t h a t P r e s i d e n t R o o se v e lt t r e a t e d th e p a s t in th e s a m e w ay : h e d id n o t b ro o d o v e r it. F r a n k l i n D. R o o se v e lt t r ie d to p r e p a r e A m e ric a a n d h is c o m p a tr io ts for th e c h a lle n g e s t h a t th e f u tu r e w o u ld h o ld5 3. S u c h a n a t t i t u d e o f th e le a d e r(s ) h a d b e e n b o r n w h ile d r a f tin g t h e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e . T h e d y n a m is m a n d u n iv e r s a lis m s e e m to p ro v e th e o n -g o in g r e le v a n c e a n d m e a n in g of th e D e c l a r a t i o n fo r th e U n ite d S t a t e s a s a s t a t e a n d t h e A m e ric a n s a s a society. T h e d o c u m e n t p ro v id e d P r e s i d e n t R o o se v e lt w ith a w e a lth o f id e a s , r e f e re n c e s a n d g u id a n c e tip s a s to h o w to w in h is c o m p a tr io ts ’ t r u s t . T h e F i r e s i 50 K . M ic h a łe k , K onstytucja..., p . 11. 51 I t i s im p o r t a n t t o l i s t e n t o t h e w a y t h e Chatsw e r e p e r fo r m e d b y t h e P r e s i d e n t . A s t h e y w e r e p r e p a r e d a s l i v e s p e e c h e s , o r m o n o lo g u e s , t h e r a d io p e r fo r m a n c e c o n t r ib u t e s to u n d e r s t a n d i n g F D R ’s i n t e n t i o n s .
52 C f. t h e C h a t s On Teheran a n d Cairo Conferences,2 4 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 3 ; S ta te o f the Union Message to Congress, 11 J a n u a r y 1 9 4 4 ; On the F all o f Rom e, 5 J u n e 1 9 4 4 ; O pening F ifth War L oan Drive, 1 2 J u n e 1 9 4 4 , ( 1 2 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [o n lin e ] < h t tp :/ /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /fd r .h tm l> .
53 C f. t h e Chats fr o m 3 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 9 t o 11 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 4 1 , (1 1 O c t. 2 0 1 0 ) , [o n lin e ] < h t t p : / /w w w .m h r ic .o r g /f d r /f d r .h t m l>.
d e C h a t s c o n c e rn e d a ll th e a s p e c ts o f th e w a r tim e re a lity ; t h e y to u c h e d u p o n d iffic u lt to p ic s to o 54. T h e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e m a d e i t p o s s ib le for a loose a s s o c ia tio n o f co lo n ie s to t u r n in to a c o u n tr y a n d a n a tio n . A th o r o u g h a n d c a r e fu l a n a ly s is o f th e d o c u m e n t h e lp e d a n in q u is itiv e a n d in tu itiv e p o litic ia n , F r a n k l i n D. R o o s e v e lt, to t u r n th e U n i t e d S t a t e s fro m j u s t a c o n tin e n ta lly in f lu e n tia l c o u n tr y in to a s u p e rp o w e r.
54 E x a m p l e s m i g h t b e t h e a n a l y s i s o f P e a r l H a r b o r , t h e p e r s p e c t i v e s o f t h e w a r e n d in g , w a r e ffo r t or n e c e s s i t y t o a s s i s t t h e a l l i e s .
