FDR Walking
He learned the famous two step walk captured later on this rare footage. The effort, tremendous.
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Lighting the Christmas Tree
For the ninth time, I light the living community Christmas tree of the nation's capital. [bell tolls as broadcaster speaks] Across the nation from coast to coast, from the Gulf of Mexico to the border of Canada, Christmas trees are lighted all over the United States of America. This is the symbol, this is the moment, when community Christmas trees in small towns, hamlets, and large cities are lighted - signaled by the President of the United States. [FDR speaks again] Fellow workers for freedom, there are many men and women in America, sincere and faithful men and women, who are asking themselves this Christmas, how can we light our tree? How can we give our gifts? How can we meet and worship, with love, with uplifted spirit and heart, in a world of war, a world of fighting and suffering and death? Our strongest weapon in this war is that conviction of the dignity and the brotherhood of man, which Christmas Day signifies more than any other day, or any other symbol, against enemies who have preached the principles of hate and practiced them, we set our fate in human love and in God's care in us and all men everywhere.
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Attack on Fala
These republican leaders have not been content with attacks on me, or on my wife, or on my son. Now, not content with that, they now include my little dog, Fala. [crowd laughs] Well, of course, I don't resent attack, and my family doesn't resent attack, but Fala does resent attack. [Crowd laughs]
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One Third of a Nation
I see one third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished.
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Enlisted for the Duration
I accept the commission you have handed me. I join with you, I am enlisted for the duration of the war.
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Arsenal of Democracy
We must be the great arsenal of democracy. For us, this is an emergency as serious as war itself.
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Rendezvous with Destiny
There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations, much is given, of other generations, much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.
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Fear Itself
So first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
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Four Freedoms
First, is freedom of speech and expression everywhere in the world. The second, is freedom of ever person to worship God in his own way, everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want, everywhere in the world. The forth, is freedom from fear, anywhere in the world.
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Government of Indifference
Better the occasional faults of a government that lives in a spirited charity, then a consistent omission of a government frozen in the ice of its own indifference.
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New Deal
I pledge myself to a New Deal for the American people.
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Revive and Prosper
This nation is asking for action and action now. This great nation will endure, as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.
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A Date Which Will Live in Infamy
Yesterday, December 7, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that Nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
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D-Day Prayer
Last night when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far. And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest - until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home - fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters and brothers of brave men overseas - whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them - help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too - strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment - let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace - a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. AMEN
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