Before they were Presidents -

During World War II, George Bush became a decorated naval pilot who flew torpedo bombers.  In 1944, he was shot down over the island of Chi Chi Jima and rescued. 

Pictured here is Navy Pilot George Bush in a VT-51 “Avenger,” 1944; and World War II aircraft and ships. 

Source: bushlibrary.tamu.edu

On May 15, 1942, Lieutenant Ronald Reagan requested a transfer to the Army Air Force.  As part of the transfer, Reagan was assigned to the First Motion Picture Unit.  There, he worked on, and eventually starred in, film shorts to promote World War II efforts. This movie still of Ronald Reagan in a P-40 airplane is from the Army Air Force training film “Identification of a Japanese Zero.” 1943 -Historic photos of Ronald Reagan
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On May 15, 1942, Lieutenant Ronald Reagan requested a transfer to the Army Air Force.  As part of the transfer, Reagan was assigned to the First Motion Picture Unit.  There, he worked on, and eventually starred in, film shorts to promote World War II efforts.

This movie still of Ronald Reagan in a P-40 airplane is from the Army Air Force training film “Identification of a Japanese Zero.” 1943

-Historic photos of Ronald Reagan

Source: reagan.utexas.edu

“The mission of this Allied Force was fulfilled at 0241, local time, May 7th, 1945. EISENHOWER” Top secret document sent by General Eisenhower to his superior officers to inform them that his mission was fulfilled - Germany was defeated and the war in Europe was over.  -from the Eisenhower Library
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“The mission of this Allied Force was fulfilled at 0241, local time, May 7th, 1945.

EISENHOWER”

Top secret document sent by General Eisenhower to his superior officers to inform them that his mission was fulfilled - Germany was defeated and the war in Europe was over. 

-from the Eisenhower Library

The Unconditional Surrender of German On May 7, 1945, the European conflict of World War II ended when Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France. In this photo, Colonel General Gustaf Jodl, German Chief of Staff signs the documents of unconditional surrender, under which all remaining forces of German Army are bound to lay down their arms.  On Jodl’s left is General Admiral Von Friedeburg of the German Navy, on his right is Major Wilhelm Oxenius of the German General Staff.  -from the FDR Library
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The Unconditional Surrender of German

On May 7, 1945, the European conflict of World War II ended when Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France.

In this photo, Colonel General Gustaf Jodl, German Chief of Staff signs the documents of unconditional surrender, under which all remaining forces of German Army are bound to lay down their arms. 

On Jodl’s left is General Admiral Von Friedeburg of the German Navy, on his right is Major Wilhelm Oxenius of the German General Staff. 

-from the FDR Library

lbjlibrary: Thanks to the American cracking of Japanese diplomatic code, called “Magic,” Gen. George C. Marshall was able to inform President Roosevelt concerning Japanese troop movements in French Indochina. The U.S. could not read Japanese military code, however, and thus could not decode plans for the Pearl Harbor attack. 
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lbjlibrary:

Thanks to the American cracking of Japanese diplomatic code, called “Magic,” Gen. George C. Marshall was able to inform President Roosevelt concerning Japanese troop movements in French Indochina.

The U.S. could not read Japanese military code, however, and thus could not decode plans for the Pearl Harbor attack. 

Source: presidentialtimeline.org

Day of Infamy This photo shows Roosevelt delivering his “Day of Infamy” speech to  Congress.  To the right, in uniform, is Roosevelt’s son James, who escorted his father to the Capitol.  Seated in the back are V.P. Henry Wallace and Speaker Sam Rayburn.  December 8, 1941. The National Archives holds typed copies of the final drafts of this seminal speech, with a few of FDR’s handwritten corrections.  However, archivists at the FDR Library believe the original reading copy, like reading copies of other FDR speeches, was in a completely different form, very distinctive in size and format and different from the legislative copies in House and Senate files.  Apparently, neither FDR nor his son, James, who accompanied him, brought it back to the White House and its whereabouts, 70 years later, remains a mystery. -from Prologue: Pieces of History
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Day of Infamy

This photo shows Roosevelt delivering his “Day of Infamy” speech to  Congress.  To the right, in uniform, is Roosevelt’s son James, who escorted his father to the Capitol.  Seated in the back are V.P. Henry Wallace and Speaker Sam Rayburn.  December 8, 1941.

The National Archives holds typed copies of the final drafts of this seminal speech, with a few of FDR’s handwritten corrections.  However, archivists at the FDR Library believe the original reading copy, like reading copies of other FDR speeches, was in a completely different form, very distinctive in size and format and different from the legislative copies in House and Senate files. 

Apparently, neither FDR nor his son, James, who accompanied him, brought it back to the White House and its whereabouts, 70 years later, remains a mystery.

-from Prologue: Pieces of History

Source: fdrlibrary.marist.edu

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
  • 1,967 Plays
  • Day of Infamy SpeechPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt

“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.”

-President Franklin D. Roosevelt

You know the words, now listen to President Roosevelt’s voice - FDR’s Day of Infamy speech delivered to a joint session of Congress on December 8, 1941.

Source: fdrlibrary.marist.edu

Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor

congressarchives:

There were a ton of great blog entries yesterday from the National Archives commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks. If you haven’t seen them all, check out this great link round-up created by one of our Prologue bloggers.

Source: congressarchives

todaysdocument:

“THIS IS NOT A DRILL”

At 7:55 a.m. December 7, 1941, Japanese bombers and torpedo planes attacked the U.S. Pacific fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor, catapulting the United States into World War II. In less than 2 hours, the U.S. Pacific Fleet was devastated, and more than 3,500 Americans were either killed or wounded.

Source: research.archives.gov

“Remember Pearl Harbor” quickly became a rallying cry for Americans as the nation entered World War II. The expression appeared frequently in the press, on posters, and in other media throughout the war.  These words were also incorporated into hand-made items produced by everyday Americans. Some sent their handiworks to the President as gifts. This painted cast iron weathervane was made by Claude C. Ferdinand of Hawthorne, New Jersey shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. It depicts Colonial American soldiers flanking an American eagle and a “V” for victory symbol. Mr. Ferdinand sent his weathervane to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 27, 1942.
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“Remember Pearl Harbor” quickly became a rallying cry for Americans as the nation entered World War II. The expression appeared frequently in the press, on posters, and in other media throughout the war.  These words were also incorporated into hand-made items produced by everyday Americans. Some sent their handiworks to the President as gifts.

This painted cast iron weathervane was made by Claude C. Ferdinand of Hawthorne, New Jersey shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. It depicts Colonial American soldiers flanking an American eagle and a “V” for victory symbol. Mr. Ferdinand sent his weathervane to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 27, 1942.

Source: fdrlibrary.wordpress.com