Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Date That Will Live in Infamy" (1941): List 1

On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the United States naval base located at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Over 2,400 Americans died. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress to ask for a declaration of war. He began by referring to December 7th as "a date that will live in infamy." The Pearl Harbor attack brought the United States into World War II and was the most deadly foreign attack on American soil until the 9/11 attacks by al Qaeda in 2001.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. infamy
    evil fame or public reputation
    Yesterday, December 7th, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
  2. empire
    the domain ruled by a single authoritative sovereign
    Yesterday, December 7th, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
  3. solicitation
    an entreaty addressed to someone of superior status
    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.
    Roosevelt is referring to meetings with the Japanese ambassador that were taking place in Washington, D.C.
  4. maintenance
    activity involved in keeping something in good working order
    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.
  5. squadron
    an air force unit smaller than a group
    Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American Island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message.
  6. commence
    set in motion, cause to start
    Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American Island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message.
  7. colleague
    an associate that one works with
    Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message.
  8. diplomatic
    relating to negotiation between nations
    And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
  9. negotiation
    a discussion intended to produce an agreement
    And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
  10. intervening
    occurring between events, spaces, or points in time
    During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
  11. deliberately
    with intention; in an intentional manner
    During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
  12. torpedo
    attack or hit with self-propelled underwater projectiles
    I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Created on Mon Jun 02 14:07:59 EDT 2025 (updated Mon Jun 02 14:15:12 EDT 2025)

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