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White House Historical Association

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Today, we remember what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called “a date which will live in infamy.” On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, bringing World War II to American soil. The next day, Congress declared war on Japan, and within three days, they were also at war with Germany and Italy.

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White House Historical Association

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Talking HeadSplit ScreenText OverlayVoiceoverSeriousFemale PresentHistorical ContextBlack and WhiteNightDramaticProblem SetupAgitationMale PresentExpert AuthorityDecision MakingOutroSilence

Transcript

0:00At 1:40 p.m. on December 7th, 1941, the phone rang at the White House.

0:03Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox had a distressing message for President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

0:09Japanese imperial forces had attacked the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, devastating the American fleet.

0:15Less than an hour later, the news was confirmed. World War II had reached American soil.

0:20Inside the White House, the president took swift action, issuing press statements and meeting with advisors.

0:25Meanwhile, anxious crowds gathered outside the White House.

0:27The notes of God Bless America reached inside the White House walls as the crowd spontaneously took to song.

0:33The next day, President Roosevelt addressed Congress and a stunned nation.

0:36He began by calling December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, and concluded by asking Congress for a declaration of war. Later that day, Congress declared war on Japan.

Text on Screen

0:00The White House on December 7, 1941

0:00At 1:40 p.m. on December 7, 1941,

0:03Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox

0:03had a distressing message for President Franklin D. Roosevelt:

0:08Roosevelt: Japanese imperial forces

0:08had attacked the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii

0:14devastating the American fleet.

0:14Less than an hour later, the news was confirmed-

0:19World War 2 had reached American soil.

0:20Inside the White House, the president took swift action

0:24issuing press statements and meeting with advisors.

0:27Meanwhile, anxious crowds gathered outside the White House.

0:28The notes of "God Bless America" reached inside the White House walls as the crowd spontaneously took to song.

0:32The next day President Roosevelt addressed Congress and a stunned nation.

0:37He began by calling December 7th 1941, "a date which will live in infamy"

0:41and concluded by asking Congress for a declaration of war. Later that day, Congress declared war on Japan

Scenes (5)

0:00talking head white house night

A split-screen composition features a young Caucasian woman speaking directly to the camera, positioned in the lower-left quadrant of the frame. Her presence is overlaid onto a historical black and white photograph of the White House at night. The White House, a grand neoclassical building with prominent white columns and a central portico, is well-lit, standing out against a dark, possibly nighttime, sky. Several vintage cars and a cluster of people are visible on the street and sidewalk in front of the building, separated by a fence. Trees line the property, partially obscuring the building's sides. The overall mood is serious and informative, reinforced by the monochromatic historical background and the speaker's somber, engaging expression. White text overlays appear and disappear, positioned at the top and bottom of the screen, providing contextual information.

0:08talking head pearl harbor

The scene continues with the young woman speaking directly to the camera in the lower-left quadrant, but the background shifts to a dramatic historical black and white photograph depicting the attack on Pearl Harbor. The background image shows a large battleship or warship, partially submerged and severely damaged, engulfed in vast plumes of thick, dark smoke. The chaotic and destructive nature of the event is palpable through the image. The woman maintains her serious and informative expression, reflecting the gravity of the historical narrative. White text overlays continue to appear and disappear, detailing the events of the attack and its aftermath, positioned at the top and bottom of the screen.

0:19talking head white house night return

The visual composition reverts to the young woman speaking directly to the camera in the lower-left, with the original historical black and white photograph of the White House at night serving as the background. The grand neoclassical White House, with its illuminated columns and portico, is once again visible against the dark sky, featuring vintage cars and people in front of it. The speaker maintains her consistent serious and informative demeanor, continuing to narrate the unfolding historical events. White text overlays, providing additional details and context, are intermittently displayed at the top and bottom of the screen. The scene retains its somber and documentary-like atmosphere.

0:33president roosevelt signing

This scene presents a static, black and white historical photograph depicting President Franklin D. Roosevelt seated at a desk in the foreground, centrally framed. He is in the act of signing a document with a pen. Surrounding him is a group of eight men, mostly standing, all dressed in formal suits and ties, observing the President with solemn expressions. The setting appears to be a formal office or a chamber, possibly within a government building, with curtains or drapes partially visible in the background. The lighting is uniform, characteristic of historical indoor photography. White text overlays, providing key historical details and quotes, are positioned at the top and bottom of the screen.

0:45black screen

The screen is entirely black. There are no visual elements, characters, or text visible. This serves as a concluding visual, marking the end of the video content.

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