Thomas Hughes Who could ever forget that historic speech, and a president who roused a nation to confront a worldwide horror…
December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the territory of Hawaii was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. I have assured the local military governor there that we will support him in any way we can as he decides how best to proceed. Should any other territories or states come under similar attack, we will support their governors in their respective responses as well.
If they need ammunition, there are several international munitions auctions that are held year round. I have not utilized my authority under the Defense Production Act to increase or maintain any wartime manufacturing here, but there are capable arms suppliers in China and around the globe who stand at the ready to provide Hawaii the weapons the governor claims he needs to mount a response. I cannot guarantee that another state, or England, or France, or even Japan or Germany will not outbid them, but, should that occur, I have encouraged the governor to simply bid higher.
There have been reports that our sailors, soldiers and airmen lack the proper body armor which troops being sent into battle usually don, however, we have ample trash bags to protect them from the elements, harsh as they will be, and I understand that they can wear extra shirts instead of bulletproof vests, and I have been hearing that they can easily re-use their bullets after discharge. If their governor gets outbid for boots, they can wear their Chuck Taylors or whatever they bring from home.
As I said, I will fully support the governors and their chosen responses. But if you don’t like your governor’s wartime response, I encourage you to protest against them. Occupy your state capitol and liberate your state from having to fight in this war according to how the “leader” says to. Fight how you see fit—every man for himself is how we’re going to win this thing.
My Secretary of War has told me that unless we begin rationing certain industrial supplies like steel, rubber, and gasoline, the governors will be doomed in their effort to mount their response. But, that would interfere with free enterprise, so I have asked them to trust the market. As I have said, the fight can’t be worse than the attack.
We are all in this together, if you want to be. You don’t have to be, it’s your choice. I’ve decided not to implement a military draft, but if you want to, you can volunteer for your governor’s fight. You can buy war bonds if you want to, too. You don’t have to though, I certainly won’t be. Although I’ve been told that gas masks can protect our troops from chemical attack, I think that would be robbing them of their freedom, so that’s not a good idea, I think the general recommending we get every soldier a gas mask was trying to steal my thunder a bit.
This unprecedented attack comes as our ally, England, is being bombarded by a relentless blitzkrieg in its capital, but, they’re turning a corner. In a couple weeks, it will be warmer, and the bombers should just stop, like a miracle, they hate flying in sunny weather—refuse.
Many of you will lose loved ones, and will be frightened and will worry as your family and friends are shipped off to battle, and to you, I say, don’t let this war dominate you. It’s like a robbery, people die in robberies all the time, especially weak and scared people. While the casualties might seem high, if you don’t count the dead of those who fight for states with Democratic governors—and you shouldn’t—the numbers will be considerably lower. I’ve been told that more than 2,400 Americans died in the attack at Pearl Harbor, although I have reason to doubt that.
To the terrible reporters who keep asking me what our war plan will be and if we will investigate the attack on Pearl Harbor at all, shame on you. You are nasty, ugly, traitors who hate me for some reason and you work for Hitler. My great friend Stalin, the strong leader of our beautiful ally Marxist communist Soviet Union was right about you all. You lie and are the greatest threat I—WE—face. Sometimes, it’s like he’s the only one I can really talk to.
Finally, I would like to correct the record on one thing. People keep referring to this as a surprise attack, but it wasn’t. I knew it was coming. I didn’t want to panic anybody, so I was going to keep WWII a secret. But I guess you all found out.
