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Rosemary Northia
Rhetorical Criticism Assignment
Winter 2016 Semester
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four-Freedom Speech 1941
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s State of the Union address of 1941, best known today, as the
Four Freedom’s speech, will be the topic of analysis. This speech was given on Capital
Hill in Washington D. C.. The State of the Union address is always given by the
President of the United States and typically outlines the legislative goals for the year to
Congress.
This speech is considered one of the most important and famous speeches spoken by a
President. Here, FDR addresses Congress about national security in regard to the threat of
democracy from world wars. It is renown for its ability to point out four essential human
freedoms, which the President says, should be granted to everyone in the world no matter
what type of governance.
These words took an important emphasis during 1941 because the eastern hemisphere
was at unrest. This speech broke free the U.S. from their non-interventionist attitude. It
stated that we must not sit back while allies of ours are burdened with communist
revolution and forbidden basic freedoms.
The type of analysis preformed will be on the Agenda Setting and the Media Treatment:
Agenda Setting will aid in understanding the issues and problems in which the President
saw to address. He addresses a much larger political battle than what was foresaw and
sought to prevent the threat of national security.
Media Treatment on this speech is extremely important to note. Many elements of this
speech went vital across international boarder. The media magnified the Presidents words
in such regard over the years that a Park on Roosevelt Island memorializes the vision on
which FDR had on January 6th, 1941.
Background
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States. He ran as a Democrat
against Republican candidate Herbert Hoover. FDR was the first and only president to
serve for nearly four terms from 1933 through 1945. In 1951, Congress passed an
amendment, which limited the commander in chief to serve for more than two terms in
office.
Before this, he served as New York’s 44th Governor from 1929 through 1932. Political
achievement before that include being a Member of the New York State Senate from
1991 through 1913, and also Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1913 through 1920.
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His legacy is widely known for leading the United States out of worldwide economic
depression and war. In addition, his proposed New Deal program expanded the role of
federal government in the economy.
This speech given on 1941 was responding to the rise of World War II in 1938. President
Roosevelt spent the first half of the speech noting how unsafe America actually was in
the brink of aiding China from Japan and the United Kingdom from Germany. Although
they had remained officially neutral to these attacks, the United States was a silent ally of
weaponry to the countries oppressed by communistic rule. This posed a threat to the Axis
Power.
FDR understood that a threat to democracy beyond our borders was indefinitely a threat
to our own democracy in the Americas. He understood that a monetary loan could have
been offered to the resisting countries but instead decided to aid in a way that would
ultimately benefit the future and safety of our country as well.
The Four Freedom’s speech was written by FDR, with assistance from his close advisers
Harry Hopkins, Samuel Rosenman, and Robert Sherwood. They helped in preparing
initial drafts. Adolf Berle, Jr. and Benjamin V. Cohen of the State Department also
provided input. But as with all his speeches, FDR edited, rearranged, and added
extensively until the speech was his own creation. In the end, the speech went through
seven drafts before final delivery. In addition, the now famous Four Freedoms paragraphs
did not appear in the speech until the fourth draft (FDR Presidential Library and
Museum, 2016).”
Due to the newly finished Park Memorial on Roosevelt Island in 2012, FDR received
positive criticism once again for what he stood for. “The ideas expressed in Roosevelt’s
Four Freedoms aided and evolved into momentous achievement for U.S. history:
 The Atlantic Charter declared by Winston Churchill and FDR in August 1941
 The United Nations Declaration of January 1, 1942; President Roosevelt’s vision
for an international organization that became the United Nations after his death
 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in
1948 through the work of his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt (FDR Presidential Library
and Museum, 2016).”
FDR’s Four Freedom’s speech makes use of allusions and figurative language as follows:
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“…To any attempt to lock us in behind an ancient Chinese wall while the
procession of civilization went past.”
“… The British fleet in the Atlantic has been a friendly strength.”
“No realistic American can expect from a dictator’s peace international
generosity…”
“… we are softhearted, we can not afford to be soft-headed”
“…Beware of that small group of selfish men who could clip the wings of the
American eagle in order to feather their own nest.”
“The Nation’s hand must not be tied when the Nation’s life is in danger”
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“… Today’s best is not good enough for tomorrow.”
“… To use the sovereignty of Government to save Government.”
“As men do not live by bread alone, they do not fight by the armaments alone.”
“That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny
which the dictators seen to create with the crash of a bomb.”
Analysis: Agenda Settling
In order to capture the audience’s attention, Roosevelt divides his speech into two main
parts. The first is the threat of national security. The second is the resolution to tyrants by
way of standing firm against communism. Another way he laid special emphasis to these
points was by stating that the threat of democracy is a serious and indirect threat to our
nation. He uses this point to alarm Congress of possible future revolutions that we might
and will face in the years to come. He speaks a quote from President Benjamin Franklin
to address the seriousness of this issue, “Those who would give up essential liberty to
purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” FDR also heeds
warning from “foreign peril” by holding Congress responsible and accountable now that
they have been informed of “the state of the Union.” Right before he goes into resolutions
(Part II of his address and as a way to rush this proposal), he highlights the three current
national policy’s surrounding our country. He points out that since the bipartisan groups
had no substantial differences here, there should be a “speedy and complete action in
recognition the obvious danger” which he has already laid out.
The larger political and rhetorical situation in which the speech was given was to change
or strengthen the nations policy on foreign affairs. He laid out the framework in order to
set the stage for reform. He believed we were not prepared at aiding to dismantle national
security threats. Right after he voices his concerns, he reiterates that the nation is not
ready and the progress that has been made are very weak and dissatisfying. He then asks
for an increase in new appropriations and authorizations to carry on what he believes
would strength the safety of the country. Here, he shifts his proposal to aid allies with
arsenal instead of a monetary loan (Something Congress would be more prone to
approve). The President uses strong rhetorical tactics with Congress. He reassures them
that, “we shall be repaid within a reasonable time following the close of hostilities, in
similar materials, or, at our option, in other goods of many kinds, which they can produce
and which we need.”
The President opens with national security issues in order to bring up his freedom speech
in the second part. Here, he goes into what is the last part of the speech. It is famously
known for the strength he introduces to regain and maintain a free world; for Americans
and for those a broad. He references the social and economic problems to the social
revolution that the world is going through and points out that a solid foundation of
democracy can solely result from equality, job security, social security, and civil liberties.
Simple and basic freedoms should not and cannot be lost in the mist of complexities
because it is the basis of our freedom. He then goes on to say that we still need
reformation to extend the opportunity of old age pensions and unemployment insurance,
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widen health care and job opportunities for all. As he concludes his speech, he raises the
steak and it is here where he mentions the four essential human freedoms “for everyone
in the world”
- Freedom of speech and expression
- Freedom to worship God in his own way
- Freedom from economic understanding (to want)
- Freedom from fear of physical aggression
Furthermore, he address tyrants and says that change and revolution can and should
occur, as we too have experienced it. However, change under by any which definition,
can be obtained without concentration camps.
He sums by stating that true freedom for us means “the supremacy of human rights
everywhere.”
Analysis: Media Treatment
The media reported that the speech itself was not only significant for those struggling
with freedom across borders, but also as a rallying defense in the homeland. In this
speech he considered America in a state of emergency even without knowing that Japan
would attack Pearl Harbor within a year. Although he opened by addressing the need for
a new national policy, the media raved and applauded his delivery for the second part of
his speech where he outlines the four freedoms. The freedoms in which he spoke about
defended our democracy during WWII and also rolled over into the Cold War right after.
It also gained much importance in the media when the United Nations, an international
organization, was established in 1945 due to this speech. Today there is still much to
fight for as we “are the children and grandchildren of the men and women who rescued
the United States from economic destruction in the Great Depression and defended it
against fascism, imperialism (Kaye, 2014),” and communism.
Media coverage highlighted that we need not forget what this speech meant for the time it
was given. “We need to remember what conservatives have never wanted us to remember
and what liberals have all too often forgotten (Kaye, 2014).” Since 1941, issue of
democracy and freedom have come up over and over again, years and decades after it
was a topic of discussion. In recent, the speech has been referenced in current wars,
especially during the after math of September 11, 2001.
Moreover, it was after this speech was given that the world perceived the United States as
"the world's police.” He was well portrayed as “the defender of democracy across the
world.” The media stated that this speech was more “than a simple summary of domestic
and international policy. The speech redefined Roosevelt (nearly 10 years in presidency)
and ultimately the nation's understanding of U.S. identity.” If we are a nation to defend
democracy for our selves, we should be more than willing to defend democracy against
nations who are being oppressed of their basic liberties too.
These small titles and acknowledgments of what the speech brings forth is well
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represented in today’s times. In 2012, almost 75 years since FDR spoke these simple but
powerful words, a memorial that was initiated in the 1970’s was finally finished in
NYC’s Roosevelt Island. It honors the vision and ideas of President Franklin D.
Roosevelt’s Four Freedom Speech.
The dedication ceremony involved the attendance by members of the Roosevelt family as
well as political figures including President Bill Clinton, New York Governor Mario
Cuomo and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The opening of this Park brought to memory the legacy of FDR’s words. His, once, State
of the Union speech has now become a timeless masterpiece because he chose to
reference the very foundation in which we live by; freedom and democracy, which indeed
has surpassed over years in undeniable results. The media aided in reframing what could
have been portrayed as a good speech for Americans, to what it’s known for today, a
lasting and classic freedom speech for the world.
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References
Kaye, H. J., (2014, April). What We Can Learn From FDR.
FDR Memorial Opens in New York October 19, 2012 By Barbara Maranzani
(FDR Presidential Library and Museum, 2016).”