FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT
32nd United States President
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Birth Date: January 30, 1882 Death Date: April 12, 1945 Term Date: 1934 - 1945 When Franklin D. Roosevelt first became President, he was not focused on other international conflicts such as the English and French war against Germany as there were many domestic problems that were more immediate and important to him. Later on, the deliberate Japanese attack upon the American gunboat ‘Panay’ in China did not worry the Americans. The majority of Americans thought that the United States should get out of China completely. Soon afterwards, in September 1940 a destroyers-for-bases agreement was made. This meant that the U.S. had openly declared its support in favour of England in their war against Germany. This marked the end of American neutrality. On July 26, 1941, the United States declared a full-scale embargo ending all trade with Japan. The rest of the Allies and the Dutch authorities did the same which was disastrous for Japan. In September 1941 the Japanese asked for a summit meeting between the Prime Minister Prince Konoe and FDR. Prime Minister Konoye hoped to get American approval of Japanese dominance in the Far East. The United States insisted that Japan give up the New Order in Asia and to withdraw troops from China and Indochina. This insistence of America ended the last chance for diplomatic accommodation between Japan and the U.S. in 1941. Later Roosevelt’s proposed that Japan could continue its war with China, but could not move southward toward Thailand and the Meridian, for such a move would possibly result in a war with the United States. The Americans broke a Japanese secret code which made Secretary of State Cordell Hull aware that if no agreement between the two countries by November 29, 1941, things will automatically happen. After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Congress passed a Declaration of War on Japan. Soon after, on December 11, 1941, Germany declared war on the U.S.A as well as Italy. |
'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.' ‘Yesterday, December 7, 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.’ 'No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.' |
'[those who died in the pacific] fought together as brothers in arms; they died together and now they sleep side by side...To them, we have a solemn obligation — the obligation to ensure that their sacrifice will help make this a better and safer world in which to live.' |
CHESTER WILLIAM NIMITZ
Admiral, commander-in-chief of United States Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT)
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Birth Date: February 24, 1885 Death Date: February 20, 1966 Term Date: 1905 - 1966 On December 17th 1941, ten days after the Pearl Harbour attack, Chester W Nimitz was promoted to commander-in-chief with the rank of admiral effective December 31. After his promotion, he left Washingon for Hawaii and took command of the top deck of the submarine USS ‘Grayling’ (SS-209). Usually, the change of command ceremony would’ve taken place aboard a battleship but all the battleships in Pearl Harbour had been sunk or damaged during the bombings. Admiral Nimitz successfully organised his forces to halt the advancement of the Japanese despite the losses that the Americans suffered from the attack on Pearl Harbour. Chester W Nimitz’s greatest success is at the Battle of Midway when the carrier force of the Imperial Japanese Navy was destroyed. |