January 6th is etched in our nation’s history. Wherever you are on the political spectrum, the day is filled with meaning.
This month, we reflect on the two-year anniversary of the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol. In some ways, the world has changed since that momentous day, but in many ways, it hasn’t changed at all; again, it’s often a matter of your political outlook.
Amazingly, 82 years ago, on January 6, 1941, with the world at war and the United States still on the sidelines, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered one of the most important addresses ever given by a president: his State of the Union, now commonly known as the “Four Freedoms” speech, which Norman Rockwell later amplified with his series of four oil paintings. Replicas of these adorned the wall near the White House press office when I served on President Clinton’s White House staff.
Roosevelt’s 1941 speech remains a powerful expression of why democracy is important to Americans and what we must do to protect our way of life. It has a simple structure: grab the audience’s attention by stating the problem, explain the consequences of not solving that problem, share a solution, and demand specific action.
It’s a speech you could see Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quoting as he and his nation show the world what it means to fight for democracy. To put lives in danger. Live and die for freedom.
Roosevelt posed the problem at hand:
“Every realist knows that the democratic way of life is under direct attack right now in all parts of the world.” he said.
He described our obligation as a nation and as citizens:
“We express our determination that the democratic cause prevail.”
He invigorated the audience with a shared sense of purpose.
“Let’s say to the democracies: ‘We Americans are vitally concerned about your defense of liberty.'”
He stressed that freedom is not a birthright.
“The nation is very pleased and strengthened by the things that have been done to make its people aware of their individual interest in the preservation of democratic life in the United States.”
Roosevelt convincingly explained to the American people, many of whom were reluctant to join the conflict, why it mattered. We would need to be active participants in our own destiny. We could not assume that the War would not reach our shores. Not only that, but the United States had a vital interest in supporting its allies in maintaining and/or achieving freedom throughout the world.
What solution did you outline? Roosevelt articulated the direct and clear connection between a war abroad and life in the United States.
“That is why the future of all the American Republics is today in grave danger.” We face “great responsibility – and great accountability.”
He also warned against bad actors, those who do not care about the interests of their citizens.
“We must be especially careful with that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American eagle to feather their own nests.”
After laying out the problem, describing America’s vital interest in it, and prescribing the critical needs for a forthcoming war effort, including the sacrifices Americans would have to make, he appealed to the desire for individual liberties central to the way of life. US:
“In the days ahead, which we seek to secure, we look forward to a world founded on four essential human freedoms.”
Freedom of each person to worship God in their own way.
His rhetoric soared as he ended the momentous speech.
“This nation has placed its destiny in the hands, heads and hearts of its millions of free men and women; and her faith in freedom under God’s guidance. … Our strength is our unity of purpose.”
In the years after the speech, the United States and our allies waged war to protect our way of life and the lives of millions of people around the world. Millions made the ultimate sacrifice. Millions more joined in ways large and small to preserve freedom.
Roosevelt warned Americans to take democracy seriously. His focus was the world beyond our borders. He could not have known that one day, his admonition and his urging would resonate within our borders.
In 1941, Roosevelt feared losing Europe and Asia to undemocratic regimes.
Today, the fight for democracy is not only in foreign lands. It’s not knocking on our door. The fight is here; This is now. The “Four Freedoms” discourse reminds us that democracy is fragile and needs to be cared for. It is not enough to be a passive observer. It’s worth fighting for.
Now, Congress has fulfilled its obligation to select a Speaker of the House in the very central chamber of the events of January 6, which we can see as evidence of our democracy in action or as a bastardization of it. The November elections strengthened the democratic foundations of the United States or weakened them.
Whether you believe the events of January 6, 2021 were a vicious attack on our democracy or an example of democracy in action, it was a historic day for our nation: a high point or a low point, again depending on your perspective.
Roosevelt’s January 6 speech helped save our democracy and the world as we know it by reminding Americans of what we love about our nation and what we had to lose. The lessons from him are as valuable today as they were 82 years ago.
