Tugging On The Heartstrings With PathosTake a quick gander at this video of FDR giving his speech on the "great arsenal of democracy." It's pretty impressive—he's got that squinty-eyed look on hi...

Any good speech takes the audience on a journey. And it has to be an interesting journey—you know, like Frodo and Sam Gamgee's—because, typically, you're listening to it.FDR's "Great Arsenal of...

Technically speaking, the "great arsenal of democracy" which FDR refers to in his speech is U.S. industry—specifically American industry becoming the chief supplier of munitions to help the Allie...

My friends:This is not a fireside chat on war. It is a talk on national security; because the nub of the whole purpose of your President is to keep you now, and your children later, and your grandc...

We have no excuse for defeatism. We have every good reason for hope—hope for peace, yes, and hope for the defense of our civilization and for the building of a better civilization in the future....

(4) Base CampTake comfort, Shmoopers—this speech is pretty easy read. There are some $15 words (we're super attached to pelf and plan to use it everyday until the end of time) that may require a...

In-Text ReferencesHistorical and Political ReferencesFireside Chat (1)Banking Crisis (7)Jamestown (11)Plymouth Rock (11)Tripartite Agreement (12)Nazi Party (13)Adolf Hitler (14)Monroe Doctrine (26)...

FDR marrying Eleanor gave a whole new meaning to "keeping it in the family." (Source) Ever heard of the film FDR: American Badass? We hadn't, either, but we're probably going to watch it on repeat...