Live and Learn, FDR

A post-Pearl Harbor songfic

How could it have come to this? Franklin Roosevelt sat in his chair in the White House, about to begin one of his famous Fireside Chats. This one, however, was different. The Naval base in Pearl Harbor had been attacked by the Japanese just days earlier, and he was about to inform the public of Congress's decision to declare war on Japan. How could this happen?

Live and Learn!

Remembering back to the Great War, the 'War to End All Wars', the War that ended only thirty years ago, he thought, Is this happening again?

Hanging on the edge of tomorrow.

We should have learned this when it happened before. But Pearl Harbor can't go unpunished.

From the works of yesterday.

I suppose I should start thinking about the war at hand. The Japanese rely on other countries to provide resources.

If you beg or if you borrow,

We might be able to out produce them. They're military is strong, but we can beat them in numbers!

You may never find a way.

"Mr. President, you're on in ten."

"All right, then," he said, then he began his speech.

" The day of the attack on Pearl Harbor is a day that will live in infamy for many years to come…"

The Beginning