Has one word ever been as powerfully associated with a date as is the word, "infamy" with December 7, 1941?
That date, of course, is the day on which the Imperial Japanese Air Force attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a speech before Congress (pictured above). That speech began:
Yesterday, Dec. 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.
The following day, FDR conducted his 19th Fireside Chat to explain his speech to the country. Recently, we've heard many comparisons between Roosevelt's World War II Fireside Chats and the way President Bush has communicated with the American public about the progress of the war in Iraq. Leaving aside the differences between the wars, the call for comparisons between these two men highlights a stark contrast in leadership.
Communication was perhaps Roosevelt's greatest gift. The noble timbre of his voice, the ringing patrician accent, the smooth use of language, all came together to create the impression of a knowledgeable leader in control of facts and, maybe, even events. Even when circumstances were dire, Roosevelt instilled confidence.
Not so President Bush. Reedy-voiced, (suspiciously affected) "of the people" Texas accent, and awkward syntax create the impression of a leader ill-at-ease with not only the messages being conveyed, but even with the necessity of doing so. No matter the circumstances, Bush instills uncertainty.
Much has been written about the "performance art" aspect of leadership. The importance of that dimension has never been more clearly demonstrated than when comparing Franklin D. Roosevelt and George W. Bush.
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