(6) Tree Line

This is a long speech. Some people might even consider it a bit boring. (What can we say? FDR liked to talk.)

But its length isn't why it's tough nor is its ability (or, um, lack thereof) to keep you on the edge of your seat. It's tough because of its content.

FDR packs this speech full of historical allusions—from the Great Wall of China to World War I, and he assumes a pre-existing knowledge about world history on the part of his audience.

…which is a pretty tall order.

Reading or listening to the speech today, there are added layers of history that we need to know about as a 21st-century audience. Specifically, we need to understand the policies of isolationism in the United States and the extreme political climate in Europe and Asia. These conditions weren't yet history in 1941; they were just daily life. They aren't defined in the speech because everyone would have known what FDR was talking about.

If you find yourself feeling a bit out of touch with FDR's perspective, take a look at the "Glossary" and "Shout-Outs" sections, which conveniently include all of his historical references with explanations. You're welcome.