An Iowan’s Secret Alteration to FDR’s Most Famous Speech

It's widely regarded as one the most, if not the most, significant speeches by an American President in the 20th century. It can be argued that this single speech shaped our foreign policy to this very day. And the line of the speech that got the biggest round of applause from Congress as FDR was delivering it, was delivered by an Iowan.

Henry Wallace is one of those figures that has almost been lost in history, as so many pivotal things were going on during his time in office. But he nearly became President of the United States himself, as he was the Vice President to Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

FDR won an unprecedented fourth term in 1944, but Wallace, who had been VP in his third term, was dropped from the ticket in favor of an unknown Senator from Missouri named Harry Truman. Not long after FDR's fourth inauguration, he passed away from Cardiovascular Disease in Warm Springs, Georgia. After that, Harry Truman became president and Henry Wallace became a footnote to history.

But one of the most important things this Iowan ever did, was add a crucial line to quite possibly, the most important presidential speech of the twentieth century - Roosevelt's "Day of Infamy" speech.

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In the video clip above, you can watch FDR's speech on that fateful day, December 8th, 1941. But the line that got the biggest applause of all in the House Chamber, was added by Henry Wallace.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

-FDR's "Day of Infamy Speech", December 8th, 1941

It's one of those lines that gives you goosebumps when you hear it, all these years later. And Wallace was right, as the U.S. did win through to absolute victory over the AXIS powers, nearly four years later, in August of 1945.

You can learn more about the fascinating life of our 33rd Vice President, Henry Wallace here.