Franklin D. Roosevelt- "The Great Communicator"
The Master Speech Files, 1898, 1910-1945
Series 2: " You have nothing to fear hut fear itself:" FOR and the New Deal
File No. 1204
1939 February 18
Radio Address to Pan American Hernando De Soto Exposition
SUSfleU" d.re n t or tb.e l'reltd.eat 1o conotdeMtlon tn the pr.,po.rat.ion or bla ndlo t:reet lQS t o t.h"t Pea Mlrl m a Hern,11do 0. Soto .ix.,oeitton fit Tlllpe , \0 be delhere~ Saturde:y ., tternoon, PebN'II')' 18, 19)9 { tt=!Mdlet•lJ thr the Sea Yf"UUeiaeo epeec:tr.l l'tll:t broacleaat '"'er tl11 Oult Reortoa 011ly.
Prttetdent Broreta, Co.tealoner D,e end ~ trlenda ot tlut i"aa -.erlc.,a KlrDADCo 0. ~to Ex oehton:
I llk"t the very lib• or tbt a t.,:poeHlon . I .111 !'"led. you
Uor•• 400 :yHre .,o, wttb. Ul!> Pvt I.A.•ri(I!U) lo!M. There..,., t:Otb t ac
nt~rl'OII' or r lltrlote4 ln the Jlflrep.eeU" or De --oto or ot bla rello;/
tOWJICil!la , Bcll boe, dhcut"erer ot th~ Pneltle Oeerrn . They ond thei r
-· JII!III"''f a J;ew World1~/.he d.OCIIItn• 'ht>J' cb'-4 tor U:1lr f<1vere101
TJ.,, ... , ... r _;,it-;;;-•er e h~roto Ill 1510arurhte e r1;ent. U::.lt d 11lls b; 4:!> h ioiiJ I lab o#
•• <me or the Nra t Pt:a AMrtcua.
en.:! J;Ore to d.OJJ1D•te \he tboQShu and lll!llrt~tlone e.nd Ul e l'lctloJ.e ot
)f!'- "'1'1'/ ... ,.. ~lf"ly ot ltre. 111111. ....,,. ot Hr. 1• tnn1 nrt.1"' In all \he
To aboo~ our talt.h In d•oer·•ey , wa h~ve •ode tbe poUey of ~be
ed&on11.10n no\.:o c.ove OUl" nelr;bbor' a lacdeerkllll ~J•t•T ~' H ' ~·/. ' /1'1 ~ I , ••• ;( l,t,.v .
•• deelre by ~tYer-t lesttlz..ol\e r=.ean• to ~f'OIIOt• rrMdo. In
' '
rresident Bror81n, COQ!Ii ssioner Dye Uld my fr i ends
of the Pan Junerica.n Her rw.ndo De boto E.xpos1t1on:
,:r.J:. I like the very nwae of this .exposition . I aa glad_.. you
deci"'ed to J.ink tho name ol' the intrepid explorer, who re .. ched
these shores 400 years ago, wi t h the Pan American idet~ . There
wtr.s nothing nL-rroro or restricted in the 1l.?r-'~l'~ctlv• or De Soto
or of his fell ow townsJ&an, Bhlbo~t, i'o~overer or thet Pli.cific Oce&n.
~ey ltlRd thei:- cont~:aporaries drev their !::leas from a v!Jion
of a Ne,. World. The dO!lllinS they claimed for their Soverei61)
were heroi c in geographic extent . Their 11118.ginv.tLon v.~.o.s
~ f1 tt,d to thd daYR ut t.. new era. • .,so today .,;e cotam&mora te
~!Jer.w:Wo)!>e soto as ont: or t.'le ftrst Pan Aaeric&ns.
The !lpirit of Pan "mcricMism happily is co!Dine more and
aore to dominate the tho1.1.<'hts ~nu 1>Spirat1ons r.nd thw actions
of all or the diver:~e peoples and cul.t'..lrodl which c0111prise the
three Americ&a . It i s the certain und unfAiling safeguard of
- 2-
our 1n&l1en.ublc right to lih, liberty und the pursuit of
happ1nt't3S · Althou~h tht~ ~eoples of the t~e" f.orlct ttre of
many or1~1ns, t.~ey ar e un1teC1 in tt COIOIII.OII aspiration to
defend and maintain the aelf-aover:1lng way of life . Th&.t
way or life 1s instinctive l.n all the peoples of t.~e
r.'estern lle!l.isp!lere.
To show our r .. tth in de ... ocrocy, -ae hto-ve mo.de the
policy or tne good nel~hbor toe corner st,-.ue or our rorci;:p.
r el .. tlons. No ot:ter policy ,.oulu be cons1stf2!nt l't!t.Jo:l. uur
1Jens <~nd our ideals. In the fuH1llaent or t.'l1S p011cy
we ~~heed the c.nc.Lent ~crlptur&l a.dlll0l\1t1on not
to oO'Ie our neighbor' s l!Ulci.rst.rks, not to enl!roacil on his
11et es •na bounJs .
We desire by every let:1t1J&~:t te 111eans to promot e t'reedoro.
1n tr~sde ~o.nd travel and in th ) exchange of cultur!il !della umonc
nati ons. li!e see~~: no territol'"ial expo.nsion, we <>.re not -ovetous
ot our ne1&-'l.bor1 s goods ; we shall coop.,.rate 1n every proposal
honestly put forwur<1 to llait nrau.ments; we abhor the appeal
-)-
to physical force except to repul:le u.ggr ession; ~ut "'e say
to Rll the wor ld that in the .. esterll Hemispher e -- in the
three hmericas -- the institutions of delliOcracy -- ~overnment
with the consent of t.:ne soverned -- must una shall be
.a1nttt1ned.
~;... ).:1 fnls Expositiol)., is ll.nottutr link in the for.:ing ot thRt
chAin of brotnerhood .
HOLD FOR RhLI..ASB HOLD FOR Rl-UASE
CAUTI ON: The follo,ring address of the Pr esid<mt to be delivered by r adio from X:ll)' West , Floria.u., in connection with the Pan Uer ican Hern><ndo de
~:~a:po~i~i~i~~s T~f":i/~:!~Pe~: ;~~\&ring on the streets not e1•rl1Pr than 3 • .&.5 P. M, E. e.T. , Februarv ldth 1939.
NQTh: Pler;se snteguard Lt:r.inst premc.ture r elease.
William o. Hassett.
President Br orU.n, Commissioner Dye and lilY frienda or the
Pan Jo..merican Hernando De Soto Exposition:
I li.o~:e the very name of this l:.xposition. I ~ glad you
accided to 11M t:ne nallle or the int.repid explorer, ''ho re&ch8<i.
t hese shores 400 years ago1 wit.h the P&n Americl.m i des. There
was nothing J\ll.rrow or r es t riC't ed in the per spective of De Sotv
or of his fellow to•nsman, &lboa, discover er or the Pucifl.c
Ocean. They and their contempor aries drew their ideas froa a
vision or a Ne~::. l'orld . The Goaains they clah:ed for their
Sover eign were her oic in ceogrt.phic eJCtcnt. Their i mnsinatl.on
was f i t ted to the dawn of n new ero. . So today we co;;weClor a t e
Hernru\do De So t o as one or the fir' t Pan Aaer icans.
The spir it ot Pan A:cleric nitm happi ly i s c:oeing .-or e and
1t0re to do• inate the tho~hts and aspirations end the ac:ticns
o r all of the diver se peoples and cultur es ai'dch cODprise the
three Amer icas. It i s tho cert• i n and untaili~ saf eguard of
our :Lnaliennble right t o l ire , liber ty o.nc1 the porsuit or
happiness. Althout:h the peopl es of the New World ue of
un,y or i&ine , they a r e uni ted in a co•on aspira.ti'-'n to
defend and aaint;:.in the selr- covemillj; "Wf!Y of life. That
-l-
way or life 1a instinctive in all the poo. les of tJ1e Wootern
Helllispl\ere.
To shot; our faith in dei!IOcr&.cy, we have 111£.08 the policy
ot the good neighbor the earner stone or our forfli&n relations.
flo other pol1c)' woul d be consi~te. t with our ideas and our
i deals. In the tulril.ment ot this policy we purposa
to h"cd the ancient Scriptural admonition not to move our
neighbor ' s landmarks, not t o encroach on his metes and
bounds.
i.e desire by e very legitiaate .er.ns to proaote treedo•
in trade Md travel and 1n the exchu114!:e of cultural ideas amotl::
naticns. We seck no terriborial expansion, o;e c.re not
covetous of our neighbor ' s goodo; we shu.ll coopertJ.te 1n every
proposal honestly put forward to limit arlll:,aents; we nbhor the
appeal to physical force e~ cept to r epulse aggression; but
we say to all the world that in the ~estern Hea.bpher e -
in the thr ee Ao.er1cas -- the ins titutioos of democracy -
;overument with t he consent. of the governed - - mus t and !hell
be ma i ntair.ed.
'!'his Exposition 1S another link in Ule forging of thliit
chain of brothel'hood.
- End -
RADIO JJ>DREeS OF THA PRE!-: IDENT TO 'tHE P/Ji AIQ!flCAit H£RNAJUX> DE SOTO k:XPOSITICN
AT TIJ(PA Dli.LIYJ::RlJ) FROM KEI fiEST FEBRUARY 18, 19J9
Pres i dent Brorein, Coat1!hsi oner Dye and my rri~nds or
thG Pan Americ E.n Hernando DG Soto Expo!!! tion:
I like the very ntUI\8 of this b.position. I tl.lll gltd you
decided to link the nnae of the intrepid explorer, who reached
these shores 400 yec.rs ago, with the Pan ~eric&n idea . 'i'her e
was nothir18 narrow or r estricted. in tho per specti ve of De Soto
or of hi:; fellow townsman, Balboa, discoverer of the Pacific Ocean.
They &nd their contemporaries drew thei r i deas from a vision
of a Hew World. The do~~~tins they clai•ed for their sover ei&n
•ere heroic 1n geogr aphic extent. their imagirultion -a
fitted to the dawn or a new er~t~ . So today we cocme~~erLte
Hernando De soto as one of the fir st Pan Aaerice.ns .
The spi .rit of Pan Aaer1can1am happily 1s coming mor e und
core to dominnte the thought& and a spiJ•ations and tho actions
of all of tho diverse peoples and cultures 'llh.ich cogprise the
three Aaericas. I t i s tho cert»in and wU'aUing safegUurd of
- 2 -
our inHlienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of
httppiness. Although the peopl es of the New f.orld a r e of
.any origins, they are wtited in a c01111on aspir c..tion to defend
and .aintt.in the selr-governinc w~:~y of life . 1'hnt way or life b
instinctive i n all the peoples of the Wes t ern Hemisphere.
1'o shO\. our f 611th in democro.cy, •e hnve made the policy
or the good ne1&}1bor the corner stone or our foreiQl r el8t1ons .
No other policy •ould be consis t ent with our ideas and our ideals.
In the tul1'1lmant of this policy ne purpose to heed the ancient
Scriptural adl1l0nit1on not to move our ne i ghbor • s l6.ndur ks , not
to encr or.ch on bill •etes and bounds .
we desire by every legitim.-ote ae{l.ns t o promote treOOoa 1n
trade ll.nd travel and in the exchunse of culturL<l i dea s nraong
nations. t'e seck no t erritoria l e).pans l on, we a re not covetous
of our neigbborl s &ooda; •e si'wll cooporate i n every propoaal
honestly put forward t o lildt nrmn•ents; . we e.bhor the appeal
to physical force except to repulse ns&r ttsnion; but y;e say to a.ll
the wor ld that in the Jies tern He•b pher e -- in the three Aaericas - -
v - 3 -
the 1nst1t:utio~s or de..ocraey - - aovertli1ent with the e?n~ent or
the sovernod - must und sh!>ll be nan i ntHilled.
This ~xpos1t1.,:-L 1 ~ ~:~nothor link in the forging or thltt
ch,11n of brotherftoOd.
r ~ ..... /./._ §/7---LA;--J "•,/--/ "0, -.J • ./
": a..,--x;_L./; .v--~ ~.,/-
?.ADIO ADDR-~S OF '!"'E Pl'tESIDE:JT :'o U.e Pn.n J.:lerlct!n Hernnndo Do Soto Exposition at TMpll.
Dell•er ed !rom lCey lleat , M.orlda Febt"Ullry 19 , 19~9, ;5.46 P. L , :. S. 'l'.
PRESIDI::/T B!'I.OP.Elll , CO~:MISSIO!l~ DYE: AJO MY FRIEIIDS
Oi· 'I'HE PA:l Al!Z?.ICAH HE'Rl/AHDO DI: SOTO .::<POSITIOil:
I l i ke the very name or t hl11 Exposition . I u g l ru1
!!!!.! you decl~ed to Unit the name or t ;1e intrepid explorer,
who reP.ched the11e shor es 400 years ago , with t :-te Pan Ameri can
idea. '!:'!.ere t.:aa nothln.,. narrow or restricted ln the perspec
tive or De Soto or or hla tallow tovnmaan, Balboa, .!!!!.
d18oo•1erer or the Paoino Ocean. They aru! their o'nt empo
ru.rlea drew t heir ! dena tro:::~ a via i on or a tiet.: tlorld . The
doco.ino they clRi"lled tor their Sovere1E;n wer e heroic i n
geographic extent . Their l maglnatlon was !ltted to tl'.e
dawn or a new era . ~ ao today we co::t:::~e::torate ( Hernando)
De Soto as one or the !lrat Pan Merlcane.
'l':'lc B?lrl t or Pan Aeerleanloo happ1ly 1s co:~~lng
aore nnd more to dOillinPte the thouehta and aai)lratlona And
the actions or all or the diverse peoi)lea and cultures
which co::~prlae t he three Uorlcac . It ls the certain a nd
untalllng s.11.!egut!rd or our lnRllenA.ble right t o ure ,
liberty ttnd t he puraul t or happlnau. Alt.."'louzh the peoples
or the !lew World are ot cany origins , t hey a r e united ln a
common aspira tion to defend fllld maintain the self- governing
way or lite . That way or lite l s 1natlnot1ve i n fll.l the
peopl es or the :.'e stern Htu::llhphcr e .
l'rantltn D. a
na11 h e 'nn.Clpt adl by thl 'lb\ H HoaM • tiJIOP"ll!'h~r Er<* hh ehlrt~ notM \.alen a t fbe t!.:l t ile ·~eooll.,..
Md.. .lnd.,.hr •. ~o;; lr.d~-eatee •or4.J 11\IIIJ)Of"lll • ."'loootll.t)t at••G to t he JU'I'fl cml llf
-prep;.rodr•ed:r~.ot-r":·toi..t ." Yotd• til "'J*l"lntHII•t~~rlll•or,. tbst • ere a.l t tM
._hen the ttpeech ~"' ... l.pero4, tboll«b c beJ 11.ppear In till pl"a.,J.C»Ul1 pro~d :PIII.d l i'IIC C0p'f li!oi L
'l'o show our tal th 1n de:aocrac7, we have ude the
polloy or the good neighbor the cor:'ler atone or our rorelgn
relo.t1ona . llo other poli cy would be cone1atent with our
1del'le and our 1denla. I n tho tu1r11ment or title policy we
purpooe to heed the anc1ont Scriptural admon1t1on not to
nove our ne1thbor' a landmarks, not to encroach on hl a metes
and bounds .
'4e dealre by every le&1 t11:2ate oeane to proaote
freedot:~ 1n trat!e and travel Md 1:l t:1e e:xchanoe or cultural
1deae a::aong natlone. tle eee!t no terr1torlttl expane1on, we
are not covetoue of our ne1£:hbor ' " goode; we et-.all cooper
ate 1n every propou.l honeetly nut forward to l1m1t area
menta; we abhor the llppel\1 to p.V"a1cRl fo rce except to
repulse aggreaa1on; but we eay to all the world thAt 1n
t he Western Hemisphere -- 1n the three A':ericae -- the
inot1 tut1one of det~~oor~toy -- govern:llent w1 th the consent
ot the governed -- ouet ttnd ehall be maintained.
~ th1e Ex:poei tlon in Tampa 1s Mother Hnk
ln the forging ot that chain of brotherhood.
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