William A. Harris, Director
August 1945 was a month crowded with history. Though Eleanor Roosevelt had famously remarked after FDR’s death that “the story is over,” her busy summer and multiple radio appearances belied her words. In August, she spoke at least twice to national radio audiences, first, about atomic energy and second, the end of World War II.
The United States dropped its first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 7, 1945. Two days later, on August 9th, another atomic bomb fell on Nagasaki. That evening, Eleanor Roosevelt appeared on a live radio hook-up with Swedish physicist Dr. Lise Meitner to discuss the long-term impact of atomic energy and the role of women in its future management.
Dr. Meitner earned a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Vienna. Later, the Nuremberg Laws, which among many provisions forbade Jewish employment at academic institutions, forced Meitner out of her faculty position in Berlin. She ultimately escaped to The Netherlands and later Sweden. Her work on nuclear fission was instrumental in the development of atomic energy,
In ER’s opening remarks for the August 9th broadcast, she observed that since a woman like Dr. Meitner had played an important role in developing atomic energy, then all women must play a role in ensuring its responsible use. She hoped that Dr. Meitner would become a symbol for women everywhere to build a peaceful world of cooperation without master races and intolerance.
On August 19th, Eleanor Roosevelt gave another national radio address to mark the end of World War II. Though termed in her files as a V-J Day address, it wasn’t exactly. Even today, just as in 1945, Victory Over Japan Day remains a confusing designation. The United States officially identifies V-J Day as September 2nd, the date on which Japan formally signed surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri.
However, many Americans at the time and to this day consider August 14th as V-J Day. On that Tuesday, the United States received word that Japan would unconditionally surrender. This exciting news set off celebrations nationwide. President Truman took to the airwaves to read a formal statement. Great Britain, Canada, and Australia proclaimed August 15th as V-J Day, the Philippines August 16th.
Above: Members of the White House press corps dash from the Oval Office to flash news of Japanese surrender as jubilant crowds celebrate in front of the White House. (Harris and Ewing, Library of Congress)
The confusion over dates stems in part from the White House announcement on August 14th of Japanese surrender. Truman did not issue a V-J Day proclamation. This fine point was overtaken by the spontaneous eruption of celebrations now famously remembered through photos of Times Square. The war was over, but it wasn’t official. Like the American people, newspaper editors couldn’t contain themselves either. Even a smiling Truman greeted celebrants from the White House lawn.
Though the White House had long stated that V-J Day would be proclaimed by President Truman upon the signing of surrender documents, the disconnect between the formalities of nations versus the realities of excited citizens over the news of “surrender” proved too great to bridge. There would be no holding back by people ecstatic over the conflict’s end.
In some locales that August day, civic and business leaders proclaimed V-J Day; in others, their counterparts followed the President’s lead. In some cities, parades and prayer services went ahead according to V-J Day plans, but elsewhere officialdom delayed activities while sorting out the confusion. But to most Americans, V-J Day had indisputably arrived.
Above: Three headlines for August 14, 1945, mark V-J Day even though the President would only later proclaim September 2, 1945, as the big day.
People stayed out all night and stayed home the next day. It was a holiday, right? Well, no, in fact it wasn’t. The Administration tried to clarify that the time off afforded to some workers would not accrue holiday pay or even allow for basic pay. Local jurisdictions which had passed ordinances closing bars on V-J Day had to deal with tickets issued to businesses which remained open. The White House issued clarifications two days later.
Yet nothing, in fact, could lessen the power of the moment. The war was, in effect, over. Churches welcomed throngs for ongoing services and businesses closed. Late on the evening of the 14th, President Truman called Mrs. Roosevelt to offer his thanks for FDR’s leadership and his regret that the President hadn’t lived to see this day. In Hyde Park, a lone sentry stood by the late President’s grave. All was quiet in Hyde Park.
Hearing the news, ER herself expressed mixed emotions in her My Day column. She was happy about the end of the war, of course. However, she also felt the pain of those whose loved ones would never return. Her thoughts inevitably turned to the atomic bomb. Closing her column with hopeful words and deep humility, she wrote, “The greatest opportunity the world has ever had lies before us. God grant we have enough understanding of the divine love to live in the future as “one world” and “one people.”
On August 15th, President Truman issued Proclamation 2660 naming Sunday the 19th as a day of prayer and reflection. There had been enough celebration to the President’s way of thinking. He was right. A thankful nation acknowledged the many sacrifices of those who had fought the the dark forces of fascism, many of whom had paid the ultimate sacrifice. The war was over, but the wounds for some families would never heal. We remain indebted to them to this day.
The President invited the two living First Ladies to prayer services in the East Room of the White House. Residing in Washington, DC, Mrs. Woodrow Wilson accepted. From New York, ER demurred. Perhaps she needed her own private time for reflection. However, after the conclusion of White House services, she spoke to a nationwide radio audience about our individual and national responsibilities as we looked to the future. The past had its place in time. The future required attention.
Above: Draft copy with ER’s edits to her V-J Day remarks delivered on August 19, 1945. (Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, FDR Library)
Above: Final draft of ER’s V-J Day remarks. (Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, FDR Library)
Above: ER inserted this penultimate paragraph about her late husband into her V-J Day remarks. (Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, FDR Library)
By September 2nd, the official V-J Day, Americans had largely moved on from unbridled celebration. The ceremonies on the USS Missouri, led by General Douglas MacArthur, were powerful, but somewhat anticlimactic. The sober realities of rebuilding a devastated world required a new focus and determination. The post-war era had begun.
Though President Roosevelt’s story had ended with his death, Eleanor Roosevelt’s story continued for another seventeen years. Late in 1945, President Truman appointed her as a delegate to the United Nations. Her newspaper and radio career continued to flourish. She would become a television presence, too. For the remainder of her life, she was an active force in American politics and civic life. The story for Eleanor Roosevelt most certainly hadn’t ended with FDR’s death. Instead, the end of the war brought new beginnings and new possibilities and new stories for people around the world.
You must be logged in to post a comment.