American President Franklin Roosevelt at the podium on the eve of Democratic Party Victory dinner in Washington DC, USA. President Roosevelt makes a speech. He says that his great ambition on January 20, 1941 will be to turn over this desk and chair in the White House to his successor, whoever he may be. He describes America as a Nation that is in a position to its powers to the full in order to move forward steadily to meet the modern needs of humanity. During the Great Depression, he speaks on the need for economic freedom and prosperity. President says that economic freedom for the wage earner and the farmer and the small business man will not wait, like emancipation, for 40 years; it will not wait for 4 years; it will not wait at all.
Audience enters the Town Hall in New York to hear a recital by Marian Anderson on December 30, 1935. Curtains are opened. Marian Anderson stands beside a pianist on the stage. Audience applauds. She sings while the pianist plays. Marian Anderson bows to the audience. Curtains are closed. Two assistants help Marian sit in a chair because she has been performing with a broken ankle. View of the streets in the District of South Philadelphia., Marian's native hometown. Marian's mother Mrs Anna Anderson at her home. Shots of members of the Union Baptist Church passing an offering plate to raise money to aid Marian Anderson. Marian Anderson talks with manager Sol Hurok in dressing room. Marian Sings during another concert. Crowd applauds as she finishes. View of the New York Times showing name of Marian Anderson in the roster list of great American artists. Montage shows Marian's concerts cards, awards received by Marian from city foundations, the Philadelphia Bach Award of 10,000 dollars in 1941. Marian performs outside at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, USA on Easter Sunday April 9, 1939. Thousands in attendance at the concert as she sings My Country Tis of Thee.
World-wide wartime activities during 1941 and 1942. President Roosevelt addresses Congress after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Crowd applauds. Citizens and cars stopped in busy New York listening to the news on the radio being broadcast regarding the declaration of war against Japan. Long queues and lines of civilian men get registered in the U.S. army as recruits are called up. Men taking oath of U.S. military service in New York and Washington DC (on U.S. Capitol steps) and other cities in mass recruitment events. New recruits stand in line in a city to register for U.S. Navy or U.S. Army service. New recruits shown include baseball star Joe Dimaggio, boxer Joe Louis, John Aspinwall Roosevelt (who was President Roosevelt's youngest son), Tyrone Power, Clark Gable, Douglas Fairbanks Junior, and Warren Pershing (son of famed General John Pershing) all seen registering to enter military service. Justice Frank Murphy of the U.S. Supreme Court is seen operating a machine gun during training. Another scene with a mass group of recruits standing and taking an oath of military service.
Newsreel clip on President Franklin Roosevelt attending baseball game between Washington Senators and New York Yankees at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Game is on opening day of the 1941 Major League Baseball season; stands are full. Roosevelt arrives inside stadium in open-top car, flanked by Secret Service agents. Senators players line up along first base line. Newsreel cameras watch as Roosevelt prepares to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Yankee players lined up along third base line. Senators manager Bucky Harris and Yankees manager Joe McCarthy shake hands and chat before game. Leaning on man next to him for support, Roosevelt throws out the first pitch. Brief shot of crowd. Top of the first inning, the Yankees' Joe DiMaggio hits a triple to deep center field, scoring Tommy Heinrich from second. A smiling Roosevelt says something to person in next seat. Brief shot of Yankee pitcher Marius Russo throwing from mound. Senators outfielder George Case hits into a double play. Another shot of happy-looking Roosevelt talking. Senators pitcher Dutch Leonard throws from mound. Yankees catcher Bill Dickey hits a double. Russo hits another double to score Dickey. Yankees would win the game 3-0. Snatches of ambient sound from crowd are heard throughout the clip.
Newsreel clip of baseball star Joe DiMaggio, "The Yankee Clipper," extending his hitting streak to 42 against the Washington Senators at Griffith Stadium in DC. Shot of large crowd in stands, most in white shirts. DiMaggio walks onto the field, kneels in on-deck circle with two bats. Senators pitcher Red Anderson (#18) throws a pitch. DiMaggio (with photographers positioned just a few feet away) hits it into left field for a single. DiMaggio slightly tips his cap at first base, gets pat on the back from first base coach. DiMaggio later comes around to score on another Yankee hit, is welcomed by teammates as he enters the dugout. DiMaggio poses for cameras in clubhouse after the game, a 7-5 Yankees victory. (Note: DiMaggio hitting streak would reach 56 games, which remains a record as of this writing, more than 70 years later.)
Interior view of people strolling at main terminal building, Washington National Airport, during its first few months of operation in 1941 (built from 1940-1941, during the Great Depression). A man can also be seen on the outdoor observation deck. A plane taxis. Numerous DC-3 passenger airplane parked at airport, some being refueled. View from tarmac shows visitors lined up on outdoor observation deck. Planes go to hangar. Passengers deplane from an Eastern Airlines DC-3 with "The Great Silver Fleet" painted on its fuselage. Cars parked on circular drive in front of the terminal. Officials at Air Traffic Control tower talk on phones. View from inside the terminal showing observation deck and Eastern Airlines DC-3 outside.