U.S. Republican Senate leader Charles McNary. Charles McNary seated at his desk, posing. The Republican Senate leader is nominated for Vice President. A woman sitting along with him at the desk. They read some documents.
Men working inside a factory in Downey, California. Interior of the airplane factory. Men engaged in construction of different parts of the airplanes. Semi completed airplanes in the factory. Men working to complete the planes. An airplane takes off.
Wendell Willkie arrives in his home town after being nominated as the Presidential candidate. Wendell Willkie in a car. A large crowd gathers to greet him. Crowd cheering and applauding. He stands on the podium and addresses the crowd. He formally accepts the Republican Presidential nomination before the crowd. Addressing the crowd, he states that the domestic and foreign policies of the New Deal is leading the nation into war. He endorses the draft for U.S. defense and dares President Roosevelt to meet him for a public debate on questions vital to all Americans.
President Franklin Roosevelt in his office in Washington DC. He is seated at his desk and signs the draft bill (Selective Service and Training Act of 1940, or STSA) which was the first peacetime conscription in United States history. Officials and cabinet members standing nearby. Painting on a wall in the background. He reads the conditions of bill. He states that the legislation intended to increase our armed forces becomes law. All men between 21 and 35 must register beginning October 16th, 1940. He says that "the terrible fate of nations whose weakness invited attack is too well known to us all. We must and we will marshal our great potential strength to fend off war from our shores. We must and we will prevent our land from becoming a victim of aggression."
Wendell Willkie addressing people in Coffeyville, Kansas. Large crowd gathers to hear the speech of Willkie. Willkie stands at the podium and addresses people. Crowd applaud and cheer. The GOP candidate attacks Roosevelt's administration in a dynamic speech. Willkie says that Franklin Roosevelt has lost faith in the American people. He states that the men surrounding Roosevelt are all cynics who scoff at simple virtues of the midwestern people. He says they think that the people are too dumb to understand, and that they think they can govern with catch phrases and sleight of hand. (World War II period).
U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt receives an honorary LLD (Doctor of Law) degree in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The President seated in a car. He inspects a navy yard. Troops stand at attention. He receives the LLD degree from the University of Pennsylvania at its bicentennial celebration. People gather in a hall to greet the President. He addresses the people. President Roosevelt comments on voting rights and the importance of free elections. He says, "I can never forget that some well-meaning people have even recently seriously suggested that the right to vote be denied to American men and women who through no fault of their own had lost their jobs and, in order to keep the family and the home going, were working on work relief projects. As long as periodic free elections survive, no set of people can permanently control Government. In the maintenance of free elections rests the complete and the enduring safety of our form of Government. No dictator in history has ever dared to run the gauntlet of a really free election." The crowd applauds.
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