| Original caption – “Mrs. Roosevelt Makes Radio Address–Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, speaking on the radio here today, called on the women of the world to intensify their power for good to insure constructive control of the new forces loosed by World War II.” On August 19, 1945, former 1st Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962) gave another national radio address to mark Victory Over Japan Day (V-J Day), though 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 2, 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 14 as V-J Day. On that Tuesday, the United States received word that Japan would unconditionally surrender. This exciting news set off celebrations nationwide. United States President Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) took to the airwaves to read a formal statement. Great Britain, Canada, and Australia proclaimed August 15 as V-J Day, the Philippines August 16. The confusion over dates stems in part from the White House announcement on August 14 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. 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 2 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 August 14, President Truman called Eleanor Roosevelt to offer his thanks for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945) leadership and his regret that the previous 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, Eleanor Roosevelt herself expressed mixed emotions in her syndicated “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 15, President Truman issued Proclamation 2660 naming Sunday August 19 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 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 2 living 1st Ladies to prayer services in the East Room of the White House. Residing in Washington, Mrs. Edith Bolling Wilson (October 15, 1872 – December 28, 1961) accepted. From New York, Eleanor Roosevelt 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. By September 2, the official V-J Day, Americans had largely moved on from unbridled celebration. The ceremonies on the USS Missouri (BB-63). led by General Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 – April 5, 1964), 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 17 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 Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death. Instead, the end of the war brought new beginnings and new possibilities and new stories for people around the world. Eleanor Roosvelt’s remarks on August 19, according to the Columbia Broadcasting Company transcript: “The day for which the people of the world have prayed is here at last. There is great thankfulness in our hearts. Peace has not come, however, as the result of the kind of power which we have known in the past, but as the result of a new discovery which as yet is not fully understood, nor even developed. There is a certain awe and fear coupled with our rejoicing today, because we know that there are new forces in the world, partly understood but not as yet completely developed and controlled. This new force is a tremendous challenge to the wisdom of men, and for that reason I know that most of us feel that it must be subject to their collective wisdom. Just as it was discovered by the pooling of knowledge from men of many races and religions, so it must be ruled in its development.” “We should not think only of its destructive power for this new discovery may hold within it the germs of the greatest good that man has ever known. But that good can only be achieved through man’ g wisdom in developing and controlling it.” “Today we have a mixture of emotions, joy that our men are freed of constant danger, hope that those whom we love will soon be home among us, awe at what man’s intelligence can compass, and a realization that that intelligence uncontrolled by great spiritual forces, can be man’s destruction instead of his salvation.” “For the happy wives and mothers of my own country and of the world, my heart rejoices today, but I cannot forget that to many this moment only adds a poignancy to their grief. All women, wives and mothers, sisters or sweethearts, who have had men involved in this conflict, know what it is to live with fear as a constant companion. Some women will still have to help their men fight the aftermath of war in their own lives. Others have lost forever the men they held dear. Many, many women, however, will be able to rejoice for themselves individually and for the others whose anxiety. for their dear ones and whose separation from them will soon be over. Many of us are hoping that the very suffering which women of all nationalities have been through, will bring about a greater kinship among them than has ever existed before. The power of women for good should be intensified because they will surely determine to work together in order to insure that the forces of the world are used for constructive purposes. Women want to create a world atmosphere in which human beings may develop in peace and loving understanding.” “Our prayer today is one of gratitude, Oh, Lord, that peace has come to bless the earth, but above all we pray for wisdom and for the spirit of love in the hearts of men, for without that spirit, wisdom will avail us little.” “Before closing I want to say just one word about my husband, I know that many people have thought of him very constantly ever since the war came to an end and are deeply grateful. He always felt that we could and would fight this war to ultimate victory and he had complete assurance that the victory once won the people of the United States would turn their full strength and power into making peace a reality and a benefit to mankind.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii0887.jpg |
| Image Size | 463.59 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2281 x 2867 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 19, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | Hyde Park |
| State or Province | New York |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | National Museum of American History |
| Record Number | 2013.0327.1152 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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