FDR, Harriett Beecher Stowe and leadership

June 6, 2020 marked D Day – the 76th anniversary. I have been rereading President Roosevelt’s radio address to the nation on that long ago evening. I had heard portions of the speech many years ago, but I don’t think I have ever heard or read the entire speech.

I think it bears examination by all of us. It takes the form of a non-denominational prayer, from President Roosevelt to God personally, as he invites his fellow citizens to join with him. There was no television, no Internet, no social media. There was modesty in his words, recognizing that casualties could be enormous, and that victory would not come easily. But success was worthy: to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization.

“Our Sons, pride of our Nation” “struggle…to set free a suffering humanity.” “They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people.” He concluded asking for God’s blessing for help in conquering “the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies” with a peace that allows all “to live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.”

President Roosevelt recognized that winning the war required the solidarity and support of the American people, noncombatants as well as military personnel. He took all citizens into his confidence, trusting in their character and devotion to the common cause.

When I drove uptown this morning I saw three automobiles and one motorcycle parked on the Town green, and most of

President Roosevelt recognized that winning the war required the solidarity and support of the American people, noncombatants as well as military personnel. He took all citizens into his confidence, trusting in their character and devotion to the common cause.

the retail center closed since the country is in the midst of a pandemic. Thinking of the issues confronting President Roosevelt 76 years ago, I was reminded of his speech and his approach to those issues, worries and fears. As our generation sifts through the ashes of death, illness, sorrows and uncertainty, we individually and collectively search for answers, possible vaccines, leaders in whom we can trust. We search for economic and medical relief and long term solutions.

I was also reminded of Litchfield’s favorite daughter, Harriett Beecher Stowe, who 168 years ago addressed the issues, worries and fears of her generation. Describing how the slaveholder Simon Legree treated his newly acquired slaves, Ms. Stowe wrote in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” : “And yet your laws allow him to hold any number of human beings subject to his absolute will, without even a shadow of protection;…”

Countering the statement that there were many humane planters, Stowe’s observer remarked: “…it is you considerate, humane men, that are responsible for all the brutality and outrage wrought by these wretches; because, if it were not for your sanction and influence, the whole system would go down like a millstone. It is your respectability and humanity that licenses and protects his brutality.”

FDR and Harriett Beecher Stowe recognized that true leadership and heroism depend upon your character, modesty and respect for the dignity of others. It does not depend upon sham pronouncements nor on disrespecting religious communities or on assaulting innocent citizens for the phony gratification of a photo opportunity. It does not depend upon your prominence in the newspapers or on the number of commas in your checkbook.

The COVID-19 virus has gone from an epidemic to a pandemic. Among possible remedies, we have been offered notions of potions. Let us hope that the virus does not become endemic to the United States. For we have learned that our heroes include the 18-year-old private on Omaha Beach who hailed from middle America, the 40-year-old ICU nurse from Manhattan and the unnamed students of good heart on 16th Street in Washington, D.C. who know that innocent people are not to be assaulted for exercising their constitutional rights of free speech and assembly in our country’s capital.