LAD #36: Truman Doctrine

Following the hostilities of WW2, a battle of ideologies broke out between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. Both nations sought to assert their power and their governmental influence over the developing countries around the world, communism vs capitalism. The Truman Doctrine concerns these developments in post-war Greece. After war-ravaged the country and sent it into a depression and overall disillusionment, the Soviets blockaded Grecian interests, preventing reconstruction and even staging a few terrorist attacks. Citing the inaction of Britain and the UN, Truman asserted the need of the United States to supply and finance Greece so that they would have the materials and the strength to rebuild their small nation. Also noted, was that backwards Turkey needed the aid of the democratic giant to spur on democracy and the will of the majority in a depleted post-war nation. As a result the U.S. would be the safeguard of freedom around the globe and the protector against the forces of communism. For this reason that Truman asked Congress to send a total of 750 million dollars and a contingency of American military servicemen and women to Greece and Turkey for reconstruction and modernization.

LAD #35: Executive Order #9066

The order states that it has been issued for the sake of avoiding all espionage and harmful internal consequences due to the wartime state of the nation. It states that by the power vested in FDR as Commander in Chief he delegates the power to the Secretary of War and/or appropriate Military Commanders to exclude certain members from society and offer them the basic needs of an American citizen. These "military zones" are completely subject to the authority of the Secretary of War or an appropriate Military Commander and even those basic needs are subject to fluctuation and even revocation by the opinion of one of these offices. All those previously in charge of certain affairs were to be superseded in this case, including the Attorney General. FDR then states that he gives the right to these commanders to take "the steps necessary" to complete this task. Also, all other departments are given notice that they must assist the task when necessary and that this executive order must not be confused or construe the power of the courts and of other government agencies such as the FBI.

LAD #34: FDR's Declaration of War

With a rousing tone of strident oratory, President Roosevelt came to Congress to present to them his proposal of going to war with the Japanese Empire. He goes one to describe the premeditated and evilly conceived attack on American grounds in Hawaii. This is just as the "Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace". He then repetitiously and deliberately states the greater amount of U.S. Pacific holdings that were attacked by the Japanese Empire. Then he goes on in vivid detail to describe the triumph and the power the U.S. will show to achieve "absolute victory" over its overzealous adversary. He gave a rousing pre-game speech if you will to stir up massive nationalist sentiment and "awake the sleeping giant" as many historians have called it. He ends with his simple yet almost ornamental asking of Congress for a declaration of war on the Japanese Empire.

LAD #33: FDR's First Inaugural Address

FDR's speech begins by outlining the issues faced by the American public, whether it be unemployment, or the lack of circulation of currency through credit throughout the United States. He explains how these issues are derived from such materialistic performed by the " The money changers" who "have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization". He believes that the ways of Presidents Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover were too cocenred with the ecomonic and fiscal ways of the time, when "social" benefits were needed to restore the ahppiness of society. The entire speech radiates with an aura of an almost deity looking down onto a people straying from the "ancient ways" which governed the American pathway to greatness. He claims to have to pull the American people from the grip of monetary society and seek the honor and "thrill" of achievement and bringing in an honest day of work. As opposed to the "trickle down" policies of before, Roosevelt outlined a series of projects and programs that were designed to directly stimulate  people with ethical regeneration as opposed to fiscal thirst-quenching. He outlined programs conserving and using the nation's natural resources, devoting men to work, and preventing future massive crisis to occur. He knew his exectuive leadership was to be straining the limits of prior authority, but he called for popular support and used the elasticity of the Constitution as justification. In the end he made sure that his goal was to protect and support the ideal of American democracy.

LAD #32: Kellogg-Briand Pact

Following the "war to end all wars", many wearied nations sought to ensure timeless peace around the globe. Although a feeble attempt, the noble notions of the pact were set forth for the peace of the world. It was shared in its writing by the Americans, Germans, Belgians, British, French, Canadians, Australians, Irish, South Africans, New Zealanders, Italians, Japanese, Polish, and Czechoslovakians. These constituents chose to abide by the practice of passive action to resolve any problems, denoting war as a barbaric practice that should be ruled out as an active stratagem of diplomacy. Article 1 blatantly states that these signing nations renounce war as a tool for the active policy of their nation. Article 2 states that any conflicts that do arise between conjoined nations by the treaty should be formally addressed by only passive and non-militaristic means. Article 3 describes the ratification process while highlighting the role of the United States at the forefront of promoting this peace keeping treaty.