Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

This is Bill Henry speaking to you from the floor of the House of Representatives, where

a joint session of the House and the Senate is about to hear a message from President

Roosevelt.

There's an enormous capacity crowd here.

I've only just a moment in which to tell you something of what's going on, the members

of the Senate have just come in, the members of the cabinet came in just a moment ago.

The diplomatic corps is represented by a rather large and impressive organization, or

the Earl of Halifax, a great Britainist here, Ambassador Chekinowski of Poland is here

to hear the bad news about his country, Ambassador Bonnet of France, with the only notable

absentee in the diplomatic corps, is Ambassador Gromiko of Russia, who I believe is down in Mexico.

In the gallery among the distinguished visitors, I can see Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt seated in

the second row.

Immediately alongside her is her daughter Anna Bediger, who is the confidential secretary

now of her father, alongside of Anna is Lieutenant Colonel John Bediger, her husband.

And down in the front row, I see in his uniform Crown Prince Olaf of Norway, Martha, his wife,

and there are a number of other dignitaries here.

The members of the President's Cabinet have now come in and are seated in a row in a

semi-circle around in front of the space, which the President will occupy himself.

The Committee of Escort is now entering the room, and the President is entering.

The members of his Cabinet, everyone is standing, the applause is tremendous as he comes

in.

...