Saturday is the 83rd anniversary of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor — a day that President Franklin Roosevelt rightly predicted would live in infamy. The attack drew a reluctant United States into World War II, changing the fate of the world.
But the day was also notable for WNYC, the first local news outlet to report on the attack. In December of 1941, newspapers and radio were locked in a war of their own over who could claim to be the most important local news source in New York City. At the time, WNYC was owned by the City of New York and would be a crucial source of public safety information and announcements during the war.
Below is the audio and a lightly edited transcript of WNYC’s original broadcast from Dec. 7, 1941.
“[Naval ships] including the battleship USS Oklahoma were reported attacked in Pearl Harbor. Two were said to have been sunk, but this was not immediately confirmed officially. Several of the attacking Japanese planes were shot down as anti-aircraft batteries retaliated. And at a late hour, word was received that an attack has begun on Guam.
Governor [Joseph] Poindexter of Hawaii has just finished talking by telephone with President Roosevelt, and the Hawaiian governor says there is heavy damage to property, and heavy loss of life in Honolulu. As the governor of Hawaii talked to President Roosevelt, a second wave of Japanese planes began flying over Hawaii.
The Japanese envoys in Washington, lost their usual breezy aplomb today in the face of hostilities in the Pacific. When Ambassador [Admiral Nomura Kichisaburo] and special Envoy [Saburō] Kurusu arrived at the State Department not long after the Japanese bombings began, they were both tight lipped, and they had only an embarrassed smile for newsmen.
Both of them refused to answer any questions. The Japanese envoys were 20 minutes late for the appointment they had arranged with Secretary of State [Cordell] Hull, and Hull kept them waiting 15 minutes more. During that time, Kurusu paced the diplomatic reception room, and Nomura sat stolidly on a leather divan. Only a frequent tapping foot betrayed his feelings.
Finally, they were admitted to Secretary Hull’s office. Nomura handed Hull Japan’s reply to this country’s formula for peace in the Pacific. Hull read it gravely. Then the Secretary of State turned toward the Japanese ambassador and told him bluntly that the document was full of lies.
The State Department itself told of the meeting later. It said that Hull used a tone of the greatest indignation. Wordlessly, then, the Japanese envoys left. Already, the Japanese were attacking the United States in the Pacific, and the war of the Far East was on. New York, the Tokyo Radio went on the air at about 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time tonight, with the amazing statement that there was no news. Sorry, said the Japanese announcer, but there is no news right now. With that, the Japanese station folded up for the time being.
Rome Radio isn’t carrying much news on the outbreak in the Pacific. An Italian broadcast heard in New York merely repeated the White House announcement about Japanese attacks. And the Rome Radio added, quote, these declarations have not been confirmed as yet by the Japanese. In Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Chairman David I. Walsh of the important Senate Naval Affairs Committee says the United States must quickly meet Japan’s challenge with the nation’s resources.
And Walsh declares that the unexpected and unprovoked attack upon United States territory and ships leaves Congress no choice but to take speedy and decisive measures to defend our country. It is too late now, adds the Democratic Massachusetts Senator, to ponder whether a different international policy would have averted war.
Your city station has received many calls up to the present time from volunteer air raid wardens and members of the Fire Auxiliary Corps asking for information as to the need for their services. Mayor [Fiorello] LaGuardia, in his capacity as Director of Civilian Defense, has ordered all civilian volunteers to stand by.
They are not to report for duty at present, but should be ready for emergency calls. Special drills will be announced early tomorrow when official instructions will be issued by commanding officers. We’ll repeat: Fire and air raid warden auxiliary volunteers have not been called upon as yet for emergency duty.
However, all members of these groups should be prepared for service and should remain at home or near telephones and radios in case a call is issued.
Well now we’ll repeat several special announcements made earlier at the request of the commanding officers of the Navy and Army forces in the New York area.
All personnel, officers, and enlisted men of the Floyd Bennett Naval Air Station in Brooklyn are ordered to report at once to their station. We’ll repeat, all members of the personnel, officers, and enlisted men of the Floyd Bennett Field Naval Air Base are ordered to report to duty.
All officers of the United States Army must report to duty at once. This official notice refers to officer personnel of the Army only. The Commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard orders all officers and men in the New York area to report at once to their ships, stations, or yards. We’ll repeat. All naval personnel, officers and men alike, must report for duty at once.
All leaves have been cancelled. All officers, but not enlisted men of the United States Army, must report in uniform for immediate duty.
The Recruiting Division of the United States Navy announces that its recruiting offices will be open from 8 a. m. tomorrow morning. Recruiting stations are located at 90 Church Street in Manhattan and at 271 Washington Street, Brooklyn. We’ll repeat these addresses: In Manhattan, the Navy Recruiting Office is at 90 Church Street in Brooklyn at 271 Washington Street, and they’ll be open from 8 a.m. tomorrow. A word to listeners.
Your city station WNYC will remain on the air for an indefinite period tonight to bring New Yorkers news, emergency public service messages, and special announcements and orders from naval and army authorities in the city area. Airline fire wardens and auxiliary corps members are asked to keep listening in for any special orders that may be forthcoming.
This is New York City’s own station, WNYC.”