NBC Blue
National Vespers
December 7, 1941, 4:00 pm EST

***Note: This program aired at the same time as Sylvia Marlowe and Richard Dyer Bennett on NBC Red and contains all of the same interruptions. When NBC interrupted their programming at this time, they did so simultaneously****
 
"Finding Unfailing Resources"
0:00: Program introduction, hymn, introduction of Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, Professor of Practical Theology at Union Theological Seminary.

3:02: Dr. Fosdick begins his sermon about finding unfailing resources in times of uncertainty. He says things like, "This radio audience is full of people who feel like trees in a high wind. Today the winds are terrific."

5:52 (4:05 p.m. EST): Program interruption: "We interrupt this program to bring you a special broadcast...Here's a bulletin: Washington--The President decided today after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and Manila to call an extraordinary meeting of the cabinet for 8:30 p.m. tonight, and to have congressional leaders of both parties join the conference at 9:00 p.m. And now we take you to Honolulu...

6:20 (4:06 p.m. EST, 10:36 a.m. in Hawaii) Report directly from Hawaii:

KGU Honolulu: "1, 2, 3, 4...1, 2, 3,4.....1, 2, 3, 4"

NBC Announcer: "One moment please."

KGU Honolulu: "1, 2, 3, 4. Hello NBC, hello NBC, this is KGU in Honolulu Hawaii. I am speaking from the roof of the Advertisers Publishing Company Building. We have witnessed this morning the distant view, the [?] battle of Pearl Harbor and the severe bombing of Pearl Harbor by enemy planes, undoubtedly Japanese. The city of Honolulu has also been attacked, and considerable damage done. This battle has been going on for nearly three hours. One of the bombs dropped within 50 feet of KGU tower. It is no joke, it is a real war. The uh, public of Honolulu has been advised to keep in their homes and await results, uh, away from the army and navy. There has been fierce fighting going on in the air and sea. The heavy shooting seems to be...1, 2, 3, 4, just a [?] interruption. We cannot estimate deaths nor how much damage has been done, but it has been a very severe attack. Uh, the...navy and army appear now to have the air and the sea under control.

Operator: "Uh, just a minute may I interrupt [?] this is the telephone company, the chief operator."

KGU Honolulu: "Yes?"

Operator: "We're trying to get through on an emergency call."

KGU Honolulu: "Well we're talking to New York now. 1, 2, 3, 4, hello NBC?..............."

NBC Announcer: "One moment please."

KGU Honolulu: "..............."

NBC Announcer: "Ladies and gentlemen we're standing by for further word from Honolulu, and we expect to rejoin them in just a moment. However here's a bulletin which has just come in to the NBC news room in New York: Nomura the Japanese Ambassador, and Kurusu the special Japanese envoy were at the State Department at the time of the White House's announcement of the attacks on Hawaii. The two Japanese went to see Secretary of State Hull at 1:35 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and remained about twenty minutes. And now, we take you to Washington."

9:46 (4:09 p.m. EST): Report by H.R. Baukhage from the White House news room: President will meet with his cabinet at 8:30 and congressional leaders at 9:00. He's going to address congress where he may ask for a declaration of war. Reporter repeats Hull's reaction to the Japanese reply of his November 26 message. Baukhage says, "The men that are filling this room now [WH Press room], with voices you probably hear behind me have been called from every quarter of the city, they're the leading correspondents, and it came like a flash out of the blue. As I came down in a taxicab there was a broadcast which was being interrupted with this bulletin. The driver hardly believe what he said. I passed soldiers on the street, one of them said, 'yes, I know,' laughed and went on. What I'm trying to explain is that we've hardly grasped the situation, we've hardly grasped what is coming." Senator Walter F. George (D-GA) said that this is an open declaration of war, and that the United States may be on a war basis for two or three years. Baukhage says he met with Kurusu only yesterday. That he smiled and said there was still hope, but that they must discuss specifics rather than principles. He said the Japanese people are 90% against war, but they are willing to fight over the Chinese question. Baukhage recalls reporting from Berlin that Hitler had launched his war against Poland, compares the two experiences, what it was like to see people walking down the street who had absolutely no idea what had actually happened. Baukhage says that the White House is trying to keep the reporters informed, and that they'll do the same for the listeners. Coverage then goes back to New York.

16:50 (4:16 p.m. EST) Bulletins from New York: Japanese bombs killed at least 5 persons and wounded many others. Citizens of Honolulu who went to the hills to view Pearl Harbor reported seeing columns of black smoke coming from the harbor. Dispatch from Berlin says that there will be no official reaction to the attack from Berlin until all sides of the story were known. All military personnel in San Francisco went on alert. The entire west coast is on alert. The FBI is completely mobilized and ready to deal with Japanese espionage and sabotage. Canadian PM left his home after hearing news of the attacks.

19:20: After 12 seconds of silence, NBC rejoins National Vespers. Hymns are in progress.

21:41 (4:21 p.m. EST) Program Interruption: Back to Washington for more news from H.R. Baukhage: The reporters were given a copy of the message President Roosevelt sent to Emperor Hirohito Saturday afternoon. Baukhage alternately summarizes and quotes it. At 26:31 it sounds like an operator tries to cut in.

28:02 (4:28 p.m. EST): Bulletins from New York: Secretaries of War, Navy, and Army Chief of Staff are all meeting at the White House. From Honolulu: "Parachute troops were sighted off Harbor Point today." Navy men in NY area are requested to report to their ship or station as soon as possible. The announcer then reads the text of the message from Honolulu [Somehow "KGU tower" has been changed to something that sounds like "Ton-Tee" tower].