2:31 p.m.: CBS
and The World Today Accounts vary as to when CBS made the
announcement. Some say that CBS interrupted
their program Spirit of '41, scheduled
to end shortly before 2:30 p.m.. No transcription
of the December 7 broadcast of Spirit
of '41 is known to exist. The program
scheduled to air at 2:30 p.m. was The
World Today, a news program. In a 1945
publication by CBS titled From Pearl
Harbor To Tokyo, a citation states that
Charles Daly made the announcement at 2:31
by saying, "The Japanese have attacked
Pearl Harbor by air, President Roosevelt
has just announced." It seems plausible
that CBS would wait to break the news, since
a news program was scheduled to begin momentarily
when the bulletin came in. During the intermission
of The New York Philharmonic Society broadcast
which aired during the 3:00 time slot, John
Daly summarized the events thus far by saying,
"Additionally, that the announcement
was made at the beginning of the 2:30 broadcast
of The World Today." The announcement
time was corroborated in 1999 by Bob Trout,
who was part of this CBS broadcast (NPR,
December 7, 1999).
Trout, in London, had been cut through to
the studio a few minutes before 2:30 Eastern.
Normally at this point, Trout would talk
to Paul White, the News Director, before
actually going on the air, but for some
reason on this day Trout was cut directly
through to the studio. Trout heard regular
small talk and shuffling of papers as John
Daly prepared to go on the air. Then, less
than two minutes before air time, he
suddenly heard a burst of commotion through
his headphones: doors opened, teletypes
clattered in the newsroom, and he picked
up fragments of agitated conversations.
"War? Why it's automatically war."
Trout pressed the headset against his ears
and quickly got the picture. Seconds
before air time, Paul White came on
the line. Trout told him, "Don't tell
me, I know." White said they were going
to cancel the North African news and go
directly to Washington for a special report.
Trout would then give London's reaction.
The program began with the regular announcer
introducing the show, concluding with, "Go
ahead, New York."
According to Trout, John Daly then reported,
"The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor
Hawaii by air, President Roosevelt has just
announced. The attack also was made on all
military and naval activities on the principle
island of Ohau." [Daly mispronounced
Oahu as Ohau. He does it later in the broadcast
as well].
Trout says he sat a bit stunned, listening
to the first clear details given out in
Daly's broadcast. Trout's version of events
clears up a few things, but also creates
a few problems. There are several digital
versions of CBS's The World Today
in circulation. The most common and least
problematic of those is included here and
will be analyzed in detail. Its run time
is 29:16. According to Trout, the broadcast
lasted 33 minutes. Are there 4-5 minutes
of this program missing? This most-commonly
distributed version has the announcer's
introduction (ending with "go ahead,
New York"), then 8 seconds of silence.
It then goes directly to Albert Warner in
Washington speaking, without him having
been introduced. The John Daly announcement
is missing, as is the part when he would
have introduced Warner in Washington. However,
there is a separate recording in existence
that does start with the announcer, and
does have the John Daly announcement. This
always distributed as a separate file. Neither
of these versions has anything that connects
Daly to Albert Warner in Washington. A very
well done web site by The University of
Missouri-Kansas City has a link to an excerpt
(2:05 in length) of the version of the CBS
broadcast identical to the beginning of
the 29:16 version used here, except that
the 8 seconds of silence before Albert Warner
begins speaking is 15 seconds long. Their
clip is introduced on their web site using
the following text:
The airing of news bulletins
normally called for the CBS East Coast network
to stall thirty seconds in order for the
West Coast affiliates to plug their sponsor.
However, in the ensuing chaos of the morning's
events, the East Coast launched into the
initial flash bulletin immediately, leaving
stations such as KIRO in Seattle to jump
in frantically. In this clip, note the fifteen
seconds of "dead air" before an
abrupt connection is made with New York.
No documentation
is given for where this clip originated
from. Clearly, however, the "abrupt
connection" is not made with New York,
but with Washington. It's possible that
the 29:16 version was edited by someone
who didn't like the idea of 15 seconds of
dead air time in his audio file and just
cut some of it out before it was mass-distributed.
This seems plausible, as there are other
versions of this file in distribution that
are identical in content except that dead
air time has been completely removed. If
the U of M-KC version is authentic,
it is possible that in the 15 seconds of
dead air time, John Daly could have made
his initial announcement, which runs 24
seconds long with the program introduction
included, and then sent it over to Washington.
Since he was basing his report on the very
brief statement issued by Press Secretary
Early, it seems plausible that there wouldn't
be anything else for Daly to add. In Trout's
NPR report, he did say that Paul White told
him they were going to go immediately to
Washington for a special report. However,
he also notes other specific times that
support his 33 minute claim and possibly
indicate that several minutes are missing
from the beginning of the broadcast. For
example, he says that Daly switched to Albert
Warner in Washington at 2:37, and that the
broadcast switched to him in London at 2:41
Eastern. Warner's report runs 5 minutes,
30 seconds, which doesn't quite fit neatly
into the 4 minute window Trout gives us.
Trout's report begins at 6:16 in the 29:16
version. If he's correct that he began at
2:41 and the program began at 2:30 with
the program introduction, that's a discrepancy
of 4-5 minutes. Trout also says that Ford
Wilkins's broadcast from Manila was abruptly
cut off at 2:49 p.m. This comes at exactly
16:19 in the recording, again indicating
a 4 minute discrepancy. None of this analysis
explains why there seems to be no recorded
portion of the broadcast connecting Daly
to Albert Warner in existence. Perhaps the
West Coast version of the program is the
only one that was recorded, and Daly re-created
his initial "announcement" at
a later time. If he did, one would think
he would not continue to mispronounce "Oahu"
(though as stated above, he does do it much
later in the broadcast as well). We do know
that Daly was not above doing recreations.
The most widely believed version of Daly's
announcement was made in 1948 by splicing
together two different recordings from two
different time periods. More on that later.
Press
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Summary
of The 29:16 Version:
2:30 p.m.
Eastern:
1). Beginning of The World
Today announcement, concluding
with "go ahead, New York."
(total time is :13) (00:00-00:13)
2). Silence (for 8 seconds). (00:13-00:21)
3).
Is this broadcast missing 4-5 minutes
(perhaps of John Daly's "early
details?" as stated in Trout,
NPR 1999).
4). Albert Warner From Washington
(total time is 5:30): (:21-5:51
in clip). The White House is putting
out a statement on the Japanese
attack. The attack was made on all
naval and military activities on
the principle island of Oahu. The
president's brief statement was
read to reporters by Steve Early,
the White House Press Secretary.
A Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
naturally would mean war. Naturally
the President would ask Congress
for a declaration of war. There
is no doubt that such a declaration
would be granted. The two Japanese
envoys, Namura and Kurusu are at
the State Department in a meeting
with Secretary Hull. Hostilities
seem to be opening over the entire
South Pacific. Regardless of what
the diplomats are saying, Japan
has now cast the die. Yesterday
Japanese troops were steaming for
Thailand. It was based on this information
that Roosevelt sent a personal message
to the Emperor of Japan last night,
a message of restraint and peace.
If the Japanese attempt to attack
Thailand, or have attacked Pearl
Harbor, the delicate balance of
peace is destroyed. The Japanese
have been warned not to attack Thailand,
that if they did, it would mean
counter military action. The meeting
with Secretary Hull was requested
by the Japanese envoys. The meeting
was to begin at 1:45 p.m. They arrived
late, and were kept waiting. They
did not meet with Hull until 2:20.
In the meantime, the President was
preparing the statement that Japan
was attacking Pearl Harbor from
the air. It may be that the envoys
wanted to assure Hull that the reports
of Japanese troops movements in
Indochina were exaggerated. Speculation
on the steps that would be taken,
possibly beginning today, if the
Japanese did attack Pearl Harbor.
Just now comes the word that an
attack has taken place on army and
navy bases in Manila. Warner says
"we return you now to New York"
(to Daly).
5). John Daly introduces the European
scene and sends coverage to Bob
Trout in London (total time is 25
seconds). (5:51-6:16 in clip).
6). Bob Trout reports from London
(total time is 3 minutes, 46 seconds).
(6:16-10:02 in clip) This comes
at 6:16 in this clip, but according
to Bob Trout (NPR 1999) he began
this broadcast at 2:41, specifically
saying it was 11 minutes into the
broadcast. This supports the notion
that there are about 4-5 minutes
missing from the beginning of the
broadcast, when Daly was giving
details and then introduced Albert
Warner in Washington. Trout sidesteps
the British reaction aspect, since
they knew nothing about the event
at the time, and instead spends
most of his time talking about the
Libyan campaign and the British
attitude toward propaganda. He then
returns coverage to New York.
7). John Daly from New York (total
time is 36 seconds). (10:02-10:38
in clip). Daly recapitulates that
the White House reported today of
Japanese attacks in Hawaii, and
in Manila in the Philippines. Bob
Trout reported just a moment ago
of a resumption of hostilities on
the Libyan front on a major scale.
Daly says that the events in Africa
are interesting but it's the Far
East that will hold center stage.
Daly introduces Major George Fielding
Eliot, CBS's military expert, for
an assessment of the situation.
8: Major George Fielding Eliot (total
time is 4 minutes, 35 seconds).
(10:38-15:13 in clip) The Japanese
appear to be taking the offensive
in an effort to impede American
efforts in the Pacific, so they
attacked Pearl Harbor. The attack
must have used air craft carriers
and was very risky, may result in
the loss of those carriers, but
might also give the Japanese time
to carry out operations in the Pacific.
Air attack is being made on Manila
in the Philippines. Japanese have
at least 7 aircraft carriers. They
probably concentrated on bombers.
It's unknown whether or not a Japanese
attempt to land troops on Luzon
to back up the Manila attack. It's
extremely unlikely the Japanese
would land troops on Oahu. The attack
on Pearl Harbor is a delaying action.
The Japanese policy has been to
delay as long as possible on the
diplomatic front, and to carry on
military preparations in the meantime,
gaining as much time as they could.
United Press flash, "Oahu Island
was attacked today by unidentified
airplanes." Oahu is one of
the most fortified positions in
the world. The Japanese will likely
suffer heavy losses to American
long-range bombers once their ships
are located.
9). John Daly from New York (total
time is 16 seconds). (15:13-15:30
in clip). Daly switches to Ford
Wilkins in Manila.
10). Ford Wilkins from Manila, Philippines
(total time is 1 minute, 19 seconds).
(15:30-16:49 in clip). Ford talks
about safety, security, danger zones,
but not Japanese bombs. He is cut
off in mid-sentence [according to
Bob Trout, Wilkins was cut off at
2:49].
11). Silence, and then coverage
is returned to New York (total time
is 29 seconds) (16:49-17:18 in clip).
12). John Daly and Major George
Fielding Eliot from New York: (total
time is 5 minutes, 52 seconds).
(17:18-23:10 in clip). Daly gives
more reports of Japanese transports
moving toward Thailand and Singapore.
Daly asks Major Eliot to speculate
on whether the Japanese attacks
are meant as cover for an invasion
of Thailand. Eliot confirms. They
also discuss British fleet in Singapore,
whether or not it is strong enough
to stop Japanese attack on Thailand.
British Borneo shore defenses are
discussed. As the Daly and Eliot
conversation continues (20:52) it's
reported that all policemen and
firemen were ordered in a radio
broadcast to go to army and navy
outposts immediately in Honolulu.
Daly asks about distance between
Hawaii and Japan and whether or
not they could have launched their
attack from Japanese possessions
in the Pacific. Eliot reaffirms
that only carriers could have been
used in this large of an attack.
Eliot explains why the Japanese
would divert some of their forces
to attack Hawaii rather than to
concentrate their attack on the
Philippines. Eliot speculates that
the police/fire report may mean
that the Japanese locals on Hawaii
may be rising.
13). John Daly thanks Major Eliot
and introduces Elmer Davis, who
was hastily called in to the studio,
for more news and analysis (20 seconds).
(23:10-23:30 in clip).
14: Elmer Davis from New York. (total
time is 4 minutes 47 seconds). (23:30-28:17
in clip) It was a week ago yesterday
that the Japanese said they wanted
two more weeks of negotiations.
We hope that our forces were ready,
that the Japanese moves in Hawaii
and the Philippines were probably
anticipated. Bulletin announcing
that President Roosevelt's announcement
of air attacks on Pearl Harbor staggered
London. They had promised to declare
war on Japan if America were attacked.
Likely the US will declare war on
Japan when Congress reassembles
tomorrow. More details from Honolulu:
Smoke from antiaircraft fire rose
over the Naval yard. Smoke also
could be seen in the Hickam Field
area, apparently from fires. Witnesses
said fires broke out on Ford Island.
The Japanese attack was evidently
well-planned. Meanwhile, President
Roosevelt's message to the Emperor
of Japan is one of the questions
that's passed into history. The
Japanese attack on army and navy
installations seems to indicate
they were trying to head off the
long-range bombers which might take
off and attack the Japanese carriers.
This doesn't leave much for Nomura
and Kurusu to say in Washington.
Nomura was well-liked in America,
represented the type of Japanese
we could have gotten along with
if their government was different.
Another bulletin from Hawaii, the
attack was apparently made by 50
unidentified planes. Their principle
targets were Hickam Field, and the
great Navy base at Pearl Harbor.
Several of the planes were shot
down. Again, diplomacy seems to
be at an end. Davis discusses the
structure of the Japanese government,
how when the army came to power
it was supposed to make things betters,
since they wouldn't be sabotaging
decisions made by the civilian government
any longer.
15). John Daly From New York: (total
time is 55 seconds) (28:17-29:12).
Daly thanks Davis, and says that
they've been on the telephone with
their station KGMB in Honolulu.
They report that the attacking planes
numbered between 50 and 100, the
attack is still on, and antiaircraft
fire can be heard as the attacking
planes come in. Daly says, "This
latest report now, from KGMB, is
all that we have to the moment.
We will continue to receive reports
from there, also from Washington
on the developments in our relations
with Japan, the relations which
will tell very shortly the story
that is to happen in the months
to come. And Columbia will bring
you important news bulletins during
the broadcast of the New York Philharmonic
Society, which follows this program,
and we'll also bring you a summary
of all developments during intermission
time."
16). CBS Signoff (total time is
4 seconds). (29:12-29:16). Announcer:
"This is the Columbia Broadcasting
System".
Analysis:
If Trout is correct in both of his 1999
assertions that the program began at the regular
time, and that it lasted 33 minutes, then
it must have extended a few minutes into the
New York Philharmonic's 3:00 time slot If
that's what happened, it might help explain
why so many people seem to connect the Pearl
Harbor announcement with the Philharmonic
Orchestra broadcast. It's plausible that CBS
might extend their coverage for a few minutes
for Elmer Davis, and for John Daly's reporting
of their phone contact with KGMB, which is
the most dramatic portion of the entire broadcast.
If listeners tuning in to hear the New York
Philharmonic heard these details, concluding
with Daly specifically mentioning that CBS
"will bring you important news bulletins
during the broadcast of the New York Philharmonic
Society," it might have impacted how
they remembered the event. They may have mistaken
the end of the broadcast for what they thought
was the initial report. Listeners might also
have mistaken the news given at the intermission
at 3:35 p.m. as the first report.
"I
Can Hear It Now" 1948 Recreation: Two recreations manufactured by
CBS have significantly eroded the collective
memory and historical record of the
CBS Pearl Harbor announcement. Trout's
1999 NPR report cleared up one of the
most famous. The most commonly used
audio clip of the Pearl Harbor announcement,
whether it be in high school classrooms,
on web sites, or in numerous documentaries
being produced to this day, goes like
this: "We interrupt this program
to bring you a new special bulletin;
the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor
Hawaii by air, President Roosevelt has
just announced." The fact is,
that particular bulletin never went
on the air. It was produced by Fred
W. Friendly in 1948 when he and Edward
R. Murrow were putting together the
first "I Can Hear It Now"
compilation of historic sound.
Robert Trout worked with Friendly at both
NBC and CBS, and says that only Friendly could
find the attack on Pearl Harbor lacking sufficient
drama and that it "might profit from
a bit of Friendly-esque enhancement."
So, Friendly spliced together part of the
original John Charles Daly December 7 broadcast
(the one discussed above) with one from Daly
announcing President Roosevelt's death in
1945. If you listen carefully, you can hear
the change in Daly's voice as it switches
from the 1945 clip to the 1941 clip (:13)
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the file does not automatically
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1964's
"Farewell To Studio Nine":
Perpetuating The New York Philharmonic
Interrupt Myth:
In 1964 CBS closed down their New York
facilities in Studio Nine to move into
better quarters on the other side of
Manhattan. The desk in Studio Nine was
the sight of the birth of the modern
radio broadcast, and all of the New
York reporting for the entire Second
World War. CBS continued to broadcast
from Studio Nine all the way through
1963, including coverage of the assassination
of President John F. Kennedy. To honor
the work that was done there, CBS produced
a broadcast in 1964 in which key radio
figures Edward R. Murrow, H.V. Kaltenborn,
Eric Sevareid, John Daly, Robert Pierpoint,
and Robert Trout listened to and commented
on some of their old broadcasts. This
broadcast, titled "Farewell To
Studio Nine," was released on an
LP by the same name. It's a lovely piece
of work. Unfortunately, it contains
several ahistorical recreations. Most
distressing is the segment on John Daly's
Pearl Harbor announcement. Daly actually
says
he interrupted the
Philharmonic, then the broadcast uses the
1948 "I Can Hear It Now" recreation.
Ironically, not two minutes later, the record
has Daly's announcement of Roosevelt's death
in 1945, a cut of which makes up the first
half of the bogus Pearl Harbor announcement.
Listen carefully (2:19).
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the file does not automatically
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