The Voice of F. D. R.

When Franklin Roosevelt died, U.S. radio made history of a sort, with a monumental, 85-hour tribute. It was a hail & farewell to a man whose radio voice had become the best known in broadcasting, whose vast radio audience has yet to be surpassed. This week, on the first anniversary of Franklin Roosevelt's death, that well-known voice was heard again: NBC brought out a twelve-record collection of excerpts from his speeches that will be broadcast this week by 80 NBC affiliates as part of a memorial program.

The two-album set (price: $15), a selection arranged by Cesar Saerchinger from 275 recorded broadcasts, recaptured some of the drama and tragedy of the twelve Roosevelt years.

Highlights:

March 4, 1933. A new man, untried but confident, asserted in a surprisingly high-pitched voice to a bewildered and frightened nation: ". . . the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. . . ."

June 27, 1936. The New Deal was nearing full tide, and Roosevelt stood close to his popularity peak when, in an assured voice that had mellowed since 1933, he said: "This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny."

Dec. 8, 1941. The stunned U.S. listened intently to the President's denunciation of the ". . . date which will live in infamy," to his solemn statement ". . . our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger," his confident conclusion: "We will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God!"

March 1, 1945. A tired, broken man, at journey's end, made his final broadcast, almost twelve years to the day since, vigorous and full of hope, he had begun his presidency. In an unsure, dragging voice, Franklin Roosevelt told the nation: "I am confident . . . we can begin to build, under God, that better world. . . ."

The broadcast of speeches will be only part of the Roosevelt memorial. Other scheduled programs:

P: Ceremonies at Hyde Park, dedicating part of the estate as a national monument, all networks but Mutual (Fri., 2:30 p.m., E.S.T.). Mutual will broadcast a recorded version six hours later.

P: H. R. Baukhage's recorded description of the Roosevelt burial service, on ABC's News of Tomorrow (Thurs., 11 p.m., E.S.T.).

P: Norman Corwin, reading a tribute to F.D.R., on TIME for Women (ABC, Fri., 4:30 p.m., E.S.T.).

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