---
title: 'From the President of the United States: A Message'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/from-the-president-message-civilian-defense-1943/
description: 'Text sheet headed ''From the President of the United States: A Message'', with a portrait photograph of President Roosevelt.'
section: Collection
---

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3. From the President of the United States: A Message

[![From the President of the United States: A Message, 1943 US poster: Text sheet headed 'From the President of the United](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/from-the-president-message-civilian-defense-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/from-the-president-message-civilian-defense-1943.jpg)

# From the President of the United States: A Message

Text sheet headed 'From the President of the United States: A Message', with a portrait photograph of President Roosevelt, a letter to Civil Defense Director James M. Landis and his signature, and a row of civil defense service emblems along the foot. The technique is transfer and testimonial: presidential authority is attached to the volunteer effort.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/) [Testimonial](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/testimonial/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
MAY 20, 1941  ★ ★ ★  CIVILIAN DEFENSE  ★ ★ ★  MAY 20, 1943
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
A Message
May 6, 1943
Dear Mr. Landis:
I cannot allow the second anniversary of the creation of the Office of Civilian Defense to pass without expressing my appreciation of the good work accomplished. The problem has been two-fold: To protect our people against enemy attack from without and economic and social dislocation from within.
I know that millions of our own citizens and friendly aliens have volunteered their time, energies, services, and even their lives in the performance of their duties as members of the United States Citizens Defense Corps, and the United States Citizens Service Corps, and have contributed to all of our other war programs which require the utmost in civilian participation and cooperation.
We have not yet won this war and we must not withhold any human effort in fighting it. Every man, woman, and child must continue to realize that this is an individual, as well as a national, battle and must continue to understand the need for accelerated activities in the discharge of these important civilian defense duties.
I am proud, therefore, to take this opportunity to salute the millions of volunteers who have not questioned their country's need for their efforts in protecting our bulwarks at home and to remind them that these efforts must continue unceasing until the day of victory is attained.
Very sincerely yours,
[signature: Franklin D. Roosevelt]
Honorable James M. Landis,
Director,
Office of Civilian Defense,
Washington, D. C.
[imprint:] 4-1201
```

[← From now on it's YOUR job: There is a place for EVERY woman in this nurse crisis](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/from-now-on-its-your-job-nurse-crisis-1943/) [From Waste Paper into War Weapons: Save all waste paper! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/from-waste-paper-into-war-weapons-1943/)

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