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
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Office of Civilian Defense (message from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Director James M. Landis)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Security and surveillance
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Office of Civilian Defense. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-843 (NAID 514337).
Text on the object
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
