DTW GED PREP

In his 1940 press conference, President Roosevelt presents a compelling case for why the United States should support Great Britain in its war effort. He suggests that the U.S. could take over the production of munitions originally ordered by Britain, since those supplies align closely with what the U.S. military would use. According to Roosevelt, the country has the financial means to do so, and doing this would serve American interests.

A central argument in Roosevelt’s speech is that defending Great Britain is synonymous with defending the United States. He argues that America’s security would be better served by allowing those defense materials to be used actively by Britain rather than keeping them stored domestically. This view underpins his broader philosophy that proactive support for allies can prevent threats from reaching U.S. shores.

To illustrate this point, Roosevelt introduces an analogy: if a neighbor’s house is on fire and you have a hose, you lend it to them to help put out the fire. You don’t demand payment for it upfront—you lend it in good faith, and either get it back intact or have it replaced later. The hose, in this analogy, represents the military aid provided to Britain. This example reinforces Roosevelt’s proposal for a lend-lease arrangement, where equipment could be returned or repaid in kind after the war.

Roosevelt concludes that such assistance would ultimately strengthen American defense, without placing undue financial burdens on either country. Rather than assigning a monetary cost, he emphasizes a mutual responsibility between allied nations during times of crisis. He argues that replacing the idea of dollar repayment with a “gentleman’s agreement” of in-kind repayment reflects a higher moral obligation between democracies.