The essence of this last written speech of Roosevelt was, \u201cThe only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be out doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith\u201d\u00a0(Watson, 1988, p. 309).\u00a0 The context of this writing was very close to the end of the Second World War; April 1945.\u00a0 Roosevelt was exhausted. He had just returned from Yalta. The grueling burdens and problems of the war years had taken their toll, and for some time now he had been ailing. The almost seven thousand mile trip he had just returned from and strenuous sessions there with Churchill and Stalin where they agreed to co-ordinate their military efforts for a swift decisive victory. Much had been accomplished, but much remained to be done; and the president was tired. For two weeks he had spent relaxing at his cottage. A remarkable amount of activity was still carried on with his small staff. Problems weighed heavily on his mind and he gave them much thought and time. \u00a0There were speeches to think about and plan.\u00a0 The first on his list was to be given in a few days in honour of the Annual Jefferson Day Dinner on April 13, 1945. He finished it on April 11, 1945. The next day , a stunned nation learned that he had died.\u00a0 He never delivered the speech.<\/p>\n
A portion of his speech is as follows, \u201cAmericans are gathered together this evening in communities all over the country to pay tribute to the living memory of Thomas Jefferson\u201d (Watson, 1988, p. 309). The first part of his speech eulogized Jefferson, the champion of liberty and the defender of the rights of man. \u201cToday this nation, which Jefferson helped so greatly to build, is playing a tremendous part in the battle for the rights of man all over the world\u201d (Watson, 1988, p. 309). Roosevelt expressed high hopes for the future , his dream of a firm and lasting peace, of a happier life for all people, everywhere. \u201cWe must conquer doubts and fears . . . We must cultivate the science of human relationships. The work is peace; more than an end of this war\u201d (Watson, 1988, p. 309). His speech by some standards was short. He concluded, \u201cthe only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be\u00a0 our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith\u201d (Watson, 1988, p. 309).<\/p>\n
Profound, powerful, uplifting, but a similar speech given today could generate a lot of push-back, controversy, possibly riots, anger and maybe more negative impact than positive. Leaders need to be very careful when referencing any historical character. Teresa Sullivan, president of the University of Virginia, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson, quoted Jefferson and this act triggered intense criticism from hundreds of students and professors because Jefferson had slaves (Egginton, 2018, p. 7).<\/p>\n
Closer to home, in Canada, our first prime minister, John A. Macdonald, is being attacked. When teaching a course at Ryerson University last year, I witnessed firsthand the intense attacks on Edgerton Ryerson (whom the university is named after) and protests to have his statue removed from the campus and even further to rename the university. Considering the fact that some of our future team members are, at present, university students it might be wise to understand the convictions that some of them may be adopting. A speaker who was banned from the campus of Williams College, said that students \u201care advancing the belief that what offends them should not be allowed on campus precisely because it offends them and people who agree with them\u201d (Lukianoff, 2018, p., 50).\u00a0 As leaders, we have to be increasingly sensitive to people’s sensitivities.<\/p>\n
The essence of Roosevelt’s speech was inspiration and vision. \u201cAchieving grand visions always requires a burst of energy. Motivation and inspiration energize people, not by pushing them in the right direction as control mechanisms do but by satisfying basic human needs for achievement, a sense of belonging, recognition, of self-esteem, a feeling of control over one\u2019s life, and the ability to live up to one\u2019s ideals\u201d (Knotter, 2011, p. 49). Leaders, \u201care able to create a following of people who act not because they are swayed, but because they were inspired\u201d (Sinek, 2009, p. 6). People who inspire don\u2019t need to be extraverts, or high energy or profound. When Bill Gates, \u201cspeaks, he doesn\u2019t rally a room, he inspires it. Those who hear him take what he says and carry the words for years\u201d (Sinek, 2009, p. 133).<\/p>\n
My takeaway from this speech is twofold. First, is the\u00a0 importance of team work as evidenced by his frequent meetings with Stalin and Churchill. Secondly, Roosevelt\u2019s incredible ability to inspire, which is the heart of his speech.<\/p>\n
References<\/strong><\/p>\n Egginton, W. (2018). The Splintering Of The American Mind<\/em>. New York, NY: Bloombury Publishing.<\/p>\n Knotter, J. (2011). On Leadership<\/em>. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing.<\/p>\n Lukianoff, G. & Haidr, J.(2018). The Coddling Of The American Mind<\/em>. New York, NY: Penguin Press.<\/p>\n Northouse, P. G. (2016).\u00a0Leadership.<\/em>\u00a0Los Angeles, CA: Sage.<\/p>\n Sinek, S. (2009).\u00a0Start With Why.<\/em>\u00a0New York, NY: Penguin Group.<\/p>\n Watson, L. E.\u00a0 (1988), Light From Many Lamps.<\/em>\u00a0New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The essence of this last written speech of Roosevelt was, \u201cThe only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be out doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith\u201d\u00a0(Watson, 1988, p. 309).\u00a0 The context of this writing was very close to the end of the Second World War; April 1945.\u00a0 Roosevelt … <\/p>\n