Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire. (23-26)

We like to refer to the closing lines of this speech as the look, the wind-up, and the pitch. Check it out:

First, the look. In sentences 23 and 24, FDR gives us his assessment of the situation, and it ain't good. There are "hostilities," he says, and pretty much the entire American way of life is in "grave danger" (23; 24).

Then, the wind-up. Now that we know what the situation looks like, FDR gives us a little teaser about his proposed solution, talking about confidence in the military, "unbounding determination," and an "inevitable triumph" (25). Let's see…military plus determination plus triumph equals…what? Oh, we'll find out soon enough, with…

The pitch: FDR asks Congress to declare war on Japan, effective yesterday. He even uses the word "dastardly" to describe the Japanese behavior at Pearl Harbor, and you know it's serious when someone busts out with a word like "dastardly" (26).

Congress agreed, and said "Strike three, Japan, you are so out."

And with that, it was time for America to step up to the plate and take some swings of its own.