"WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS" CREATOR NORMAN CORWIN & NARRATOR (CPL) JAMES STEWART.
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS…
Until 1941, December 7th had an altogether different significance in American history.
On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution. DuPont Chemicals’ Cavalcade of America on CBS celebrated this event on December 8, 1937, when it described the climate of events and emotions surrounding the Constitution’s creation 150 years earlier. (1)
The program, narrated by Frank Singiser, outlines the Constitution’s importance - and shortcomings - as they related to a New Jersey farmer played by Parker Fennelly. The broadcast not only established the initial need for a document to bind the 13 states - but also the need for a Bill of Rights to accompany it.
It was a fitting, easily understood radio tribute to the precious document and it led the way to for a more historic broadcast four years later.
The original ten amendments to the Constitution, known collectively as The Bill of Rights, were eventually ratified on December 15, 1791. At the urging of President Roosevelt a big celebration was scheduled by the radio industry for the 150th anniversary of the ratification on December 15, 1941. But fate stepped in on December 7th when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, hurling the country into World War II with a week of national shock, mourning and rage.
Noted radio writer and producer Norman Corwin, who was in charge of the radio project, acted on behalf of the broadcasters when he asked the White House if his team should continue or cancel its plans to present the all-network tribute to The Bill of Rights on December 15th.
The response was short and positive, “The President thinks it’s more important now than ever to proceed with the program.”
And so, Corwin’s memorable, hour-long production, We Hold These Truths, began at 10:00 p.m. on December 15, 1941, over all network affiliates and most independent stations in the country just one week after President Roosevelt had declared war with his famous Day of Infamy speech before Congress. (2)
Introduced by Lionel Barrymore, narrated by (Corporal) Jimmy Stewart and featuring Edward Arnold, Walter Brennan, Walter Huston, Marjorie Main, Edward G. Robinson, Rudy Vallee, Orson Welles plus a host of Hollywood radio actors, the first 48 minutes of the program dramatized Corwin’s tribute to the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, the 450-word Bill of Rights.
Corwin tackled the job of making clear in simple, easily understood terms the 18th Century language that is still debated in its interpretation today. His script featured Stewart’s mid-America twang as the voice of the “common” man, walking through history and hearing the voices of “the people” first expressing suspicion of the Constitution and its lack of guarantees of freedoms in writing and in perpetuity.
Such demands resulted in the 1791 convention in New York City’s Assembly Hall of 55 delegates from the first 13 states and produced The Bill of Rights, authored and compiled by James Madison. The document was ratified by the 13th state, Virginia, in Richmond on December 15, 1791.
We Hold These Truths was a powerful broadcast and remains so today - climaxing with Stewart‘s urging listeners to obtain a copy of The Bill of Rights and, “Look it over…look it over!” (3)
Historian Erik Barnouw praised the program in The Golden Web: “…with a zestful overture, Corwin fused past and present. With this program - magnificently produced and directed - Corwin became a sort of unofficial laureate.”
The broadcast was brilliantly scored by Bernard Herrmann, climaxed by a short address condemning the axis powers by President Roosevelt speaking from the White House and concluded by the NBC Symphony’s performance of The Star Spangled Banner from New York City under the direction of Leopold Stokowski.
We Hold These Truths amassed an audience estimated by Crossley to be in excess of 60 Million listeners. It has easily accumulated millions more since its original broadcast. It wasn’t just good radio, it was great radio and it came at a time when America needed it most.
(1) Cavalcade of America ran on CBS from 1935 to 1938. It moved to Blue for six months in January, 1940, then on to NBC for the next 13 seasons until its cancellation in 1953. It was sponsored throughout its long run by DuPont Chemical.
(2) The original words of Thomas Jefferson from The Declaration of Independence in 1776: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
(3) Most citizens can’t identify the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, The Bill of Rights, identified here in simple language:
1/ The people will have the free exercise of religion, speech and press; the right to peaceably assemble and the right to petition Government for the redress of grievances.
2/ The people’s right to bear arms shall not be infringed.
3/ No soldier shall be quartered in time of peace without the dwelling owner’s consent.
4/ The people are granted right to reasonable search and seizure and warrants with prob-able cause.
5/ The people are granted due process of law, indictment by grand jury, protection against double jeopardy and testifying against oneself, and just compensation for property taken in cases of eminent domain.
6/ The people are given the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of peers, the right to know the accusation and cause of a trial, the right to be confronted by witnesses and have supporting witnesses, and the right to have the support of defense counsel.
7/ The people shall have the right to a jury trial for civil matters.
8/ Excessive bail shall not be required, cruel and unusual punishment shall not be inflicted.
9/ The Constitution shall not be construed to deny or disparage other rights which are retained by the people.
10/ Powers not delegated to the Constitution are reserved to the people.
Until 1941, December 7th had an altogether different significance in American history.
On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution. DuPont Chemicals’ Cavalcade of America on CBS celebrated this event on December 8, 1937, when it described the climate of events and emotions surrounding the Constitution’s creation 150 years earlier. (1)
The program, narrated by Frank Singiser, outlines the Constitution’s importance - and shortcomings - as they related to a New Jersey farmer played by Parker Fennelly. The broadcast not only established the initial need for a document to bind the 13 states - but also the need for a Bill of Rights to accompany it.
It was a fitting, easily understood radio tribute to the precious document and it led the way to for a more historic broadcast four years later.
The original ten amendments to the Constitution, known collectively as The Bill of Rights, were eventually ratified on December 15, 1791. At the urging of President Roosevelt a big celebration was scheduled by the radio industry for the 150th anniversary of the ratification on December 15, 1941. But fate stepped in on December 7th when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, hurling the country into World War II with a week of national shock, mourning and rage.
Noted radio writer and producer Norman Corwin, who was in charge of the radio project, acted on behalf of the broadcasters when he asked the White House if his team should continue or cancel its plans to present the all-network tribute to The Bill of Rights on December 15th.
The response was short and positive, “The President thinks it’s more important now than ever to proceed with the program.”
And so, Corwin’s memorable, hour-long production, We Hold These Truths, began at 10:00 p.m. on December 15, 1941, over all network affiliates and most independent stations in the country just one week after President Roosevelt had declared war with his famous Day of Infamy speech before Congress. (2)
Introduced by Lionel Barrymore, narrated by (Corporal) Jimmy Stewart and featuring Edward Arnold, Walter Brennan, Walter Huston, Marjorie Main, Edward G. Robinson, Rudy Vallee, Orson Welles plus a host of Hollywood radio actors, the first 48 minutes of the program dramatized Corwin’s tribute to the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, the 450-word Bill of Rights.
Corwin tackled the job of making clear in simple, easily understood terms the 18th Century language that is still debated in its interpretation today. His script featured Stewart’s mid-America twang as the voice of the “common” man, walking through history and hearing the voices of “the people” first expressing suspicion of the Constitution and its lack of guarantees of freedoms in writing and in perpetuity.
Such demands resulted in the 1791 convention in New York City’s Assembly Hall of 55 delegates from the first 13 states and produced The Bill of Rights, authored and compiled by James Madison. The document was ratified by the 13th state, Virginia, in Richmond on December 15, 1791.
We Hold These Truths was a powerful broadcast and remains so today - climaxing with Stewart‘s urging listeners to obtain a copy of The Bill of Rights and, “Look it over…look it over!” (3)
Historian Erik Barnouw praised the program in The Golden Web: “…with a zestful overture, Corwin fused past and present. With this program - magnificently produced and directed - Corwin became a sort of unofficial laureate.”
The broadcast was brilliantly scored by Bernard Herrmann, climaxed by a short address condemning the axis powers by President Roosevelt speaking from the White House and concluded by the NBC Symphony’s performance of The Star Spangled Banner from New York City under the direction of Leopold Stokowski.
We Hold These Truths amassed an audience estimated by Crossley to be in excess of 60 Million listeners. It has easily accumulated millions more since its original broadcast. It wasn’t just good radio, it was great radio and it came at a time when America needed it most.
(1) Cavalcade of America ran on CBS from 1935 to 1938. It moved to Blue for six months in January, 1940, then on to NBC for the next 13 seasons until its cancellation in 1953. It was sponsored throughout its long run by DuPont Chemical.
(2) The original words of Thomas Jefferson from The Declaration of Independence in 1776: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
(3) Most citizens can’t identify the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, The Bill of Rights, identified here in simple language:
1/ The people will have the free exercise of religion, speech and press; the right to peaceably assemble and the right to petition Government for the redress of grievances.
2/ The people’s right to bear arms shall not be infringed.
3/ No soldier shall be quartered in time of peace without the dwelling owner’s consent.
4/ The people are granted right to reasonable search and seizure and warrants with prob-able cause.
5/ The people are granted due process of law, indictment by grand jury, protection against double jeopardy and testifying against oneself, and just compensation for property taken in cases of eminent domain.
6/ The people are given the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury of peers, the right to know the accusation and cause of a trial, the right to be confronted by witnesses and have supporting witnesses, and the right to have the support of defense counsel.
7/ The people shall have the right to a jury trial for civil matters.
8/ Excessive bail shall not be required, cruel and unusual punishment shall not be inflicted.
9/ The Constitution shall not be construed to deny or disparage other rights which are retained by the people.
10/ Powers not delegated to the Constitution are reserved to the people.
| cav_of_america__12-08-37.mp3 |
| we_hold_these_truths_12-15-41.mp3 |