Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s speech on the bombing of Pearl Harbor is a significant part of our history. Utilizing several rhetorical devices, he evokes the emotions of congress and the citizens of the United States. His use of the rhetorical devices affirms the severity of the drastic situation. Three primary rhetorical devices used in his speech are denotation, anaphora, and repetition. Roosevelt uses the word “infamy” at the beginning of his speech to grab the attention of his audience. Since he utilizes dramatic diction in his use of the word “infamy,” his waiting audience was prepared to hear tragic news. “Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941- a day which will live in infamy,” is a phrase that has become an important part of American history.