"Life" Magazine - December 22, 1941 Issue Quiz

Answer: Henry Luce

Born in China, a graduate of Yale and Oxford Universities, Henry R. Luce founded "Time" magazine in the early 1920s, along with his long-time friend and business partner Britton Hadden. "Life" magazine was subsequently purchased by Luce in 1936.

Luce is said to have despised President Roosevelt, and attacked the U.S. president at every opportunity. His editorial of December 22 declared the dead at Pearl Harbor "victims of a weak and faltering America that had lost its way and failed the world in leadership."

Answer: President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his inspiring speech containing the "day of infamy" phrase to a Joint Session of Congress on December 8th. Within the hour the Congress passed a formal declaration of war against Japan. The speech was heard over the radio by the largest audience in history.

A video of the speech shows a determined Roosevelt speaking to the Congress, with Vice President Henry Wallace and House Speaker Sam Rayburn sitting behind him on the podium, and crowds of people around the country gathering to listen on the radio.

Answer: Chiang Kai-shek

Chiang Kai-shek had been China's leader during that country's tumultuous period before World War II. China had already been at war with Japan for several years, the country was fragmented, and the Chinese Communists were seeking to overturn Chiang's government. After the war, Chiang was forced to leave China by the Communists, led by Mao Tse-tung. Chiang flew to Taiwan and formed an exile government there, the Republic of China, which was recognized as the true Chinese government by the United Nations until 1971. Chiang remained in Taiwan until his death.

The names are spelled here as they were at the time.

Answer: Philippines

Within two weeks after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese had attacked Wake Island, Guam, Malaya, Thailand, Shanghai and Midway by air. The Philippines, Guam, Burma, British Borneo and Hong Kong were invaded soon after. On December 23rd, 1941 General Douglas MacArthur began to retreat from Manila to Bataan, and the British would surrender at Hong Kong. It was a dark December for the Allies.

Answer: True

The article attests to the racism that existed at the time. The term "Jap" is routinely used throughout the magazine to refer to the Japanese people. It makes one cringe to see it now. Just one sentence in the magazine is devoted to the fact that German, Italian and Japanese "enemy aliens" in the U.S. are being "banged into prisons and detention camps."

Answer: Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad marked the turning of the tide on the European Front and helped lead to the eventual defeat of Hitler's army. Casualties on both sides were estimated at close to two million. The German Army was finally defeated in Stalingrad by weather and tenacious Russian forces. Nazi Germany would surrender less than three years later.

Answer: The building was blacked out at night

In addition to several other measures, many D.C. buildings were blacked out. New York City was to be completely dark at night for the duration of the war. "The city needs 30,000 men to turn out its street lights all at once", according to an article on civil defense.
In addition to "enemy aliens" being interned, both U.S. coasts were patrolled by planes around the clock. Buildings were sandbagged, windows were taped or covered with blankets or black cloth, all in expectation of an enemy air attack.

Answer: Liquor

There are many, many ads for whiskey and cigarettes. Studebaker autos, Nucoa oleomargarine, Vitalis hair creme and General Motors locomotives are also represented. (The Studebaker Champion carried a sticker price of about 800 dollars at the beginning of the 1940s.)

Answer: 48

There were 48 stars on the flag at that time. Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to the Union in 1959. Both states played an important role in the Pacific theater during World War II. The magazine cover can be viewed on the "Life" magazine website.

Answer: Bob Hope

Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in London, England on May 29th, 1903. He came to America as a child, and began to work as a comedian in vaudeville as a young man. He would later appear on Broadway, and in radio, television and films. Hope was well known for his work entertaining the US Armed Forces, and for performing in many USO tours overseas and at home.

He died on July 27th, 2003 at the age of 100.