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The Thousand Island Bridge: Speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • This speech, delivered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in August 1938, announces the opening of the new Thousand Island bridge connecting Canada and the United States.
  • This video also shows both President Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King snipping through a ribbon as a ceremonial gesture for the historic event between the two nations.
  • A memorable moment of President Roosevelt's speech is that as people pass through this new bridge as an open door, the only words that will be exchanged is "Pass, friend."
  • This video also includes another speech made that day in honour of President Roosevelt's visit to accept his honorary degree from Queen's University where he delivered an address at convocation.
  • President Roosevelt famously said that "the Dominion of Canada is part of the sisterhood of the British Empire. I give to you assurance" that the people of the United States will not sit idly by if domination of Canadian soil is dominated by any other Empire."
Citation

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano. "The Thousand Islands Bridge." August 18, 1938. Youtube video, 1:22. A video from British Pathé uploaded to Youtube April 13, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zeY7ClGYL0

Further Readings

For the official printed record of Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech at the dedication of the Thousand Island Bridge where he expressed the bridge being a symbol of the relationship between Canada and the United States and the new opportunities that would come with this shared gateway: http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/_resources/images/msf/msf01204

For the history of the Thousand Island Bridge: http://www.tibridge.com/about/ & https://federalbridge.ca/thousand-islands-international-bridge-history-links/

For the Renewal of the Operating Agreement of the Thousand Island Bridge: http://www.tibridge.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Renewal-Bridge-Agreement-2020.pdf

For the U.S. Congressional Record of the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Thousand Islands International Bridge (August 2, 2013): https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2013-08-02/html/CREC-2013-08-02-pt1-PgE1238-3.htm

For the CBC Archive Record of the Thousand Island Bridge Opening: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1834750889

For a record of the construction and unveiling process of the Thousand Island Bridge: http://www.tibridge.com/about/thousand-islands-bridge-authority-1938/

Policy Type
Speech