FDR's Four Freedoms ..... one to listen to

Now I grew up with the statement of the Four Freedoms, and this programme offers up the background.

"In January 1941, American President Franklin D Roosevelt delivered an epic speech about the Four Freedoms that he believed to be vital for the post-war world: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from fear and freedom from want. 

These words became the basis for a global understanding of “human rights” and they also shed light on how the United States viewed itself and its global role at the dawn of the so-called "American Century."

But could the US really live up to such lofty ideals? Do those four freedoms remain relevant as a goal for the international community? Or do they need to be reimagined for our own century?

With help from contributors such as FDR's grandson, James Roosevelt, as well as former UN Human Rights Commissioner, Zeid Ra'Ad Al Hussein, Cambridge Professor of International History David Reynolds examines the genesis of the speech, its immediate impact, and its far-reaching consequences.

Presenter: David Reynolds

Producer: Claire Bowes and Sandra Kanthal

Editor: Clare Fordham

Studio Manager: Rod Farquhar

Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele and Helena Warwick-Cross"*

Pictures; Freedom to speech, circa 1994, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*FDR's Four Freedoms, Archive on Four, Radio 4, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001fm6c 

The Four freedoms, ..... Listening

A series of pictures taken in the 1990s debating the future of the National Health Service














Picture; from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The Four freedoms, Free Speech 4 Listening

A series of pictures taken in the 1990s debating the future of the National Health Service

Picture; from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The Four freedoms, Free Speech 2 Speaking

A series of pictures taken in the 1990s debating the future of the National Health Service














Picture; from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The Four freedoms, Free Speech 1 Speaking

Andrew Simcock & Gerald Kaufman MP

A series of pictures taken in the 1990s debating the future of the National Health Service. 

Originaly issued last year.

In 1941 President Roosevelt spoke of looking forward to a world founded on "four essential freedoms." 

"Freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear."

Later Norman Rockwell turned them into four paintings of which my favourite is the first where a blue collar worker speaks at his local town council meeting. And it struck me as I looked around the hall that we were doing exactly the same thing.

Picture; from the collection of Andrew Simpson

The Four freedoms, Free Speech 6 Listening

A series of pictures taken in the 1990s debating the future of the National Health Service

Picture; from the collection of Andrew Simpson