As Professor Sandra Silberstein observes, Roosevelt's speech followed a well-established tradition of how "through rhetorical conventions, presidents assume extraordinary powers as the commander in chief, dissent is minimized, enemies are vilified, and lives are lost in the defense of a nation once again united under God".
Som professor Sandra Silberstein bemærker fulgte Roosevelts tale en veletableret tradition for hvordan "præsidenter ved hjælp af retoriske konventioner tiltager sig ekstraordinære bemyndigelser som øverkommanderende, uenighed minimeres, fjender rakkes ned, og liv mistes i forsvaret af en nation, som igen er forenet under Gud."