Autumn 2013 | Volume 4 | Issue 3
The Magazine of the National Churchill Museum
Painting & Politics Understanding Churchill Through His Art
The DeFer Family Celebrates with a Gift to the Museum Three Lessons in Leadership From the Archives: A Churchillian Trip Board of Governors of the Association of Churchill Fellows Message from the Executive Director Jean-Paul Montupet Chairman & Senior Fellow St. Louis, Missouri Warm greetings from the National Churchill A.V.L. Brokaw III Museum here at Westminster College, where we St. Louis, Missouri
have had a busy summer — following hard on Robert L. DeFer the heels of a busy spring! Chesterfield, Missouri
Earle H. Harbison Jr. St. Louis, Missouri I’m delighted to tell you all that we have secured next year’s Enid and R. Crosby Kemper lecturer William C. Ives Chapel Hill, North Carolina already — an astonishing feat — and that the R. Crosby Kemper III Kemper Lecture will be delivered by Mr. Paul Kansas City, Missouri
Reid. To most Churchillians Paul needs no Barbara D. Lewington St. Louis, Missouri introduction. A close friend of the legendary William Manchester, Paul, a journalist by Richard J. Mahoney St. Louis, Missouri profession, was selected by Manchester to finish William R. Piper his series of books on Churchill, The Last Lion. Paul’s book, and the journey he went St. Louis, Missouri through to complete it, will be the subject of his lecture. Given that Manchester’s Suzanne D. Richardson account is, in many ways, the definitive American portrait of WSC, Paul’s continuation St. Louis, Missouri of this series is a fascinating exposition of Churchill and, indeed, of Manchester’s The Honorable Edwina Sandys M.B.E. New York, New York original works as well. More details on dates can be found on page 23. James M. Schmuck Wildwood, Missouri By the time you receive this edition of The Churchillian our documentary film, Winston The Lady Soames L.G., D.B.E. Churchill’s Epic “Iron Curtain Speech”: History Alive Today, will have received two London, U.K. screenings on public television in St. Louis, Missouri, with more plans for such showings Linda Gill Taylor across the country. Stay tuned for more details. Edgerton, Missouri
John C. Wade Wildwood, Missouri As always, we seek constantly to improve our physical offerings here at the National Hjalma E. Johnson, Emeritus Churchill Museum and, over the summer, finally completed a long-held ambition Dade City, Florida to improve our HVAC provision throughout the temporary exhibition space. This John R. McFarland, Emeritus now allows us to maintain an ambient temperature far more precisely than previously St. Louis, Missouri and to bring in exhibitions of far greater significance, value and interest. This major Harold L. Ogden, Emeritus Seal Beach, California strategic step forward was made possible by the funds raised during our Churchill medal event in the spring. Thanks once again to all who made that evening a most William H. Tyler, Emeritus Pebble Beach, California wonderful success.
Churchill Institute & Memorial With that all said, it is great to present another tremendous edition of The Churchillian, Committee of the Board of Trustees, bursting with insights and scholarship on WSC, his life and times. We welcome, for Westminster College his first contribution, Phil White, author of “Our Supreme Task” who discusses James M. Schmuck, Chair Wildwood, Missouri Churchillian leadership — a most timely topic given the current global situation. Justin Lyons returns with a fascinating discussion that interweaves the personal and Jane Bell, Vice Chair Fulton, Missouri the public sides of Churchill, and Professor James Muller joins us for a review of Bruce Brookby Michael Shelden’s new book, Young Titan. As ever, The Churchillian is full of additional Bartlesville, Oklahoma updates and tidbits about the man himself, the National Churchill Museum and the Ron J. Kostich wider Churchill world. Upland, California
Ken Meyer Springfield, Missouri For those of you interested in reading more in the vein of the offerings of The J. Christopher Panettiere Churchillian, we have started a regular blog on our website which will feature pieces Atlanta, Georgia from myself and others. Please join us there and I encourage you all to share the blog William H. Roedy content as widely as you can. London, U.K.
Linda Gill Taylor Edgerton, Missouri As ever, I thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you here soon. Ronald D. Winney Edwardsville, Illinois Dr. Rob Havers Executive Director George K. Parkins Prairie Village, Kansas National Churchill Museum Suzanne D. Richardson St. Louis, Missouri Autumn 2013 | Volume 4 | Issue 3
Paintings and Politics 4 by Justin D. Lyons
Three Lessons in Leadership 12 by Philip White
Book Review: How Churchill Got His Start, 20 in Politics and in Love by James W. Muller
A Moment in History 22 by Scott Porter
— Page 4 — Save the Date for the 2014 Enid and 23 R. Crosby Kemper Lecture
Message from the Director of Development: 24 DeFer Family Celebrates with a Gift to the Museum by Kit Freudenberg
From the Archives: A Churchillian Trip 26 by Liz Murphy — Page 22 —
Educational and Public Programming: 27 School and Community Update The National Churchill Museum is by Mandy Plybon located on the Westminster College campus in Fulton, Missouri, and designated by Congress as America's Letters to the Editor National Churchill Museum. 573-592-5369, www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org 28 by Dr. Rob Havers
Copyright material by Winston S. Churchill is reprinted within The Churchillian with 31 Calendar of Events the permission of Curtis Brown, London, on behalf of the Estate of Sir Winston Churchill.
Cover photo: Winston Churchill self-portrait, probably done in Sir John Lavery’s studio Painting and Politics: Understanding Churchill Through His Essay on His Hobby
At issue today— as it was then— is a fundamental
question: what is Opposite page: the proper Oblivious of everything but his subject, Churchill frequently relationship set up his easel in public places. Here he paints in Italy during his holiday of between the September, 1945, attracting the usual individual and gaggle of onlookers. A detective appears to be shooing away the photographer, the community? who was likely in a boat! Churchill detested all political forms that would absolutely subordinate the individual to the state, and he by Justin D. Lyons never ceased to Justin Lyons is an Associate Professor of Political Science and History at Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio combat them in Photographs reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown, word and deed. London on behalf of the Broadwater Collection Paintings copyright Churchill Heritage
4 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 5 We may be sure that Churchill’s ary pastime: “painting a picture is view of the subject was colored by like fighting a battle.” As First Lord his own experiences, and we have of the Admiralty, he had inhabited the advantage of a rich supply of an office at the apex and intersec- his reflections and deeds on which tion of politics and war. He had to draw. Did Churchill intend all laid plans he deemed crucial to that I see in his essay? While I success—and had seen them go suspect he did, I cannot prove it; awry. Painting helped him recover but that does not extinguish the from the shock and disappoint- value of seeking the broader ment, but it did not turn him from suggestions of the work. When all contemplation of what ought to be is said, my experiment in reading, done about the war. While the like Churchill’s foray into painting, surface of Churchill’s mind was is “at any rate not violently harmful completely absorbed in the activity to man or beast.”1 of painting, its main currents plunged forward inexorably hen teaching my Setting the Scene nonetheless. Churchill seminar, I Note first that the context of The purpose of a pastime is to end the course with a Churchill’s essay is military and refresh the mind so that the tools broad consideration of political. Churchill relates how, of our main trade may be more theW topic of statesmanship. when he left the Admiralty in the energetically grasped when the Churchill’s career and writings wake of the Dardanelles disaster, holiday is ended. Painting was to provide us a vast field of reflection, he was in the painful position of be Churchill’s welcome companion but I like to use a famous essay on being completely powerless to throughout the remainder of his another subject to get my students direct events: life, but its siren call was to begin to consider the attributes intermittent. Always he plunged necessary for a statesman. I had long hours of utterly back into the realm of action. “Painting as a Pastime” is not an unwonted leisure in which to essay usually thought to have much contemplate the frightful Audacity unfolding of the War. At a to offer in terms of political Churchill’s first efforts at painting moment when every fibre of my wisdom, and students are initially being was inflamed to action, were uncertain. Some experiments taken aback by the thought of I was forced to remain a spectator with his children’s paint box considering it as a guide to of the tragedy, placed cruelly in spurred him to attempt it on an statesmanship. Ostensibly it a front seat. And then it was that adult scale. Yet he quickly found describes Churchill’s experience the Muse of Painting came to that having the tools was one thing with oil painting, a hobby he my rescue…. and employing them was another: picked up at the age of forty, and “Having bought the colours, an praises that art as one that Painting provided a diversion; easel, and a canvas, the next step sharpens and refreshes the mind. but, despite what he writes about was to begin. But what a step to I present this exercise to the painting being “complete as a take!” He was saved from his students (and to you) as an distraction,” it is difficult to believe hesitancy by the arrival of Lady experiment in reading, an that other concerns ever passed Lavery2 who, like an incarnation of experiment that, while grounded entirely from his mental screen. the Muse, seized the brush and in the facts of Churchill’s life and Painting was a new friend, but war vanquished with fierce strokes his his thoughts about life and politics, and politics were old loves. Indeed, awe of the canvas. “The spell was requires an imaginative openness these preoccupations emerge even broken,” Churchill writes. “The to see allusions and analogies. as he describes the new diversion- sickly inhibitions rolled away.
6 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 English artist J.M.W. Turner, whose massive canvases exhibit such a unity of conception that “we must feel in presence of an intellectual manifestation the equal in quality and intensity of the finest achievements of war-like action, of forensic argument, or of scientific or philosophical adjudication.” These remarks are made in the context of the central and explicit analogy that Churchill employs in this essay comparing painting to warfare:
One begins to see, for instance, that painting a picture is like fighting a battle; and trying to Frustrated by political life, Churchill resigned from the government late in 1915 to paint a picture is, I suppose, like rejoin the army while retaining his parliamentary seat. In 1916 he reported to the trying to fight a battle….It is the front, where he took command of a battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Ploegsteert same kind of problem, as on the borders of France and Belgium. Here, enemy shells burst over his paintings of unfolding a long, sustained, the village, which was known as “Plugstreet” to the troops. interlocked argument. It is a proposition which, whether of a I seized the largest brush and fell through the “wilderness years” few or numberless parts, is upon my victim with Berserk fury. eventually revealing that he was the commanded by a single unity of I have never felt any awe of a only one who could lead Great conception. canvas since.” This story is Britain through its coming trial. In bookended by references to politics as well as painting, it is one There was an intimate audacity as necessary to success. thing to begin; it is quite another to connection in Churchill’s mind One must act and act boldly. The continue. between war and politics— students readily understand that demonstrated in his uniting of the this is true not only in painting, but The Pursuit of Victory offices of prime minister and in politics. Audacity and perseverance by minister of defence, allowing him Any survey of Churchill’s career themselves are not sufficient: One to command the military and will illuminate audacity as a central must pursue the ends of any political spheres. The decision to feature of his character. Yet activity intelligently. In any do so arose from his experience of momentary audacity does not undertaking, there will be the First World War. The lack of suffice: perseverance is required. gradations of skill between the decisive leadership, meaningless The first forty years of Churchill’s masterly and the mediocre. The slaughters, and bungled execution political career were marked by master artist must possess great of the one really strategically much criticism. Yet he continued intellect: “There must be that imaginative idea that might have to remain in public life and to seek all-embracing view which presents broken the stalemate (the out the duties and responsibilities the beginning and the end, the Dardanelles) convinced him that of high political office. This whole and each part, as one responsibility must be combined perseverance is the special instantaneous impression with authority. hallmark of his career in the retentively and untiringly held in Churchill was determined that inter-war period, his firmness the mind.” He points to the work of in the Second World War the unity
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 7 of conception would be supplied by himself, the numberless parts of the war effort following the paths that he set for them.3 He believed in his ability to preside over such a massive effort because his firmly rooted understanding united with experience would create consistency in plan and action. “Those who are possessed of a definite body of doctrine and of deeply rooted convictions upon it,” he wrote in The Gathering Storm, “will be in a much better position to deal with the shifts and surprises of daily affairs than those who are merely taking short views, and indulging their natural impulses as they are evoked by what they read “Oranges and Lemons”: A still life painted from an arrangement made by Wendy from day to day.” He then adds, by Reves for Sir Winston to paint at her villa, La Pausa way of advice, “The first thing is to decide where you want to go.”4 Art galleries now add to their so helpless and futile as to allow Once the goal is established, the enchantments the offer of practical themselves to become the victims means of achieving it must be laid guidance. “Not only is your of their own processes, and of what down. Victory must be pursued observation of Nature sensibly they most abhorred?’ The answer intelligently: “In all battles two improved and developed, but you will be, ‘They had no plan.’”5 “…it things are usually required of the look at the masterpieces of art with is no use espousing a cause,” he Commander-in-Chief: to make a an analyzing and a comprehending argued, “without also having a good plan for his army and, eye.” method and a plan by which that secondly, to keep a strong reserve.” A good plan is also required in cause may be made to win.”6 A battle plan must take into politics. In the inter-war period, Churchill’s plans were formed account the landscape on which it Churchill protested against the through observation of present is to be fought just as the painter shuffling descent toward the events combined with reflection on must carefully observe the scene to approaching cataclysm, striving to past events. He ever looked to formulate a plan of composition. combat the unwillingness among history as a source of practical But a good plan is never formed in the Western democracies to deal wisdom, believing that the past complete isolation; it is shaped in prudently with the dangers they could serve as a treasury of experi- the context of what has gone faced. The misguided policies of ence from which one could draw before: “But in order to make his disarmament and appeasement counsel for present decisions. plan, the General must not only only brought them closer to that “Study history, study history. In reconnoitre the battle-ground, he which they feared most—yet they history lie all the secrets of state- must also study the achievements could not exert the discipline craft,” he advised an admirer at of the great Captains of the past. necessary to halt the slide: “‘How Westminster Hall in 1953.7 It was He must bring the observations he was it,’ the historians of the future thus that he had always taken has collected in the field into will ask, ‘that these vast, fairly counsel with “the great Captains of comparison with the treatment of intelligent, educated, and on the the past.” Once formed, a plan similar incidents by famous chiefs.” whole virtuous communities were must be executed. Successful
8 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 Victory must be pursued intelligently: “In all battles two things are usually required of the Commander-in-Chief: to make a good plan for his army and, secondly, to keep a strong reserve.” A battle plan must take into account the landscape on which the battle is to be fought, just as the painter must carefully observe the scene to formulate a plan of composition. execution must involve flexibility— realm where one’s plans are action must lie, all the power a plan must necessarily be modi- unopposed and mistakes can be required must be generated.” fied here, reinforced there, if it is to easily retrieved would be attractive Churchill points to a similar keep pace with the flow of action. to anyone who had undergone the blending between politics and The plan must be good, “But it is in frustrations of high office. Yet, as strategy: the use and withholding of their he enters more deeply into his reserves that the great command- military analogy, the carefree Right strategy comprises right ers have generally excelled.” description of easy alteration politics, and vice versa. But in practice problems rarely present Churchill wrote in praise of oils begins to wane. “In the absence of themselves in a simple form over watercolors as a medium high direction,” no number of allowing of a perfect and “which offers real power, if you troops will salvage the effort. They harmonious solution. The decision only can find out how to use it.” are “apt to get into sad confusion, is hardly ever between black and The first reason for his preference all mixed together in a nasty mess, white but between competing is that mistakes can be corrected without order or plan—and shades of grey, and to decide truly much more easily: “One sweep of consequently without effect.” The one must look to the realities in each case.8 the palette knife ‘lifts’ the blood defeats thus suffered cannot simply and tears of a morning from the be lifted from the canvas. The true direction is to be found canvas and enables a fresh start to Reserves in war consist of by correctly perceiving the be made….” Secondly, one can additional troops and equipment. relationships between political and approach the problem from any Reserves in painting “consist in military purposes. direction: “You need not build Proportion or Relation.” The true downwards awkwardly from white artist produces every effect of Bright Colors paper to your darkest dark. You light and shade, distance and The correct perception of may strike where you please….” nearness, “by expressing justly the relationships is the key to healthy Lastly, oils allow for continued relations between the different domestic politics as well. Churchill experimentation. Layer can be planes and surfaces with which he has described the process of added upon layer until the desired is dealing.” This ability is also painting, how (in terms of his effect is achieved. Power combined present in other high activities of analogy) to win victory. But victory with flexibility creates Churchill’s the human intellect. The subtleties is not an end in itself. Victory is for attachment to oils. “You can of reality can never be captured by something. Ultimately, it is to change your plan to meet the extremes: “And it is here that the protect a way of life from exigencies of time or weather,” he art of the painter marches along destruction—that certainly defined writes. “And always remember you the road which is traversed by all for him the meaning of victory and can scrape it all away.” the greatest harmonies in thought. the consequence of defeat in the Such freedom of action must At one side of the palette there is Second World War: have played as great part in his white, at the other black; and attraction to painting as it did to neither is ever used ‘neat.’ Between You ask, what is our aim? I can his war leadership. Dalliance in a these two rigid limits all the answer in one word: It is victory,
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 9 victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realized; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for…. 9
Churchill had definite ideas of what kind of way of life is worthy of such effort and sacrifice. They are to be found in his wartime speeches and, after the conflict, in his call to the world to pursue healthy political principles. “But we must never cease to proclaim in fearless tones,” he said at This view of Marrakech, showing the Tower of the Katoubia Mosque on the right, was Fulton in 1946, “the great painted by Churchill in 1943 after the Casablanca Conference. It was the only picture principles of freedom and the he felt able to paint during the Second World War when he was otherwise totally rights of man which are the joint absorbed – physically, mentally and emotionally. Churchill gave this painting to inheritance of the English- President Roosevelt whom he insisted on taking to Marrakech after the Conference for speaking world and which them both to enjoy the spectacle of the sun setting on the snow of the Atlas Mountains. The picture was painted, after the President’s departure, from the tower of the Villa through Magna Carta, the Bill of Taylor, from which both had viewed the scene the previous evening. Rights, the Habeas Corpus, trial by jury, and the English common law find their most famous purer than strawberries and Yet the mere presentation of expression in the American plums.’” Yet, every color, every individual colors is not enough; Declaration of Independence.”10 individual, has its part to play, and they must be portrayed in context: At issue is the answer given to this mixing of individual colors “The brilliancy of a picture must the fundamental political varying in character and intensity therefore depend partly upon the question: what is the proper into a harmonious whole is the frequency with which these points relationship between the key both to successful painting are found on any given area of the individual and the community? and to healthy politics. canvas, and partly on their just Churchill detested all political Introduced to the methods of relation to one another.” He again forms that would absolutely the modern French school, points to Turner who, even in his subordinate the individual to the Churchill was fascinated by an largest pictures employs very small state, and he never ceased to approach that emphasized light spots of color in combination to combat them in word and deed. and color over forms and surfaces produce the over-all effect. He This love of personal freedom and captivated by the difficult task finds Turner superior to the French may find expression in his of depicting the innumerable post-Impressionists in presenting a remarks about the use of color in colors that play across even the “just relation”: “But the gradations painting. “I must say I like bright most commonplace objects. of Turner differ from those of the colours,” he writes. “I agree with “Nature presents itself to the eye modern French school by being Ruskin11 in his denunciation of through the agency of these gently and almost imperceptibly that school of painting who ‘eat individual points of light,” he evolved one from another instead slate-pencil and chalk, and assure writes, “each of which sets up the of being bodily and even roughly everybody that they are nicer and vibrations peculiar to its colour.” separated….” This praise of
10 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 apprehending not only the colors systems that destroy bright colors. but also their connection evokes “Let us not wander away from the Endnotes Churchill’s remarks about avoiding broad, fertile fields of freedom,” 1. Winston S. Churchill, “Painting as a Pastime,” in James W. Muller, ed., political extremes: Churchill counseled, “into these Thoughts and Adventures: Churchill gaunt, grim, dim, gloomy Reflects on Spies, Cartoons, Flying, It is not possible to draw a abstractions of morbid and sterile and the Future (ISI Books, 2009), 323. All subsequent quotation of hard-and-fast line between 13 thought.” the essay is drawn from this individualism and collectivism. edition, pp. 323-38. You cannot draw it either in theory Love and Landscapes 2. Wife of the portrait artist Sir John or in practice. That is where the Lavery, herself an artist in water The last topic Churchill raises is Socialist makes a mistake. Let us colors. not imitate that mistake. No man painting as a spur to travel, noting 3. It must be noted, however, that that different settings offer diverse he never simply disregarded or can be a collectivist alone or an overruled the opinions of the individualist alone. He must be charms and challenges to the professional military officers who both an individualist and a painter: “Every country where the served with him. collectivist. The nature of man sun shines and every district in it 4. Winston S. Churchill, is a dual nature.12 The Gathering Storm (Boston: has a theme of its own. The lights, Houghton Mifflin Company, the atmosphere, the aspect, the 1948), 210. Such departures from nature spirit, are all different; but each has 5. “How to Stop War,” in Winston S. arise from attempts to force reality Churchill, Step by Step 1936-1939 its native charm.” Politically, the (London: Thornton Butterworth, into the preconceived molds of comparative approach examines 1939), 37-38. theory. Again he praises Turner, how other peoples conduct 6. Churchill, speech at the Free Trade whose brush “followed the form of Hall, Manchester, May 9, 1938, in themselves so that lessons may be Richard M. Langworth, ed., the objects he depicted,” while the applied to one’s own country. Yet, Churchill in His Own Words French school deliberately opposed while the statesman must possess (London: Ebury Press, 2012), 264. it: “For instance, they would prefer the capacity to observe other 7. Speech of May 27, 1953. Churchill in His Own Words, 18. to paint a sea with up and down regimes objectively, he cannot be 8. Winston S. Churchill, “The War by strokes rather than with horizontal; indifferent to his own. As with the Land and Sea (1917),” in Michael or a tree-trunk from right to left painter, he will find the greatest Wolff, ed., The Collected Essays of Sir Winston Churchill, 4 vols. rather than up and down. This, I beauties in his own land: “But after (London: Library of Imperial expect, is due to falling in love with all, if only the sun will shine, one History, 1976), I 150. one’s theories, and making does not need to go beyond one’s 9. ‘Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat’, 13 May 1940, House of Commons, in sacrifices of truth to them in order own country. There is nothing Never Give In! The Best of Winston to demonstrate fidelity and more intense than the burnished Churchill’s Speeches, selected by admiration.” While, artistically, His Grandson, Winston S. steel and gold of a Highland Churchill, (New York: Hyperion, new expressions of beauty may stream; and at the beginning and 2003), 206. emerge from this approach, close of almost every day the 10. Churchill, speech at Westminster politically, excessive emphasis on Thames displays to the citizens of College, Fulton, Missouri, March 5, 1946, in Winston S. Churchill, The the individual leads to the decay of London glories and delights which Sinews of Peace (London: Cassell, communal ties; excessive emphasis one must travel far to rival.” 1948), 100. See also the foregoing on the collective smothers personal Churchill loved Britain. That article by Philip White. 11. John Ruskin (1819-1900), art freedom and, ultimately, degrades love is what gave the deep, rolling critic, artist, author, and poet. humanity itself. This second power to his rhetorical call to 12. Churchill, speech at St. Andrew’s danger formed the fields on which action; that love sent the thrill Hall, Glasgow, October 11, 1906, in Robert Rhodes James, ed., Churchill’s battles were fought. through the hearts of his Winston S. Churchill: His Complete Nazism and Communism are both countrymen; that love conjured a Speeches 1897-1963, 8 vols. (New forms of tyranny that suppresses spirit of defiant resolution that York: Bowker, 1974), I 675. 13. Churchill at Oxford, 1937. the individual; they are regimented endured the trial. Churchill in His Own Words, 384.
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 11 three lessons in leadership
The Continued Relevance of the Fulton Speech
by philip white Photos compliments of the National Churchill Museum’s Photographic Collection
12 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 n an unseasonably warm March War Minister during World War I, he had sent troops afternoon in 1946, Winston Churchill to aid anti-Boshevik forces, but his effort was soon stood at a hardwood podium in a packed squashed by Prime Minister David Lloyd George and gymnasium at Westminster College in President Woodrow Wilson, who said the cause was Fulton,O Missouri. With President Harry Truman seated hopeless. The British and American public, they said, behind him—issuing tacit support by his presence— wanted their boys back home, not tilting at windmills Britain’s charismatic wartime leader illustrated the in the frozen expanses of Russia.2 divisions of the Cold War with the evocative term “iron Churchill continued to write scathingly of Communism curtain.” Churchill called for a “special relationship” in influential Anglo-American periodicals, like the Daily between America and Britain, and gave an eloquent Telegraph and Collier’s, throughout the 1920s and 1930s, exhortation of democratic principles that he warned convinced that Communism was a very real danger to the were under threat from Communism. tenets of liberal democracy that he had devoted his career What lessons do the words of Churchill’s “Sinews of to protecting. On balance, however, he saw Nazism as the Peace” address (commonly known as “Iron Curtain greater or at least more immediate threat, since it seemed speech”) have for us today, now that the Berlin Wall has likely to consume more democratic nations than the long since fallen and the Cold War is no more? More Bolsheviks’ expansionism. importantly, what can they teach us about the leadership Thus, when Germany turned on Soviet Russia in that of the orator who uttered them, a man considered by fateful summer of 1941, Churchill the pragmatist many to be the greatest British prime minister and the overcame Churchill the idealist, and he recognized Stalin preeminent statesmen in the half century when freedom as a necessary, if perhaps somewhat uncomfortable, ally and liberty were challenged three times—by World War against Nazi Germany. So it proved, and the Soviet I, Nazism and Communism? Here are three key Union joined the battle against fascism. leadership traits evident in this pivotal address that are After Hitler was vanquished, Churchill knew, crucial to understanding Churchill and his legacy. Communism would be the West’s next great challenge. Many critics hold him culpable in Stalin’s land grab in Vision Eastern Europe, citing the “Percentages Agreement” he Churchill has perhaps made too much of his made with Stalin at the “Tolstoy” talks in October 1944. prescience, not least in his memoirs of World War II. But by then the Red Army had advanced and Soviet Nonetheless, he had a gift for seeing what was next influence was already a fait accompli. And the deal with when the picture seemed clouded to those around him. Stalin, followed later by Marshall Plan aid, did save This was certainly true of how he viewed Communism Greece from Communist domination.3 and how he spoke about it at Fulton. The invitation to speak at Fulton gave Churchill a In the years following the 1917 Bolshevik chance to tell the world about Russia’s true intentions Revolution, many were disenchanted with capitalism, and actions, and to describe the chasm between pointing to the “Great War” as evidence that the system democracy and Communism that had riven Europe in was failing. Some in the West thought Communism two. He did so dramatically by declaring, “an iron might be a viable alternative. Even those who were curtain has descended across the Continent.”4 This skeptical believed that the product of Marx, Engels and highly visual image was not his invention (it originated Lenin would be a short-lived experiment in a far-flung as a fireproofing device in theaters). Churchill had used country that had little impact on their daily lives. How the term in a 1945 letter to Harry Truman, and it had wrong they would all be. first been applied to Bolshevized lands by an English In contrast, Churchill had loathed Communism writer in 1920.5 But Churchill did popularize it as a from the beginning, calling Lenin and his ilk “those vivid description of the lasting division in Europe. fiendish criminals,” branding their philosophy a disease Events proved him correct about the “expansive and and vowing to “strangle Bolshevism in its cradle.”1 As proselytizing tendencies” of the Communists, which
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 13 went beyond simply securing hegemony in Eastern speech “an almost catastrophic blunder.”9 Europe. Just as he had over Hitler in the 1930s, Churchill was nothing if not courageous. Speaking in Churchill provided the lasting rhetorical appraisal of New York shortly after Fulton, after hundreds of the early Cold War—and a visionary forecast of what protesters had chanted outside his hotel, “GI Joe is was to come. home to stay” and “Winnie go away,” Churchill stood his ground. “I do not,” he said, “wish to withdraw or Courage modify a single word.”10 It is true that Churchill had first thought he and Roosevelt could deal with Stalin—“Uncle Joe,” as they Statesmanship called him in their fonder moments. But the three When Westminster College President Franc McCluer, leaders’ mutual admiration only went so far. Churchill with President Truman’s endorsement, invited him to may have shared endless toasts with Stalin at the speak, Churchill was no longer prime minister. He had wartime conferences, but he was among the first to been the embodiment of defiance in the late war, but understand the full import of Stalin’s plans and to the British electorate had opted for change and new foresee the consequences if Russia went unchecked and directions after so many years of hardship. While unchallenged in the postwar world. Churchill’s Conservative Party had largely campaigned Newspapers, radio shows and magazines in Britain on his war leadership, Clement Attlee’s Labour Party and America remained pro-Stalin long after Churchill, had captured the public’s imagination with a bold praising the heroism of Russian soldiers and the platform promising broad social reforms and sacrifices of the nation that had lost so much holding nationalization of industry. Churchill was himself off the Nazi war machine. Most Britons and Americans handily reelected, but his party lost big—the second in 1946 still viewed the Soviet Union as an ally. worst defeat in its history. Certain that he would never Popping that bubble would risk unpopularity among lead again, Churchill had accepted the will of the war-weary populations, loath to expend yet more lives people graciously, as the democrat he was. But after a and treasure. Yet, in his typical, dauntless style, few weeks of inertia, he was retapping his formidable Churchill marched straight ahead. energies as Leader of the Opposition, focusing not on Speaking about the Soviet leadership, he said, “I am “the art of the possible.” convinced that there is nothing they admire so much as A few others—the U.S. diplomat George Kennan, strength, and there is nothing for which they have less Attlee’s foreign secretary Ernest Bevin and, eventually, respect than for weakness, especially military Harry Truman, squarely understood the Soviet weakness.” If Britain, American and their English- challenge. But none of them had Churchill’s powers of speaking partners did not pursue active diplomacy speech or preeminence on the world stage. It was left to backed by military strength, Churchill said, they would Churchill to convince people of the reality unfolding in be headed back to “a school of war” for a third time in Europe. So Churchill went to the American heartland less than fifty years.6 to speak not only as a “private citizen” but also for his Reaction to “The Sinews of Peace” speech was country and the principles of liberal democracy that predictably negative. In Britain, Labour Members of underpinned Britain, America, Canada and their Parliament called for the House of Commons to democratic allies. censure the former Prime Minister.7 Stalin went Historian Justin Lyons wrote that “statesmanship is further, branding his former partner a warmonger.8 revealed in the joining of political skill with profound Commentary in America was little kinder. Prominent political knowledge.”11 Churchill at Fulton exemplified newspapers published critical editorials; Democratic this conjunction. Not only did he know what was Senators Harley Kilgore, Glen Taylor and Claude happening in what he called “the Soviet sphere”; he Pepper issued a statement accusing Churchill of better than anyone could articulate the situation and imperialism. Columnist Walter Lippmann labeled the what should be done about it.
14 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 What Churchill said at Fulton did nothing to advance his chances of recapturing 10 Downing Street. Quite the contrary—in the short term at least, it galvanized his critics and ideological enemies. But a craving to regain power was not his motivation that day. His aim was to express the hard and unpopular truths; he believed it his “duty” to convey to the 2800 in that hot gymnasium and to the wider world. Contrary to those who called him an imperialist and warmonger, he wished not for another war but a lasting peace. “Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat” and “Their Finest Hour” are perhaps better known and more celebrated exhortations, but what Churchill said in “The Sinews of Peace” was at least as influential. Churchill himself declared it the most important of his career.12 The strategic and geopolitical value of what he said has diminished since the end of the Cold War, but not the enduring, immutable principles of leadership it represents. Today’s leaders would do well to study “The Sinews of Peace” for its lessons in leadership—as necessary as ever in today’s “anxious and baffling times.”13
–––––––– Mr. White is the author of Our Supreme Task: How Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech Defined the Cold War Alliance, and the forthcoming Whistle Stop: How 31,000 Miles, 352 Speeches and Six Bright Young Men Saved the Presidency of Harry Truman (University Press of New England, 2014).
Footnotes Paige (New York: Pantheon, Monger,’” Pittsburgh Post- The Sinews of Peace, 115. 1. Winston S. Churchill to Claire 1968), 39-41. Gazette, March 11, 1946. 11. Justin D. Lyons, “The Leader Sheridan, January 27, 1921, 3. Martin Gilbert, Churchill: A Life, 9. “Churchill at Fulton,” St. Louis as Classical Statesman,” Finest Richard Marsh private (New York: Holt, 1995), 830. Globe-Democrat, March 6, Hour 158, Spring 2013, 13. See collection. Richard M. 4. Winston S. Churchill, “A 1948; Robert L. Beisner, Dean also Lyons, “Churchill’s Langworth, ed., Churchill in His Speech to Westminster Acheson: A Life in the Cold War Relevance,” The Churchillian, Own Words (London: Ebury College, Fulton, Missouri, (New York: Oxford University Winter 2012, 14-19. Press, 2012), 381; Winston S. March 5, 1946,” in Churchill, Press, 2009), 38. 12. Diary of presidential press Churchill, The World Crisis: The The Sinews of Peace (London: 10. “Summary of Press Reaction secretary Charles Ross, March Aftermath, 1919-1929 Cassell, 1948), 100. to ‘The Sinews of Peace,’” 7, 1946, Harry S. Truman (London: Thornton 5. Churchill in His Own Words, 64 Churchill Papers Press Library and Museum, accessed Butterworth, 1929), 65. 6. The Sinews of Peace, 103. Clippings, Churchill Archives December 2010. 2. Andre Fontaine, History of the 7. “Business of the House,” Center, accessed June 2011; 13. Churchill, The Sinews of Cold War: From the October Hansard, March 14, 1946. Winston S. Churchill, “Speech Peace, 93. Revolution to the Korean War 8. “Russian Broadcasts at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, 1917-1950, translated by D.D. Denounce Churchill as ‘War March 15, 1946,” in Churchill,
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 15 Origins of Phrases: The Verdict of History — and Who Would Write It
–––––––– Churchill frequently said (not entirely in jest), that history would look favorably upon him since he intended to write it himself (and he did). He also shared a fatalistic attitude about the writers of history, which some might judge cynical. Let the reader decide!
B Y richard m . la ngworth
16 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 WSC to Caesar: “We have both made history and we have both written it. Let us exchange headgear.” — Leonard Ravenhill in Punch, 14 February 1923. The first volume of Churchill’s The World Crisis was due to be published in April.
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 17 Mr. Eamonn O’Keeffe of Auckland, New Zealand, writes for confirmation of two quotations about history commonly ascribed to Sir Winston Churchill: 1) “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.”
e could not find those exact words, Fighting and Writing the Second World War (New York, but we believe Churchill expressed 2005). them in different ways on many occasions. In the opening paragraph of his introduction W Reynolds writes: “As [Churchill] liked to say when Definitely on the record is Churchill in the House locked in wartime controversy, ‘I shall leave it to history, of Commons on January 23, 1948. The subject was but remember that I shall be one of the historians.’” appeasement, and Labour Members, warning against its renewal, began quoting Churchill’s own critiques Reynolds adds on page 39 a Churchill riposte to of appeasement from the 1930s. WSC responded: “For Prime Minister Baldwin in a mid-1930s debate over my part, I consider that it will be found much better Britain’s rearmament: “‘History will say that the Right by all Parties to leave the past to history — especially Honourable Gentleman was wrong in this matter.’ Pause. as I propose to write that history.” (Churchill in His Broad grin. ‘I know it will, because I shall write that Own Words, London, 2012, 64.) history.’” (Reynolds references Malcolm MacDonald, Titans and Others, London, 1972, 89.) The verdict of history was the subject of Churchill aphorisms almost to the end of his life. Out of office, “He adopted a similar line to Stalin in January 1944,” retired and despondent on November 22, 1956, when Reynolds continues, “after a vigorous exchange of the Suez Crisis threatened to rupture the Anglo- telegrams about whether Britain could have secured American relationship he held dear, Churchill wrote a separate peace in 1940. ‘I agree that we had better privately to President Eisenhower: “There is not much leave the past to history,’ he wrote in a draft reply, ‘but left for me to do in this world and I have neither the remember if I live long enough I may be one of the wish nor the strength to involve myself in the political historians.’ Churchill’s sense of the fickleness of fame— stress and turmoil….We should leave it to the historians expressed in his tribute to Chamberlain and revived to argue the rights and wrongs of all that has happened by the events of July 1945—impelled him to be his own during the past year.” historian.” (Unsent draft, January 21, 1944, Premier Papers 3/396/11, folio 320.) His attitude toward history and historians had prevailed for many years. Mr. O’Keefe supplied two David Reynolds kindly provided two further more variations of his famous phrase from David references to Churchill’s aphorism also cited in his Reynolds’ book, In Command of History: Churchill book:
18 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 “History is written by 2) the victors.”
could not track this quotation, or anything resembling it, to Churchill’s canon in the online archive. I suspect it stems to a time long before Churchill. Although he is often getsI credit for it, some sources say it is an old Latin proverb.
According to Herbert Stewart, (Winston Churchill More to the point, however, is what he did say as Writer and Speaker London, 1954, 102), “Dorothy along these lines, to his wartime military advisor Thompson [the pro-Churchill American journalist] General Hastings Ismay in 1946, referring to the has told us of [WSC’s] comment when she said to him Nuremberg trials (Langworth, Churchill in His that History would place him among the world’s great Own Words, 306; Ismay, Memoirs, 157): “It shows men: ‘That will depend on who writes the history.’” that if you get into a war, it is supremely important to win it. You and I would be in a pretty pickle if From the diaries of Churchill’s wartime private we had lost.” secretary, John Colville (Fringes of Power, London, 1985, 509) comes this entry on September 6, 1944, as Some related quotations: Professor Warren Churchill’s party was boarding the Queen Mary for the Kimball, author of Forged in War: Roosevelt, Churchill Second Quebec Conference: “The P.M. says that after and the Second World War (New York, 1997), draws all he will not ‘beat up’ the Americans about DRAGOON our attention to Churchill’s tribute to “The Few” in [the invasion of the south of France]. He will suggest the House of Commons on August 20, 1940: “The that the controversy be left to history and that he right to guide the course of history is the noblest intends to be one of the historians.” prize of victory.”
Colville’s eye-witness account from his contemporary Two and one-half years later, addressing the Eighth diary deserves credence. As for the quip in the Army in Tripoli on February 3, 1943, Churchill said: introduction to his book (“I shall be one of the “when history is written and all the facts are known, historians”), David Reynolds describes it as “a generic your feats will gleam and glow, and will be a source foretaste of these various examples.” of song and story long after we who are gathered here have passed away.” And here, perhaps, is the key point: Churchill evidently spoke of the judgment of history, and he Finally, Professor L.S. Namier of the University of being one of the historians, on many occasions in Manchester sent this to Churchill on February 14, various forms. It is one of those generic bons mots we 1934, after reviewing volume 1 of WSC’s Marlborough: can safely ascribe to him—just like “a pig treats you as “Too much history is written by don-bred dons with an equal”; or, “do what you like but like what you do”; no knowledge or understanding of the practical or, “I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has problems of statecraft.” This was something that taken out of me.” undoubtedly appealed to Winston Churchill.
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 19 book review
How Churchill Got His Start, in Politics and in Love By james w. muller
hat more can we say about Winston with Joseph Chamberlain (the father of Neville) over Churchill? He is such a great man that Chamberlain’s abandonment of Free Trade. As colonial we have not plumbed all of his depths, undersecretary, Churchill revised Chamberlain’s policy but, after hundreds of biographies and so as to recognize rights of native subjects. Shelden echoes Wother books, a new book must break new ground. Many a judgment of Beatrice Webb, concluding that in 1909 recent writers have been contrarian, poking Churchill in Churchill was “the greatest—and most effective—Liberal the eye rather than recognizing him as a great man, figure in Britain.” He argues that, while David Lloyd delving into private matters that were once out of bounds, George rose higher in Asquith’s cabinet, Churchill was or treating incidents of slight importance, just to say more imaginative, instituting a job placement scheme, a something original. minimum wage and unemployment assistance; the Welshman let Churchill do the work and then took credit We may therefore forgive the reader who greets another himself. Later Churchill wrote of Lloyd George in Thoughts new study with a skeptical eye, but Michael Shelden’s and Adventures that “at his best he could almost talk a Young Titan mostly escapes these pitfalls. The author, bird out of a tree.” Young Churchill was sometimes that described on the dust jacket as an “historian,” is a journalist gullible bird, whose colleagues used his talents but failed who has written biographies of Mark Twain, Graham to give him his due. Greene, George Orwell and Cyril Connolly; he is now an English professor at Indiana State University. Young Titan refutes common criticisms that Churchill was too bloody-minded. Shelden emphasizes Churchill’s Shelden diverts our attention from the statesman’s famous consistent rejection of violence in domestic politics. image at the height of his career, standing in the ruins of the Churchill rejoiced when Chamberlain’s supporters failed House of Commons after it was bombed by the Luftwaffe to prevent Lloyd George from speaking in Birmingham. in the Blitz. His Churchill is a younger man of towering but He favored votes for women but opposed violent tactics unrealized ambition, twenty-five to forty, who climbs a long by suffragettes who attacked him political ladder, pulling it up after himself, but then suffers with a horsewhip or tried to push a disastrous fall which deepens his character. Young Titan him into an oncoming train. focuses on Churchill’s life from February 1901, when he When coal miners rioted in the takes his seat in the House of Commons, to his resignation Welsh town of Tonypandy, from H. H. Asquith’s government in November 1915. Churchill kept soldiers away, This story has been told before, but Shelden’s account leaving the conflict to the police. has the virtues one would expect from a skilled journalist. Although he was criticized for He writes well, and his research makes Young Titan rich going in person to the siege of in anecdote and explanation that illuminate British Sidney Street, where murderous political life a century ago. Michael Shelden, anarchists were cornered, his Young Titan: The resolute action prevented further Making of Winston Sketches of Churchill’s political colleagues and rivals Churchill. Simon & loss of innocent life. When a bring them back to life. Shelden explains how Churchill Schuster, 384 pages, Unionist MP hurled a heavy book left the Conservative Party in 1904 after picking a fight illus., $30. at him during a debate over home
20 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 rule for Ireland, hitting him in the face and drawing blood, Churchill accepted his apology graciously.
Shelden makes too much of Churchill as “a Byronic romantic.” He claims that “Churchill’s romanticism was not confined to affairs of state,” and many readers will be intrigued by his denial that Churchill (first top hat) at the Siege of Sidney Street, January 1911. Churchill was “a young man who was awkward around women.” Shelden describes U.S.), one of the most discerning books about Churchill, Churchill’s youthful speech defending ladies of the night which has appeared in many editions over the years, “didn’t at London’s Empire Theatre, claiming that “he started a make much of an impression and was soon pushed aside riot” there. Seizing on a story that Churchill took home by bigger books….”Young Titan claims that Violet was in a music hall girl from the Gaiety Theatre, Shelden admits love with Churchill. Shelden recounts how Churchill went he did nothing more than talk about himself. He reminds to Scotland in August 1908 to tell Violet of his engagement, us that Churchill proposed to, and was rejected by, three leaving Clementine behind. Yet Churchill had reasons to women before he married Clementine Hozier: Pamela visit Violet’s father as well. Shelden borrows from an earlier Plowden, daughter of a colonial official in India; Ethel biography a remark by Churchill, related second-hand, Barrymore, the American actress; and Muriel Wilson, that he treated Violet badly “because I was practically daughter of a man who owned steamships. Shelden’s engaged to her,” but what Churchill said might simply journalistic longing for sensation—which has given rise reflect close friendship, without romantic entanglement to lurid publicity for his book that should not eclipse its on his side. Shelden hints that, devastated by his engagement merits—has led him to make doubtful or exaggerated to Clementine, Violet threw herself off a Scottish cliff and claims about these romances: that Churchill’s dispute nearly died. But Young Titan never explicitly claims that with his North American lecture agent Major Pond spoiled Violet tried to take her own life: there may be less here his wooing of Pamela Plowden, or that Churchill had than meets the eye. Still, setting aside his unwonted supper at Claridge’s “every night,” hoping to meet Ethel eagerness to offer new revelations about Churchill’s Barrymore there. romances, Shelden tells his story well, and these lapses must be balanced against the real virtues of his book. Shelden’s most serious effort to achieve a scoop, bearing — James W. Muller, who teaches political science at the on his friendship with the prime minister’s daughter, Violet University of Alaska, Anchorage, is academic chairman of the Asquith, is doubtful and exaggerated too. Curiously, Churchill Centre and editor of annotated editions of Churchill’s Shelden writes that her memoir, Winston Churchill as I Thoughts and Adventures (2009) and Great Contemporaries Knew Him (Winston Churchill: An Intimate Portrait in (2012), published by ISI Books.
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 21 a moment in history
Why was that 12-year old with the camera running around Fulton on March 5, 1946?
Story and Photo by Scott Porter
Many have asked that question. The answer is my father, the Rev. G. Scott Porter, Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Rolla, MO, received one ticket to the upcoming “Sinews of Peace” by Sir Winston, as did all Presbyterian ministers in Missouri. He asked if I wanted to go with him—even though I would only be able to hear the speech over the public address system, outside the gymnasium.
I did not hesitate in saying “yes” and took my dad’s Kodak35 camera, loaded with 35 mm Kodachrome film. It was easy to follow the parade route. left, the car with Truman and Churchill It had been raining the day before, I ended up on Westminster Avenue, was headed directly towards me, as but it was bright and clear when we where the motorcade would turn the lead motorcyclist started his turn reached Fulton. After arrival in Fulton, onto the campus. A kind National onto the campus. we agreed to meet at the gymnasium Guardsman allowed me to squeeze and hand the camera over so my dad in behind him to take my pictures. It Quickly I wound the film and was able could take it with him for the speech. was also close to the Gymnasium so to take a full side view of the car with Until then I was on my own. I could get the camera back to my President Truman and Sir Winston father. standing in the back. Seated (l-r) were I first made my way to the downtown Phil M. Donnelly, Missouri Governor; area which was covered with red, The camera had a split-field range Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief white, and blue bunting and had a finder that you had to focus yourself. of Staff to the Commander in Chief; crowd standing everywhere, waiting It did not have a built-in light meter, and Franc L. “Bullet” McCluer, for the motorcade that would bring either. It did not have an auto-wind; President, Westminster College. President Truman and Sir Winston to you had to wind the film after each Westminster. I decided there were picture. With all this in mind I waited The brick building in the background too many people to get a good shot for the motorcade to arrive. is the Old West School that stood at of the motorcade. I was limiting the site near where the Christopher taking pictures to conserve film to The first picture I took was when the Wren Church that houses the National make sure I didn’t run out and have car with Sir Winston and President Churchill Museum now stands. to change a roll at the wrong time. I Truman was less than a block away. Although the day was bright and clear took one picture and then worked The Guardsman was on my right and you can see some residual wetness my way towards the college. another amateur photographer to my from the rain on the street.
22 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 The 2014 Enid and R. Crosby Kemper Lecture
Paul Reid, author of the final installment of William Manchester’s unfinished trilogy on Winston Churchill, will deliver the Kemper lecture on the Churchill weekend,
march 1 – 2, 2014.
Please mark your calendars early for this great Churchillian event!
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 23 Message from the director of Development
DeFer Family Celebrates with a Gift to the Museum
What do you give to your father who to conduct their studies and, indeed, happens to be a Churchill Fellow and is include a host of world-class scholars. passionate about history and the National Carlo D’Este began his research for Churchill Museum? Warlord: A Life of Winston Churchill at War, 1874-1945 in the Library. David Kit Freudenberg Bob DeFer’s children celebrated his 80th Reynolds used materials for In Command Director of Development birthday with a very special gift: an of History: Churchill Fighting and Writing internship for archival and collections the Second World War. Most recently, study during the 2014 Summer. The Philip White, author of Our Supreme Task: surprise left Mr. DeFer speechless when How Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain the extended family gathered in St. Louis. Speech Defined the Cold War Alliance, used the Archives to gain in-depth The Robert DeFer Archives/Collections information about Winston Churchill’s Intern will delve into Churchill history visit here as well as his speech. with Archivist/Curator Liz Murphy and learn archival materials handling, and Thank you to the DeFer Family – Julie, basic collections care and management. William, Robert and Thomas – for this tribute to your father. The Museum’s Collections are a jewel for scholars and researchers. Historians could not find a better place in the United States
A student worker assists with collections inventory
The tools of an archivist Robert DeFer Intern for Archives Collection name badge
24 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 Gifts from Generous Donors Make a Difference to the National Churchill Museum Gift Opportunities to Honor Family and Friends
Looking for the perfect gift for the holidays? Is your gift giving stymied by “they have everything” thoughts? Consider a gift that connects you and the recipient with history. Your gift will include a card and program description suitable for any occasion and holiday.
$50 Gift Subaltern Museum membership and give The Churchillian quarterly magazine, unlimited free admission to the Museum and invitations to events
$100 Gift Member of Parliament Museum membership with reciprocal membership privileges at over 700 museum across the United States and Canada – and includes The Churchillian and other member benefits.
$250 Museum Outreach Programs - To grasp more fully the story of Churchill’s vision and leadership, the Museum’s outreach program presents film, hands-on materials and experiences to new generations at with schools, libraries and community groups.
$500 Children’s Learning Center - Hands-on learning station materials to engage younger children and visitors
$1,000 Acquisition Fund for the Archives and Collections - The interest in Sir Winston has never been so keen. Donations to this fund will assist with purchase of papers, photographs and artifacts for the Museum’s Archives and Collections.
$1,000 Refresh the Church of St. Mary, Aldermanbury - To refurbish and renew the wooden structures and furnishing within the magnificent 17th century Christopher Wren church – Church of St. Mary, the Virgin, Aldermanbury.
$5,000 Churchill Archives Portal - To connect the National Churchill Museum’s Archives and Collections with the Churchill Archives at Cambridge, this internet portal opens the Churchill Archives to researchers, writers and students of all ages.
$10,000 Exhibits Program - To bring new exhibits to the Museum and engage audiences throughout the world through on-line exhibits.
For gift purchases and limitless possibilities, please contact Kit Freudenberg at 573-592-5022 or [email protected].
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 25 from the archives A Churchillian Trip
This August Dr. Rob Havers and I with Mr. Randolph Churchill. Meeting traveled to the UK for a visit to various Randolph and his wife, Catherine, in Churchillian sites. It was a great the backdrop of Chartwell was almost experience for me in particular because surreal; they are looking forward to I had an opportunity to meet with our future partnership efforts. professional coworkers whom I had been corresponding with for the past We continued on to Cambridge where Liz Murphy three years. Rob and I started our we were greeted by Mr. Allen Packwood National Churchill Museum Archivist/Curator journey at Chartwell, and under the of the Churchill Centre Archives at care of then curator Alice Martin, we Churchill College. We toured their discussed future partnership facility, which is incredibly impressive. opportunities between our two facilities Again I met with colleagues with whom I had corresponded over the years. We even had a chance for a photo op by the tree that Churchill himself planted at Churchill College before the college was there!
When we left Mr. Packwood we headed to Bletchley Park to visit with Mr. Jack Darrah and his daughter, Carol. Over the years Mr. Darrah has collected an impressive amount of Churchill memorabilia. This memorabilia ranges from books to paintings to objects. Both showed us around Bletchley, and Carol regaled us with tales from her childhood of reenactments and festivals the park has held over the years.
All and all the trip was a great success! We enjoyed the opportunity to network with old colleagues and make connections with new ones.
Pictured clockwise from top: The entrance at Chartwell, Churchill College; Dr. Havers and I in front of the tree at Churchill College; Liz Murphy, Rob Havers, Alice Martin, Randolph Churchill and Catherine Churchill
26 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 Educational and Public Programming
School and Community Update
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently completed a research project that studied the role of museums and libraries in helping citizens build 21st century skills such as information, communications and technology literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, civic literacy, and global awareness. Their goal with this project is to provide information on how museums and libraries can build on their current strengths and introduce new approaches to their operation. The chart below shows the difference in Mandy Plybon approach between 20th century museums and libraries and 21st century museums Education & Public Programs and libraries. Coordinator
20TH CENTURY MUSEUM/LIBRARY 21ST CENTURY MUSEUM/LIBRARY Primarily content-driven Combination of audience- and content-driven Mostly tangible objects (art, books) Combination of tangible and digital objects One-way information (institution presents Multi-directional (co-created experiences involving information to audiences) institution, audiences, and others) Focus on presentation and display Focus on audience engagement and experiences Emphasis on enhancing knowledge and 21st century Emphasis on enhancing knowledge skills Acts independently Acts in highly collaborative partnerships Embedded in community (aligned with and acts as a Located in community (operates independently) leader on community needs/issues)
Learning outcomes assumed, implied (content Learning outcomes purposeful (content knowledge knowledge and skills like critical thinking tend to be and 21st century skills like critical thinking are visible, byproducts of programming) intentional outcomes of audience experiences)
Institution leads content development (content Content co-created among diverse partners and tightly edited and controlled) audiences; accessible in multiple ways
IMLS’s project supports museums and collaboration, and being creative. Our libraries in envisioning and defining their “Walking in Churchill’s Shoes” onsite and roles as institutions of learning in the 21st outreach activity is a great example of all century and looks to increase policymakers’ four skills. During a museum experience, The “21st Century understanding about the role of such students work together to create a Museums, Libraries, cultural sites in creating an engaged definition of leadership, looking to and 21st Century Skills” citizenship and workforce. Churchill and the exhibit for guidance. report was produced by We remain diligent in adapting current the IMLS Office of How does the National Churchill Museum programs and curricula and creating new Strategic Partnerships under the direction of embrace this new programming style to opportunities to fit this new model. Marsha Semmel, meet national education goals? We begin Deputy Director for by marketing our educational programs. Museum Services and We focus on highlighting four 21st century Director for Strategic skills: thinking critically, communication, Partnerships.
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 27 LETTERS TO THE CHURCHILLIAN
Churchill on education
Do we know if Churchill said “The most important PRAISE FOR THE MUSEUM thing about education is appetite”? —Mandy Plybon, We have just returned from a visit to the Education & Public Programs Coordinator, wonderful National Churchill Museum at National Churchill Museum Westminster College and, thanks to Rob Havers, were very cordially greeted and taken He did indeed—in an amusing animal analogy, speaking to on a tour by the assistant director Jessica Dulle. students at Bristol University, where he served as Chancellor. She kindly offered to meet us at the museum on From Robert Rhodes James, ed., Winston S. Churchill: His Sunday, May 26, which I am sure was one of Complete Speeches 1897-1963, 8 vols. (New York: Bowker, 1974), her days off. She is an enthusiastic and very V 4674-75: good advocate for the work of the museum. Our trip included a World War II reunion of ADVICE TO STUDENTS the 73rd Wing of the 20th Air Force at Kansas December 14, 1929, Bristol University [Extract] City, a visit to the Truman Library and home “I never myself had the advantage of a university education. I at Independence. I could not overstate the was not thought clever enough to profit by it to the full. I was put importance to our family of my brother’s to be trained in technical matters of a military college, and almost military service, and the leadership of President immediately afterwards things opened out very quickly into Truman and Prime Minister Churchill. action and adventure. In those days England had a lot of jolly My oldest brother, Roy Bennett, Jr., joined the little wars against barbarous peoples that we were endeavouring Army in 1943 and, after a battery of tests to help forward to higher things, and I found myself scurrying during basic training, volunteered for the Army about the world from one exciting scene to another. Air Corps. He became a B-29 pilot and was “During years appropriate to study and the accumulation of sent to the 73rd Wing at Saipan, where he flew knowledge, I was a pack-horse that had to nibble and browse eight missions over Japan before the end of the such grass as grew by the roadside in the brief halts of long and war. I remember as if it were yesterday when he wearying marches. But see how very lucky you all are. You are a returned to our home in Kingsville, Texas, in most fortunate crowd of quadrupeds, to use a neutral term. the spring of 1946. Aged eight, I was sitting on (Laughter.) You are admitted to a spacious paddock with the very our front porch when he strode up the sidewalk best herbage growing in profusion. You are pressed to eat your in full uniform, carrying two bags with all of fill. I hope you are going to take advantage of that. his possessions. “The most important thing about education is appetite. Finally, I purchased a copy of Richard Education does not begin with the university, and it certainly Langworth’s book of quotations, Churchill by ought not to end there. I have seen a lot of people who got Himself, which was waiting for us at the post cleverer until about 21 or 22 years of age, then seemed to shut office when we returned from our trip. It adds a down altogether and never made any further progress....Take full greater dimension to Mr. Churchill’s very plain advantage of these years when the wisdom of the world is placed speaking, and to his sterling leadership during at your disposal, but do not spend too much time in buckling on the war. your armour in the tent. The battle is going on in every walk and —Max Bennett, via email sphere of life.”
28 the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 canada pulling as one A Canadian visitor to the Museum asked us to confirm Churchill’s tribute to Canada’s British Commonwealth Air Training Plan: “one of the major factors, and possibly the decisive factor of the war (World War II). During the war,” the BCATP trained over 130,000 pilots, navigators, bombers, radio operators, air gunners and flight engineers. (See the website of the University of Calgary in Alberta: http://bit.ly/11S6faS). facsimile holograph letters The University of Calgary has it right. From I am hoping to find out the worth of a Winston S. Churchill, The Second World War, vol. 3, The Grand Alliance (London: Cassell, Churchill letter I came across. [Undated 1950), Appendix C, Prime Minister’s Personal without salutation on 10 Downing Street Minutes and Telegrams, page 656, Prime Minister to letterhead: “I am deeply touched by your kind Prime Minister of Canada, February 21, 1941. contribution to my birthday present & “I was delighted to read your speech in the grateful for your good wishes. Winston S. Canadian House of Commons on February 17. You Churchill.”] are quite right to prepare men’s minds for a coming —Tami Curtis, via email shock of extreme severity. It is a comfort to think how much better prepared we are than in the We regret to say only about $50 on eBay. The autumn. Let me also tell you how encouraged reason: it is not an original but one of thousands everyone here was by the strong array of facts which of facsimiles produced by Churchill’s Private you brought together when broadcasting on February Office to thank the well-wishers on his birthdays 2nd. Your ships and planes are doing great work here. and other occasions. The air training scheme is one of the major factors, At least nine variations of replica printed and possibly the decisive factor, in the war. Your holograph notes were reproduced by the thou plans for the Army are of enormous help. I lunched sands by to thank well-wishers, whose congratula with McNaughton* last week, and had very good tions poured in on important dates such as talks with him and his principal officers about the Churchill’s birthday. They are very nicely pro Canadian Corps. They lie in the key positions of our duced and appear original. Some appear actually National Defence. The Secretary of State for War who to be color separations, since they are printed in is with me now, wishes to endorse all this, and sends blue-black rather than all-black ink. But they his kindest regards. What a pleasure it is to see the are not originals and were not signed by Churchill whole Empire pulling as one man, and believe me, personally. Every so often, his Private Office my friend, I understand the reasons for your success would have him write one out, and then repro in marshalling the great war effort of Canada.” duce it for their use. The original was then * General Andrew G.L. McNaughton (1887-1966), destroyed. Canadian scientist, army officer, cabinet minister and The key is that all these letters lack a salutation. diplomat. He began the war in command of the First Secretaries would simply place them in envelopes Canadian Division, part of VII Corps, later the and mail them by the hundreds to anyone who Canadian Corps itself, which was reorganized as an sent him a greeting. Occasionally they would type army in 1942. the name of the recipient on the bottom of the note, but the volume was too great to allow much of this. The value of these facsimiles on the Email us any questions about Winston Churchill under the sun, market is therefore incidental. A true autograph and we’ll get the answer from our panel of experts! letter by Churchill is, of course, worth Send your questions, comments and general musings to much more. [email protected].
the Churchillian | Autumn 2013 29 please join us for the
{ westminster weddings } Tree Lighting at The Museum December 2 at 7 p.m. Holiday Kids Crafts 4 to 7 p.m. refreshments will be served.
a breath of fresh air
Contact our
Wedding Representative AirSystems and Fischer Environmental Controls is installing an updated HVAC system into the museum’s temporary gallery space. for Details! The new HVAC system will allow the museum to book high-caliber 573-592-5234 exhibitions, as well as ensure our guests’ comfort while viewing them. the churchillian Events Photo ccourtesy of Churchill Heritage
September 9 – October 14 Victorian Christmas Churchillian Photo Exhibition November 14-December 31 The Museum explores different collections that Celebrate the 30th Annual Holiday Fundraiser depict Churchill at various stages of his life. and view the beautifully decorated Museum There will be a mixture of photographs, and Church of St. Mary. Purchase gifts for all lithographs, and archival materials on display. seasons. Proceeds benefit the Museum. Cost of general admission. 14 Victorian Christmas Celebration october 10:00 am to 7:00 pm 9 homeschool Day Join us for the traditional English Kettledrum 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Tea from 10 am to 2 pm and an evening celebration from 5 to 7 pm. All day shopping. Open to homeschool families. Activities Free admission to all Museum exhibits and the throughout the day. Cost of general admission. magnificent 17th century Church of St. Mary, http://www.nationalchurchill Aldermanbury. museum.org/homeschool-days.html november 28 Thanksgiving Day Museum Closed Holiday Honor Tree November 1-December 31 29 Winston Churchill’s Birthday Celebration Send us pictures of your loved ones that are Visit the Museum today and celebrate active U.S. Military, veterans, or those who have Churchill’s birthday with us. Cake and punch passed away to hang on the Holiday Honor will be served. *Actual birthday is November 30. Tree. Photos may be sent from October 1 to December 1. See the calendar on the website for details. december Christmas Day 24th Anniversary of the fall 25 9 Museum Closed of the Berlin Wall
Call 573-592-6242 for more information on these events! National Churchill Museum 501 Westminster Avenue Fulton, Missouri 65251
Victorian Christmas November 14 – December 31
We are proud to host the 30th Annual Holiday Fundraiser. Vist the Museum and Church decorated for the holidays. Purchase gifts for all seasons. All proceeds benefit the Museum.
Kick off Victorian Christmas November 14 • 10 am to 7 pm
Kick off our Victorian Christmas fundraiser with a traditional English Kettledrum Tea from 10 am to 2 pm and an evening celebration from 5 to 7 pm. All day shopping. Free admission to see the exhibits.