The Churchill Series – Sept. 26, 2006

(One of a series of weekday posts on the life of Winston S. Churchill.)

Reeaders’ Note: A few of you have made nice comments. Thank you. I appreciate them very much. John
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In a 1954 book, Churchill by His Contemporaries, edited by Charles Eade, then President Eisenhower recalled Churchill as a wartime ally “of extraordinarily strong convictions and a master in argument and debate.”

About that no one would disagree with Ike who went on to say:

Completely devoted to winning the war and discharging his responsibility as Prime Minister of Great Britain, he was difficult indeed to combat when conviction compelled disagreement with his views. …

He could become intensely oratorical, even in discussion with a single person, but at the same time his intensity of purpose made his delivery seem natural and appropriate. He used humor and pathos with equal facility, and drew on everything from the Greek classics to Donald Duck for quotation, cliché and forceful slang to support his position. (p.159)

Ike nicely captures the essential Churchill arguing his case. I especially liked his reference to Churchill drawing “support for his case from Greek classics to Donald Duck.” I recall reading an aide’s recollection that Churchill within a few sentences cited Gibbons and Gilbert & Sullivan. And, of course, he most often cited his favorite source of quotes: Yes, you guessed it, himself.

I hope you’re back tomorrow.