The Churchill Series – Jan. 19, 2007

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

In Churchill on Leadership: Executive Success in the Face of Adversity historian Steven F. Hayward writes:

Churchill’s optimism and cheerfulness tend to be obscured by the accounts of his occasional depression, what he called his “black dog.”

There is no doubt that the pressures of office and the fearfulness of events often left Churchill profoundly discouraged – especially when he was out of office and powerless to affect events the he understood so clearly.

But these occasional collapses of Churchill’s spirit have probably been exaggerated (along with the popular image of his drinking), and in most cases they were short-lived. It is worth noting that Churchill often turned to his favorite hobby – painting – when he was discouraged, but that unlike serious manic depressives of brooding artists who paint dark scenes of write morose poetry, Churchill always painted in bright, vivid colors, a reflection of an underlying optimism and happiness of soul. (Regarding his choice of colors for painting, Churchill wrote: “I rejoice with the brilliant ones, and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns.”) (pgs. 116-117)

Churchill’s love of bright, vivid colors is also reflected in his love for butterflies. He saw to it that much of the grounds surrounding the manor house at Chartwell were developed and maintained so as to be especially attractive to them.

Hayward observation is a nice example of an historian going beyond “mere facts” and helping us better appreciate Churchill.

I read once that Churchill’s favorite color (or as the British spell it “colour”) was a kind of salmon pink, but I don’t know that for sure. Do any of you know?

Have a nice weekend.