Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Winston Churchill: How a flawed man became a great leader
BBC News ^ | 23rd January 2015 | John Simpson

Posted on 01/23/2015 9:37:49 AM PST by the scotsman

'On Thursday, the Magazine looked at the greatest controversies of Winston Churchill's career. Here, the BBC's world affairs editor examines how an all-too-human politician became a great wartime prime minister.'

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: winstonchurchill
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last
To: sparklite2
On the other hand, the Brits did dump Churchill from office before lionizing him later.

He did hold his own constituency in the 1945 election. His party was dumped and thus he lost power. I clearly remember that election as a small boy. The awful postwar years of WW1 were fraught with unemployment in Britain. The hard line old Tories were known to be unyielding to the unemployed. Not Churchill though.

The leftists dealing on pure emotion as usual, said the Conservatives would bring back unemployment and misery. All lies of course. People had been so happy with the full employment of the WW2 years, now they were scared. The famous cartoon of the "Sunday Pictorial" showed a gaunt woman kneeling down scrubbing a floor. Nothing to do with unemployment. The theme was hammered home -Conservatism equals unemployment.

The Conservatives under Churchill got back in power after five years hiatus. I got back from National Service overseas under a Conservative government. There was absolutely full employment under their new regime. The public had been coerced with pure fear.

Please excuse the ramble.

21 posted on 01/23/2015 10:50:24 AM PST by Peter Libra
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: xp38

H. Upmann Sir Winston Cigars are my favorite!


22 posted on 01/23/2015 10:54:42 AM PST by gr8eman (Don't waste your energy trying to understand commies. Use it to defeat them!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Peter Libra

That is interesting. I never understood the politics in Britian regarding Sir Winston. I do know he had a LOT of enemies who slandered him. One even read a letter of correspondence where his sister asked jokingly if he had converted to Mohammedism, and started a rumor that Winnie was a Muslim. Amazing!


23 posted on 01/23/2015 10:57:33 AM PST by gr8eman (Don't waste your energy trying to understand commies. Use it to defeat them!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Peter Libra

Not a ramble at all. Very informative. Thank you.


24 posted on 01/23/2015 10:57:39 AM PST by sparklite2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: sinsofsolarempirefan
...the British public didn’t want to see the Tories in power again, they wanted a government that promised a socially democratic capitalist welfare state, rather than a continuation of the pre-war status quo.

A little thought would have told them if you vote for a welfare state, you just might end up on welfare.

25 posted on 01/23/2015 10:59:23 AM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Bobalu
Newt Gingrich could have been the same sort of flawed man raised up as a champion...ah, what might have been...

Had he emerged under the modern MSM, Churchill would have been lucky to get elected to Congress.

26 posted on 01/23/2015 11:03:10 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves (Heteropatriarchal Capitalist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: the scotsman

One of my all-time favorite movies....Albert Finney WAS Churchill....

The Gathering Storm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXHo6uPq-uY


27 posted on 01/23/2015 11:04:59 AM PST by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: the scotsman

I recently found and purchased an early edition of his small book on painting which he claimed as a frequent pastime. He had a great feel for perspective and foregrounds as in landscapes....but his essay on the personal experience of painting...particularly en plein air is both inspiring and motivational if one paints as either an amateur or professional.


28 posted on 01/23/2015 11:21:31 AM PST by yetidog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Peter Libra

I love hearing such “ramble” :)


29 posted on 01/23/2015 11:25:06 AM PST by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing consequences of poor moral choices among everybody)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: the scotsman
To everyone on this thread:

I'm an avid reader, but have never read a Churchill biography - which one would you suggest?
(I know there must be a dozen or more).

30 posted on 01/23/2015 11:30:17 AM PST by Psalm 73 ("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: the scotsman

Barack Hussein Barry Soetoro Obama:

How a worthless socialist loafer became ensconced in the now denigrated White Hut to sink America.


31 posted on 01/23/2015 11:35:10 AM PST by HomerBohn (God is just, but his justice cannot sleep forever!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Psalm 73

Martin Gilbert.....Churchill A Life

Gilbert was the official biographer and did an 8 volume biography. The title above is an updated 1 volume distillation with new material added. Not sure if it is the definitive bio but it would probably come close.


32 posted on 01/23/2015 11:58:00 AM PST by xp38
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: gr8eman; sparklite2; fuzzylogic
fwiw

1945 British General Election, Woodford, Essex.
Winston Churchill (Conservative 27,688 votes. A Hancock (Independent). 10.488.

A majority of 72.53%. The political party actual designates the leader, not the public, of course.

33 posted on 01/23/2015 12:00:06 PM PST by Peter Libra
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Psalm 73

I would agree with xp38, Gilbert’s is the definitive.


34 posted on 01/23/2015 12:05:29 PM PST by the scotsman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Psalm 73

The Last Lion by William Manchester
3 Volumes
1-Visions of Glory 1874-1932
2-Alone 1932-1940
3-Defender of the Realm 1940-1965
A masterpiece......just finished it last month.


35 posted on 01/23/2015 12:42:50 PM PST by stationkeeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Psalm 73

Years ago I read “The Last Lion”...maybe time to get it off the book shelf and read it again.


36 posted on 01/23/2015 1:04:56 PM PST by Conservative4Ever (This space for rent.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeInPA

My Favorite (which may be apocryphal, but it fit my impression of him to a “T”):

LADY ASTOR: “If you were my husband, I’d poison your tea!”

CHURCHILL: “Madam, if you were my wife, I’d drink it!”


37 posted on 01/23/2015 1:28:24 PM PST by rlmorel (The Media's Principles: Conflict must exist. Doesn't exist? Create it. Exists? Exacerbate it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: AU72; Bobalu

Hahahaha...Everyone LOVES that one!


38 posted on 01/23/2015 1:29:31 PM PST by rlmorel (The Media's Principles: Conflict must exist. Doesn't exist? Create it. Exists? Exacerbate it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Psalm 73

I greatly enjoyed “The Last Lion” by William Manchester, but will read the Gilbert version suggested.


39 posted on 01/23/2015 1:45:13 PM PST by rlmorel (The Media's Principles: Conflict must exist. Doesn't exist? Create it. Exists? Exacerbate it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: xp38

I’ll be it would have! He was a man who enjoyed those things...the symbolism as well!


40 posted on 01/23/2015 1:46:41 PM PST by rlmorel (The Media's Principles: Conflict must exist. Doesn't exist? Create it. Exists? Exacerbate it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson