Churchill for Today

"No country in the world is less fit for a conflict with terrorists than Great Britain. That is not because of her weakness or cowardice; it is because of her restraint and virtues, and the way of life which we have lived so long in this sheltered island." - Winston Churchill

Why does the United States honor Winston Churchill on April 9? Why not, for example, May 10? That was the day in 1940 when, with liberty in retreat, he became Britain’s prime minister, sure that he knew a good deal about it all, certain he would not fail, impatient for the morning. But April 9 has its own significance for Americans. That was the day, in 1963, when President Kennedy proclaimed Sir Winston an honorary citizen of the United States.

Lady Soames always reminded us never to ask the question, “What would Churchill do?” On specific tactics, we don’t know. Winston Churchill is not here to consider the options and make judgments. We are. We could do worse than to be guided by his philosophy.

"I move that the following resolution be cabled from the meeting as a greeting to the President and people of the United States of America: This meeting of the Anglo-Saxon Fellowship assembled in London on the 4th of July, 1918, send to the President and people of the United States their heartfelt greetings on the 142nd anniversary of the Declaration of American Independence. They rejoice that the love of liberty and justice on which the American nation was founded should in the present time of trial have united the whole English-speaking family in a brotherhood of arms."

"Watching the horrifying events in Paris this week," wrote Scott Johnson, "I have found Churchill’s great speech of November 12, 1936, coming to mind. It is one of Churchill’s prophetic speeches—I believe in the Prophet Churchill—decrying the complacency of the government in the face of the gathering storm in Germany. . . ."