News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Schools

January 24, 2013

BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Candidate for ‘Man of the 20th Century’

“It may be a blessing in disguise.” — Winston Churchill’s wife, Clementine, commenting on his election defeat in 1945, right after winning

World War II’




“If so, it is well disguised.” — Churchill’s response



Winston Churchill, my candidate for “Man of the 20th Century,” died this week (Jan. 24) in 1965, having deservedly earned the thanks of a grateful nation and world, and having earned the first state funeral for a British politician since William Gladstone in 1898.

He died at age 90, and it may well be that he lived so long because of his election defeat in 1945, when he was replaced as prime minister by Labour Party leader Clement Attlee. In other words, Clementine Churchill was probably right. His defeat was a blessing in disguise.

For one thing, it spared Churchill the personal anguish of presiding over the end of the British Empire, which, being an imperialist to the core, Churchill would have hated. Indeed, one of the reasons Churchill was defeated in 1945, despite having led his country to victory over Nazi Germany, was his reputation as an imperialist, an aristocrat and a hopeless romantic who still envisioned a return to the Victorian age. The only “return” the British people wanted was a return to normalcy, and Attlee and Labour seemed better suited to that goal.

Being out of power also gave him greater freedom to speak candidly about what he thought was the greatest future threat to the peace and freedom of the world, namely the Soviet Union’s increasingly ruthless grip on Eastern Europe. Had he been prime minister, diplomatic and political considerations would have constrained him — the Soviets had been wartime allies, after all. Instead, more than any other statesman, Churchill opened up the world’s eyes to the Soviet menace.

Being out of power also prevented Churchill, who turned 71 in 1945, from working himself to death.

The post-war problems Great Britain faced were enormous.

The country was literally bankrupt, while the general public, having sacrificed mightily during the war, expected the new government to initiate massive, and massively expensive, spending on social programs and services.

Out of power, Churchill also got to relax. He traveled, painted, tinkered with his beloved country home, Chartwell, and refreshed his mind and body.

And he wrote. Perhaps the greatest of the “disguised blessings” was Churchill’s greater freedom to write, especially his war memoirs.

His tome “The World Crisis” was a huge financial success and helped earn Churchill a Nobel Prize for Literature, the only important politician ever so honored.

But best of all, by living long enough to write it, Churchill ensured that posterity’s view of him would be a favorable one, which, to me, is an undisguised blessing.

Bruce G. Kauffmann’s email address is bruce@historylessons.net.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Schools
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse Suspect in Killing of Officer Found Dead in Cell Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse American Held in Grisly Czech Murders Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria Today in History May 25 UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested Britain Braces for Possible Copycat Attacks Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military Today in History May 24 Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington ShowBiz Minute: Shelton, King, Lopez Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
NDN Video
Young protestor goes viral on Youtube High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria Toronto Mayor says he's not a crack head Maine island offers lighthouse getaway Suspect in Killing of Officer Found Dead in Cell Should We Prepare for Quakes? Lynn Kindergarten Class Rescues Ducklings Congressional gold medal awarded to civil rights heroes Charles Ramsey visits Kentucky Unique Display Greets Guests At Revel Casino Cape Cod Train Service Worries Residents BASE jumper rides snowmobile off cliff to honor dead friend Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day' SHOCKING: School Guard Throws Girl Down Stairs Star Wars X-Wing Star Fighter Made of Legos Actress Amanda Bynes Arrested in New York Singer Psy Has An Imposter President Obama Heckled at National Security Speech Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air More lewd photos may soon come out: Weiner
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News