His pajamas on most every afternoon the other it would appear barely sleeps. One began their career by introducing tariffs the other by opposing them. One was this great soaring compelling orator, the other a rather crude but very effective tweeter it nonetheless. So on the surfaces they seem to be profoundly different. But peter, soon as you start to drill a little deeper like in my book, trump and churchill defenders of western civilization find the men and remarkable similarities. Both intensely disliked, even hated. Both loved their country, both plain speakers and clear thinkers. Both alpha males both had an acrimonious relationship with the media. Both endured massive battles with the establishment and their own legal parties. Both had predecessors that were considered very weak. Of course Winston Churchill had another chamberlain and donald trump had barack obama. So there are actual incredible parallels between the time and the men. That is why he wrote the book. Host nick adams, when we look back at Winston Churchill in history we often picture him as beloved and with unanimous support. Guest it certainly was not that way peter it certainly is not that way look. Winston churchill much like donald trump was a disrupter. He was somebody that was bold, brash, he was someone that decided to do things a different way. And whenever somebody like that comes into the fold, often the people that have been in the fold for a long time really dont like it and do everything they can to stop it. In fact in my book, we offer excerpts from British National newspapers written in the late 1930s, early 1940s. And if i did not tell you those excerpts were from British National newspapers, referring to Winston Churchill, you might think you were reading the Washington Post or new york times, it was about donald trump. So similar are the criticisms, so identical are the accusations. That both men lacked judgment, they dont listen to anybody around them, they only go with their gut instinct, they are overconfident they are too optimistic, all of things weve heard of in the last three or four years about donald trump criticisms that were leveled at Winston Churchill. Host both are party switchers as well write . They certainly were, yes Winston Churchill was fluid. Winston churchill was a lifelong politician. He had a stint in the military, donald trump of course a billionaire businessman. They both had different backgrounds but they certainly were fluid in their early years in terms of the political affiliations formally that they had. But i think what both men had in common was a love of country, a love of the average everyday regular ordinary person that lives in their country, and they had sentiments and tastes that resonated the people of the time. In the movie the darkest hour just a couple of years ago, many of the viewers will remember a scene where Winston Churchill goes into a tube in london and he visits with the regular commuters. And he has that kind of great relationship with the average person. Again, rather surprisingly because Winston Churchill was it pierced a credit guy born into money, wealthy, and the same way donald trump is this a billionaire businessman that seems to have a lot of bluecollar taste in terms of the food he eats and what he does. Both men very relatable i think. Donald trump loves junkfood, Winston Churchill similarly, obviously ate too much like all of us do on occasion, drank too much, got doubts, think these are all things that we do. The guide is a few of the things i do is pretty normal. Host nick adams also mentioned the times were similar. Guest guess they were certainly right now with what we are going through with the fight of the invisible enemy, the phrase President Trump used to bash this coronavirus with. There are wartime warlike circumstances right now. Again, we saw new york mayor will the blusher come out recently and accuse the president of a peddling of false optimism with respect to the coronavirus. So, a lot of that is similar. Churchills fight, peter, was on the outside. Donald trumps side is clearly on the inside. So c1 defined that please. Guest churchill was fighting the axis powers, not the tierney and the threat from a foreign enemy and in many ways Donald Trumps fight is a cultural fight out cultural war battle for values. He of course does have enemies in china, iran and others. North korea, but really most people see Donald Trumps most major war to be a domestic one where he is fighting various elements of the media, various elements of the republican party, obviously the democrats and others. Host your subtitle, defenders of western civilization. Theres two questions what you mean by western civilization . And how did they defend it . With the civilization, i kind of think of western civilization is having a set of values. They tend to be values that were developed in the English Speaking world so the anglosphere for lack of better term the United States of america, the United Kingdom, australia, canada, new zealand, they are western countries with a lot of influence on values and morals and systems that are used all around the world. So western civilization, i really think is most of europe, its the United States, does have those type of countries not including obviously china or large parts of the middle east. That is western civilization. In terms of how they are defending it, again, both men intensely patriotic, both men loved the values, the traditions that exist in their nation back then churchill was a big supporter of all the values that were in england. And donald trump is a big supporter of how america has always traditionally been. Hence his Famous Campaign slogan make America Great again. So, i think both men want to ensure that what has always kind of happened in their country stays that way. They are not progressive in that sense of. Theyre kind of a throwback to earlier eras which a lot of people find comfortable and a lot of people find rather restrictive. So, both men really believe in the west, they really believe in western civilization and they believe in the values and belief system and the models that are contained within the west and western civilization. Host mr. Adams, given your accent how long have you been familiar with mr. Turk chill . Guest thats a good question my father is a massive Winston Churchill fan when i was eight years old he gave me a book of Winston Churchill speeches and instructed me to it not only read but. Reporter and. Reporter as many times as i possibly could because there is no one better to learn from in terms of the craft of speech writing and speech giving. And, when i was about 13 or 14 years old, in the eighth grade one of my best friends to this day came and gave me a copy of the deal. Thats obviously where my lifelong admiration with President Trump began. So i was filling with both men early, obsolete Winston Churchill, given the United Kingdoms relationship with australia is someone that is featured prominently rather atypical because i think it is fair to say that most americans dont take that much of an interest in what goes on in other places in terms of leaders because america is so big and powerful really cares whats going on elsewhere. At Winston Churchill was an exception. He wasnt except for a variety of reasons. Number one he was actually half american, his mother was american. Number two, he is the only person in the history of the United States to have ever received honorary citizenship. And number three, i think this is my most favorite point of all, a point make repeatedly in the book, he was american. He was a bold guy, he refused to conceal his truth itself, he refused to conform to expectations, proudly individualistic, he was very american in his disposition. Youve got to remember how different the political culture is in the United Kingdom and particularly back then to what it is now. Donald trump is a maverick, and he is in nation for mavericks in politics, has a long tradition whereas in england, it was really remarkable for someone like Winston Churchill to come along because the United States the United Kingdom im sorry their political is prizes moderation. For this guy, this british bulldog to emerge, come out of nowhere and not have any quorums about anyone has to say about him, is truly unique. Host Winston Churchill never visited australia you write in your new book. Guest that is correct. Host why is that . Guest i dont know it was a long way to go. I guess things were different back then in terms of travel. He didnt go to a story but he did come to the United States many times. He went on a speaking tour, he also came and delivered his famous iron curtain address. That was in fulton, missouri. I encourage all of the viewers of the ever get the chance to go and visit the Churchill Museum there. It is really a fascinating place. I love it is one of my Favorite Places in the world. He was on the train with the president of the United States when he was here on that trip. He confessed that if he could be born again anywhere, that he would choose it to be the United States of america. But of course it would never be a quote of Winston Churchill without the inevitable backhanded compliment that was coming. When he said although i deplore some of your customs, chief among them being your refusal to drink during meals. That kind of lines up with this other famous quote that i always use when i speak to audiences all across the country where he said america always does the right thing after exhausting every other option. Stay went nick adams coming of a similarity to Winston Churchill in that regard when it comes the u. S. Correct . We do. Of course that is something is always bonded me with churchill. We both love america, churchill was a huge americana fan. He loved everything about the United States of america, really over things that mattered and even in those darkest days, he was constantly be assuring people around him dont worry, america will end up getting involved everything will end up okay. He did have this belief in america. Im sure his mother had a lot to do with that. And his instincts and readings he was a very educated man. A lot of these readings retreat today. He saw something in the United States and again, like i say, it was probably as it temperament, his personality that he really fit more in with the color and flamboyance and volume of america as opposed to the rather more relaxed, shall we say, british. Host is it fair to say this book is a bit of a departure from your previous books . Guest it is very much so. I wanted to write something that gave a Historical Perspective on the trump presidency. Because so much has been said and written from all sides about donald trump and his administration. But very little so far, thats rather understandable even were only three and a half years in to his time in office, and we do not know whats going happen november of this year whether he will be reelected although i believe his prospects no one has written what he is going to look like in history. Found that to be a rather interesting proposition and its one i decided to explore. Now, as i think i told you, peter, three years ago now i was on the trump train from day one on sixth day of june on 2016 when he rode down that as quite a because i had a lifelong admiration with him beginning from reading the art of the deal in my teenage years, i kinda felt with the environment that existed in america, at the time that normal politician, no matter how talented articulate, well presented, was not going to cut it, america really needed a sledgehammer of sorts. To change things and alter the course that it was on. Ultimately end up being accurate without that was good fortune and obviously some good judgment there at the time. So i have always been a big trump guy. I think ultimately, as time goes on, hes going to be very much a van gogh kind of president that expression of course comes from Vincent Van Gogh the artist who, while he was live his artwork was not really considered all that much. But after he died, all the sudden he came very much into fashion. Think in the same way history will look kindly on donald trump and what he is doing right now. It does seem the level of acrimony and in many cases blind hatred that so many have for him, i dont think that is going to be the case in a couple of decades from now. The rather bold claim i make in my book was the first to concede its remarkably bold considering were only 20 years into the century, is that i do think there is every chance if he does get elected for another four years, that he will have an impact on such a magnitude that he may well become the greatest figure of this century which of course i believe churchill was of the 20h century. Host was a Research Process . Guest look, we went deep, peter, we looked at media at the time. We went and read all of the churchill books that have been written whether they were biographies, whether they were his own writings, we tip a deep dive into his past, his family, what makes Winston Churchill, Winston Churchill we certainly looked at all of the speeches including donald trump in the back of the book would charge what i would consider to be of both men for any bathed pics up this book when trying to get both the men as naked as we could and find out everything we could to what made them who they were what makes them the leaders they are. And that Research Process both men failed a lot as well. Its easy with the passage of time to only focus on the successes. Now one of the most famous failures, epic failures that Winston Churchill had was the 2h of april that is locked into australian folklore that was a really bad decision that he made that ended up in mass casualties in australia and new zealand. We mark that day every year with mixed feelings donald trump, while he had Great Success as a businessman, like any entrepreneur it weathers the boardgame he introduced back in the 1980s, things that didnt work out as i hoped but whats really interesting is when i researched it and looked into both of them, it was very clear that everything in their life, including those failures, actually made them perfect for the moment they found themselves in. Almost everything that occurred in their life, good and bad, their upbringing, their experiences, their disappointments the relations, including their personality traits, everything just made them ideal for their moments. Host nick adams, you keep saying we, who was Underwriting Team . Guest i had some people helping the research i had some people who were editing the book, peter, but i like to do as much as i can by myself. I certainly had some assistance because the volume of research that was needed for a book like this was simply something i could not do. Course i was quarantined like i am now than i wouldve had lots of time to do lots of different things. [laughter] when i was writing things were back into the good old days. Host did you find yourself traveling to these sites . Or can you find most everything you need right online . Guest look, you can find a lot online now of course you have a phone you got an encyclopedia in your pocket. I did travel back to fulton, missouri. I did go in visit the museum there again. I did go last summer to the churchill war rooms in westminster, a place id been shoe previously but knowing this was going to be the upcoming book i did go there last july. And i spent more time there and photographed everything in case i was missing anything. One of the ideas i had, i have not been able to implement it because unfortunately everything kind of changed in the last couple of months with covid19, but i was planning on a book tour that was going to be a precise replica of churchill speaking tour when he came to the United States. If you go to the churchill war rooms, theres actually a map of the u. S. And it shows you precisely where he went. He made it big long cylindrical shaped trip. I wanted to mirror that and do that. That a fortunatelys been put on hold. Host and trump and churchill was published by Simon Schuster you doing any time a book tour virtually or otherwise . Guest peter, doing a lot of stuff just like this on zoom and skype they have become my best friends. Occasionally i do some audience stuff as well. But for the most part is the private gatherings and hearing to whatever the law is him helping of the next four to six weeks things will open up a little bit, and we will be able to get some sized crowds and will be able to get onto it. I think this is very much a book that does deserve a tour and thats when i think leaders will enjoy particularly this election year. Host you mention the speeches in the back of the book what is your favorite churchill in favor trumps beaches. My favorite trumps beaches the one he gave in poland. And that was actually well received by the media. One of the only times in his presidency or that has happened where he spoke, i thought rather movingly and eloquently on freedom and values, that seems to be when he is really at his pinnacle, when he speaks about those things. You really cant go past the churchill speech that were fighting going to fight them on the beach. Just listening to that, i used to have an, now its an iphone. I had all of churchills beaches on an ipod. Back in the day i believe president obama did to that was a gift the queen gave him a few years back. I used to listen to that all the time. Just the way that is delivered, and the effect of those words i can only imagine what that mustve been like hearing, back in those dark days. Host nick adams, where you base now which Organization Called customer to back im in the dallas, fort worth area in texas where he decided to hang my boots for a variety of reasons. I like texas and texans. Dab in the middle of the country since i dont spend all that much time in texas its important to be close to wherever i have to be. My organization has flagged the foundation for liberty at american greatness. When you and i last spoke in january of 2017, it was just growing it was just beginning. I am pleased to say that has really grown into a national organization, a leading organization. We have a milliondollar budget we are doing some phenomenal things. Of course as a reminder flag is all about teaching civics and providing patriotism and public schools. Our website is flag usa. Org. We go into schools, we do classroom visits, we have created kid friendly resources based on the founding documents, created the students constitution, students declaration of independence, students federalist papers and the citizens guide to the electoral colleges. And we also offer professional Development Training for teachers where we teach teachers how to incorporate patriotism and teach civics again the way it used to be taught. Host nick adams, we know because you said so President Trump admires Winston Churchill. With the reverse be true . Guest i think so peter i think both men would get on. It would be very interesting to see. Donald trump of diet coke in one hand and Winston Churchill with some port in the other. And see them have some chicken wings or Something Like that. Look, i think both men would be sitting down next to each other and they would be speaking in a rather unfavorable to put it mildly terms about the media about that journalist. But about the softies and their political party, and how limp wristed and weak the predecessor was. I think the two men would have a very interesting conversation. To be a fly on that wall, peter. Simon nick adams newest book trump and churchill, defenders of western civilization, thanks for spending a few minutes with us on book tv. Peter its always a pleasure. Here are some of the current bestselling nonfiction books according to the Washington Post. Topping the list is glendon doyles memoir untamed. After that is the splendid and the vile air clarkson study of Prime MinisterWinston Churchills leadership during the london blitz. And David Alan Sibley has a life of birds followed by charlie mccaskey illustrated fables. And repping up some of the bestselling nonfiction books according to the Washington Post is robert Hidden Valley road, profile which consisted of 12 children half of whom are diagnosed with schizophrenia. Some of these authors have appeared on book tv and you can watch them online booktv. Org. The president s from public affairs. Available now in paperback and ebook. Presents biographies of every president , organized by the ranking by noted historians from best to worst. And features perspectives into the lives of our nations chief executives and leadership styles. Visit our website cspan. Org the president s. To learn more about each president in history and future. In order your copy today wherever books and ebooks are sold. Tonight on book tv in prime time we look at some author programs with fellows from Stanford University hoover institution. Facebook profound or chris hughes has a plan to reduce poverty and strength in the middle class. Cecilia details her experience of serving as the first latina director of the jemison policy council during the obama administration. And bestselling author James Patterson talks about his latest book on the political legacy of the Kennedy Family and his efforts to assist bookstores impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. As a booktv. Org check your Program Guide for more information. Hello everybody welcome to politics and prose thank you so much in joining us in our online format as we continue the proud tradition