Series. Good morning, i am jacked with Smithsonian Associates. And it is my pleasure to welcome you today seminar and Winston Churchill. The man behind this is historian Kevin Matthews. Were to those of you may not have attended our in washington d. C. Smithsonian seizures not federally funded, your donations allow us to continue these programs as they did for the costs not covered by the ticket price. We are very thankful for your support and we hope that you continue to enjoy our programs. And now i am delighted to introduce our speaker for today, Kevin Matthews is an assistant professor of history at george mason university. Before earning a ph. D. In history the London School of economics in Political Science, he earned a masters degree from the Patterson School of diplomacy, and International Commerce university at the university of kentucky. And another masters from the American University in International Relations and journalism, respectively. His 2004 book, fatal influence, explore the impact of ireland on british politics in the late 19 twenties. He currently is artwork on a book about Winston Churchill, and ireland. Kevin brings a unique perspective to his studies. Earlier in his career, he was an editorial writer for several newspapers in the United States, and the u. S. Correspondent for bias vatican review, where he reported on british and irish news. He continues to appear on television and radio to discuss issues ranging from british politics to protests following the death of george floyd. Two future competition between United States and the eu and china. And now without further delay welcome please join me in welcoming Kevin Matthews. Good, morning everyone. Thank you for coming today. I am still a little new to this process, bear with me for just a second, im pulled up. There you go. Right. Thank you. Before we, begin i would like to thank the National Churchill arbery and center for the help you give him permitting study Winston Churchill. And his remarkable career. If you have never visited the center, which is located right across the river from where i am in northern virginia, in washington, d. C. , allow yourself to see what is, for my money, the best collection of hotel artifacts on the side of the atlantic. , also i hope you will indulge me if i take a moment to thank two professors. Michael ryan, jeffrey williams. When i was a young student at Northern Kentucky university, many years ago. Both of these men encourage my interest. I thank them for that to this day. And finally, but not least, i would like to think the Smithsonian Associates in particular. Ruth haynes wall and, jack dean, who you just saw. Without them, this program would not be possible. I like them to get a virtual round of applause. I would appreciate it. The smithsonian, as you know, as jack said, is self funded. Joining the Smithsonian Associates is something i would encourage everyone to do. And a time where we are living in a world that is more uncertain. I would say dangerous than any of us could have predicted. Not so long ago, i would like to take us back to date 80 years this past december when it seemed as though the world with no less uncertain. Certainly even more. The day after christmas, 1941, Winston Churchill arose to deliver an address to a joint meeting of the u. S. Congress. He had come to washington in the wake of the japanese attacks on pearl harbor. Also, the japanese on the same day attacked to american and British Military installations across asia and the pacific. All the way into southeast asia. From our Vantage Point i dont know that we can fully comprehend how desperate the allied cause was at the time. As well as assaulting the u. S. Specifically in hawaii, Japanese Forces attacked the british in hong kong and singapore. And the americans in the philippines. Just three days later, the royal navys battleship, prince of wales. And the hms propulse were sunk by japanese planes in the indian ocean. Opening the way for attack all the way to the gates of india itself. On christmas eve, the American Marines stationed at wake island were forced to surrender. And on christmas day, the following day. British garrison at hong kong was also forced to lay down its arms. Adolf hitler had declared war on the United States four days after pearl harbor, letting loose his you votes on the atlantic to sink canadian, british, american and other allied vessels crossing the atlantic to give aid to britain. In north africa, access forces, led by rumbles core were in striking distance of seizing the suez canal. And with it, control of the middle east and its on the supply of oil. The red army had pushback adolf hitlers army that moscow, they were still deep within the soviet union. The smart money was on access victory over the ussr. If not in 1941, then certainly in 1942. Simply put, the allies were losing the war. Churchill did not hide that truth from his audience. I have to recounting the deeds of each of the photos. Not see germany, fascist italy, imperial japan, he inspired his listeners not just in congress, but across the United States, and britain itself. At a time when it was needed most. What kind of a people do they think we are . Is it possible they do not realize that we will not cease to persevere against them until they have been taught a lesson which they, and the world, will never forget . Here we are, together, facing a group of mighty foes who seek our ruin. Here we are, together, it is not given to us to peer into the mysteries of the future. Still i about my hope and faith, sure and inviolate, that in the days to come the british and American People will, for their own safety, and for the good of all, walk together in majesty, injustice, and in peace. [applause] one of those present at this speech, and member of Franklin RooseveltAdministration Later wrote that the yells that you heard at the end. That broke out when churchill speech and in, where the first sounds bloodless that he had heard during the war. I would submit that a few other leaders couldve made had that effect. In that way in at that time. That is not to say that Winston Churchills career with one of one success after another. Far from it. Churches falls reimagined. Im gonna talk about a few of them today. Having said that, he is still one of the most remarkable man ever to lead a nation, in war and in peace. What we tend to forget though is that churchill was a journalist as well as a politician. He was a writer as well as a soldier. According to his most recent biographer, churchill wrote 37 books. A record the surpasses the combine works of williams takes beer, and Charles Dickens combined. His speeches account for five more which together form another eight volumes in their own right. Add to the, over 700 articles he would write over their lifetime. His correspondence, letters, personal and official, as well as government memorandum. As if that were not enough for a very busy man, churchill even became something of an accomplished painter. Over the course of 50 years, he painted more than 540 canvases. It was the only occupation of close friend of his said that he pursued in total silence. This is one of his works. A landscape of his home churchill was born, literally, in a palace. This palace, lenin palace, on the 30th of november, 1874. He was the descendant of one of englands most famous generals, john churchill, and his wife sarah. The first duke and duchess of marlboro. The younger son of the seventh duke of marlboro was 24 when he met an american heiress at a boating party off the aisle of right. Her name was jenny jerome. She was 19. After just three days, the couple were engaged to be married. And idea that was fiercely opposed by both sets of parents. Marriages between american heiresses and british aristocrats or common at the time. For both of the drones and the marlboros, this proposal was not at all what they had in mind. As a younger son, randolph while he possessed the honorific title of ward, was not a member of the nobility. He was not a duke. He did not have his own independent sort of wealth. So far as the mob roars were concerned, dennys family might be wealthy, but not that well see. From the point of view of blossom palace, to put it mildly, americans were vulgar. Nevertheless the marriage one ahead april 1874. Their first son winston was born in the following november. This meant that winston was, by birth, 50 american. A fact that his critics, especially those in the conservative party, were quick to point out when it suited them. One even sneeringly called churchill that halfbreed american. Other contemporaries though took a different view. One said churchill might be fit to present american, but he was 100 percent british. Through the lifetimes in their class, lord and lady randall for exceptionally delightful parents. Winstons childhood letters from boarding school pleading for a visit from either of his parents were seldom answered, or even bothered with. These letters are simply heartbreaking to read. One person he could turn to u. S. His knee, mrs. Everest. He later wrote, it was to her, i poured out my anne even throughout his lifetime, churchill adored his mother and father. There is no better example of this that address to commerce of the summer of 1941. Members of the senate and of the house of representatives of the United States, i feel greatly honored that you should have had invited me to enter the United States senate chamber. To address the representatives of both branches of congress. The fact that my american four bears have through so many generations played their part in the life of the United States, and that here i am, an englishman, welcome into your mitts, makes this experience and one of the most moving and thrilling in my life. Which is already long, and has not been entirely uneventful. I wish indeed that my mother, who memory i cherish across the veil of years, could have been here to see this. By the way, i cannot help to reflect that if my father had been american, and my mother british, instead of the other way around, i might have got here on my own. [laughs] [applause]l also paid homage to his father by quoting from one of lord randolphs speeches. Later in the same address, churchill also paid homage to his father by quoting from one of lord randolph speeches. Nevertheless, i think it is fair to say that his parents neglect left its mark. Of his mother, churchill later wrote, she shown for me like an evening star. I loved her. But at a distance. Lord randolph was even more remote. Apparently there are no photographs of him with his sons, like this one of jenny with winston and his brother jack. Never mind a family portrait of the four of them together. To the end of his life, churchill never gave on the quest for his fathers recognition. That was not to be. Filled with lord randolph letters to his son when he was bothered to read to him are often filled with recriminations for winstons poor performance at school. Churchill was not a bad student. He simply did not take any interest in subjects that didnt tracked him. It is true, however, that he was put in what is called the lowest form, the lowest class, at harrow. The younger churchill earned further rebuke from his father when he passed an Entrance Exam at the military academy at san hearst, only after the third try. In one of his most stinging letters, lord randall said his son, that he risked becoming a mere social wasteful, whose life would degenerate into a shabby, unhappy, and futile existence. He then signed, your affectionate father, randolph. It is evident that winston never had any desire to make the military a lifelong career. And his goal was to distinguish himself in the army, on the battlefield, and then entered politics at his father side. By the time churchill had left his fathers career was already in eclipse. A few years earlier, it seemed that Randolph Churchill might someday become Prime Minister. A young conservative minister parliament, he led a group of likeminded tories, known as the fourth party, where he championed, what he called, tory democracy. Imperialism abroad, for social reform at home. But made him a household name though was the irish question. Ireland had been united with the rest of the British Isles in the United Kingdom in 1800. By the late part of the 19th century many nationalists in ireland, most of them roman catholic, began to demand a limited form of Self Government known as common rule. In the election of 1885 their candidates wept most of the island. In the iron mainly Protestant Union is in the Northern Island were found throughout the island, but were concentrated in the Northern Province of holster. When the British Liberal PartyRandolph Churchill saw his chance. He became a supporter of the also against home rule. He essentially declared that also will fight and allstar will be bright. This may turn to a darling of the Unionist Movement in northern ireland. Portraits like this one were hung in unionist halls throughout all stir. In london, a propelled him to the top ranks of the tory leadership. In the home rule brought down the liberals at the next general election, randolph was so popular that the new Prime Minister, salisbury, was compelled to make churchill both chancellor checker and leader of the house of commons. He was only 37 years of age. The pace of lord randolphs climb up what was called the greasy pole of politics was mirrored only by the rapidity of his dissent. He alienated his colleagues in salisbury cabinet. When they rejected his first budget, he overplayed his hand and tightknit his resignation. To his surprise, to everyone surprise, saulsberry accepted. Although churchill kept to see in parliament, for the last eight years of his life his decline was obvious. His friend, lord bows berry said he died this raises the delicate question of the reason for lord randalls early death. Some historians are certain he contracted syphilis. Others claim it was a rare, incurable, brain disease. We will likely never know. Except for those who have a salacious interest in the subject, i dont know that it really matters. What does matter in lord randolph died at the relatively early age of 45. This left a decided mark on his eldest son. Enter parliament at his fathers side. The postscript to the more immediately, it meant that winston would not Enter Parliament at his father side. Postscript to the story is Randolph Churchill died on the 24th of january, 1895. His son, winston, died that same day 70 years later. A month before his fathers death, winston graduated and was assigned to the fourth bizarre. His baptism of fire was in cuba where he went with a fellow officer to observe the spanish trying to quell an insurgency on the island. He went because he wanted to see if he had the courage of a soldier. Lord jenkins said he did that in abundance. It was often there that churchill acquired a lifelong taste for cigars. And the idea of taking inapp in the middle of the afternoon. He also worked as a spy for British Intelligence in cuba. His spanish host did not know this, of course. Because of his bravery under fire, he was given a courtesy declaration. The red cross of spain for a military merit. It was also in cuba that churchill began his career as a journalist. Sending home five dispatches to a london newspaper, the daily graphic. As i said he had a career that would lead to over 700 articles in his lifetime. Churchill told his newspaper editor, i am a member of your profession. I have never had any money except for what my pen has brought me. After his return from cuba, churchill then accompanied the fourth sars in a posting in india where he was able to indulge his love of polo. He is second on the right in this photo. He also used his time in india to correct a fact. That was that he was seriously under educated. While posted in india, churchill devoured books. Everything from platos republic to adam in stevenss wealth of nation. Charles darwins origin of species. All a volumes of givens decline and fall of the roman empire. Much else besides. At the time, churchill also wrote his first book the story of the malloch hand field force. Detailing a punitive expedition to what was then indias northwest frontier. What is today, pakistan. While in india, churchill also seems to have fallen away from religious beliefs of the church of england. His biographer cannot agree whether the subject was a believer or atheist or somewhere in between. Churchill sometimes would refer to the almighty, as he put it, in speeches. He was, at best, a nominal anglican. As he later put it in architectural terms, he was not a pillar of the church, he said, but rather a buttress. He supported it from the outside. Churchill time in india also brings up the subject of race, related to it, the subject of the empire. Throughout his l