Hope. History is quirky, life undependable, but hope is worth having. Many years ago, I found myself in England, enjoyed cycling, so cycled to Blenheim Palace, where Winston Churchill was born. A lavish spot, he was in line to inherit it, until luck put a “spanner” (wrench) in the works, as they say, and he did not.
If he had inherited Blenheim, he would have become “the 10th Duke of Marlborough,” not a commoner. For sure, this would not have changed his love of scotch and cigars, but would have changed history. Lords do not serve in the House of Commons, from which all prime ministers are chosen.
Churchill, his mother American, was am ambitious young man. Left to his own devices, he joined the Army at 21, got to India, Sudan, and South Africa, was captured in the Boer Wars, escaped, later ended up “head of the Admiralty” or Navy in World War I.
After the tragedy at Gallipoli, variously described as a rout and stalemate, arguably no fault of Churchill’s, he was demoted. He reclaimed his commission, joined the troops in the muddy trenches.
A few years later, somehow back from oblivion, this commoner got reelected to parliament, became the Treasury Secretary, or Chancellor or the Exchequer, and got the British currency back to maximum value.
All that would never have happened if, as once wished, he has become inheritor of Blenheim Palace and a Lord. In 1940, he ascended to Prime Minister, not milk toast but determined to rebuff the Germans.
Fascinatingly, Churchill was neither popular nor viewed as sufficiently coifed for establishment conservatives, although half his family was near royalty and he was born in a palace. Far from it, his scotch, cigars, blunt talk, and belief in freedom, never appeasement, thoroughly irked them.
Still, when the chips were down, France crumbling, Nazis rising, all Europe trembling at Hitler’s rise, Churchill did not trembling. His unapologetic, freedom-first, delightful wit and courage, shined.
Terrifying his wife Clementine, he would slip out to the war room nights, go RAF bases under attack, place himself in harm’s way for the troops. More than once he narrowly escaped death, unphased.
In dark times – times as dark or darker than ours – Churchill, the half-American, never lost hope, never lost stamina, or focus, even when depression knocked.
Incredibly, when terror was afoot, thousands of bombs falling, he kicked into high gear, pulling his nation to their “finest hour,” which also became his finest, all about courage.
All this is offered as my memory drifts, in these tough times, to that cycle – many years ago – up to Blenheim Palace. Seeing where he was born, I cycled another 15 miles to where he was buried.
To my utter surprise, the man who saved the Western World, who never gave up on freedom, never lost faith in the power of goodness to prevail over evil, never stopped believing good men and women will always outpace, in power, strength, and grace, detractors – had no grand affair for a stone.
In the shadow of a little church, churchyard where stones tipped this way and that – as they do all across America for good people – his stone, laid flat and joined by Clementine, lay quiet, nothing regal, no airs.
These days, as I ponder the challenges we face, I am fortified by this half-American who showed us how it is done, this living and dying business, this fight to the death for freedom business, wholly unrepentant, an unstoppable warrior..
I am fortified by the power of ideals to gain flight, good to come from what no one expects.
Churchill might have been a Lord, might have died in a dozen places, been outfoxed by appeasers, lost to history, been overwhelmed rather than undaunted, but that is not what God wanted.
I get up mornings, drink strong coffee, read, think, write, and within me somewhere refortify the will to fight, spiritually, politically, as needed in other ways. Memories sometimes flow back from that cycle to Blenheim and Bladen, because I drink from a mug with a quote on it.
The quote is from Winston Churchill, simple, direct, uncompromising, one that lifts me even now, as I think about the strife, cross currents, political and physical conflicts that swirl. Churchill, despite all, never lost his hope – ever, ever, ever. He was realist, also an idealist, a wit that did not quit.
The quote? One that fortifies, centers, educates me, and causes thought as his life does? Just this: “All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: Freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.” Hope. May we never lose it, or the power it possesses to turn the future our way.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.
Excellent article RBC. I especially liked the paragraph “Fascinatingly, Churchill was neither popular nor viewed as sufficiently coifed for establishment conservatives, although half his family was near royalty and he was born in a palace. Far from it, his scotch, cigars, blunt talk, and belief in freedom, never appeasement, thoroughly irked them.” Great men and women of vision, hope and patriotism are rarely liked and embraced by the political establishment, which thrives on a combination of mediocrity, lack of vision and appeasement. Your accurate description concerning Churchill could just as easily be applied to Thatcher, Reagan and Trump. All of whom were roundly despised by the political establish of their times, because they saw what was needed to be done and weren’t afraid to work to accomplish great things for the people of the country.
Mr. Charles, I can always identify an article you have written simply by reading the title, and I am always encouraged by your words. Thank you for reminding us once again that there is always hope.
Sir, your wonderful article on Churchill brought to mind an article from Dr. David Jeremiah on the posters put out by an arm of the British government at different stages of WW2. Three were designed. Two were used, but the third, designed to go out in the event the country was actually invaded, was never used. On a red background, the poster had, in white, a representation of the king’s crown. Under that, in white block print, it read, “KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.” This is a perfect encouragement for Americans today who struggle with the seemingly downward spiral/whirlpool into which our leaders are taking us. Even more important, taking this attitude in this culture is most readily achieved by committing one’s heart and life to Jesus Christ, knowing that His plan for us is ALWAYS perfect, and lasts forever.
From what I’ve read about Churchill, he was the “Donald Trump” of his time, both divisive and a powerful figure. Sometimes a country needs a Churchill. We sure don’t have one now!
Beautifully written. Thank you, Bobby, for the encouragement and a reminder of the power of hope and goodness. We must never give up!
Justice honor and duty The most terrifying words of every so called democrat and all the occupants of the comfy couch in DC Trump scarred the beejesus out of them
Thank you. Just what I needed today.
Churchill was exactly the man needed to rally his people in 1940. Washington was exactly that person in our war for independence. Donald Trump is now the only one who can turn around this country’s decline.
Thank you! Very inspiring!
I love Mr Charles’ articles. They fill a bit the hole that this dismal Administration carves in my heart and discourages me every single day, as if its only purpose were to demoralize. Reading him is a real pleasure. Thank you for this gift.
A book I have that celebrates the airplanes of WWII opines that “ two things saved England in the darkest days of the war: Churchillian oratory, spread by the BBC over a land that has always dearly loved words, and the Supermarine Spitfire”. I completely agree.
RBC, I created a small oil painting of that little church in Blaydon,(St Martins)if memory serves.Don’t be surprised if a copy turns up in your mailbox.I’m often accused of being too ‘blunt’ like my hero “winnie”.I believe it was Thomas Pain who said ,”If your afraid to offend you will never be honest”,or words to that affect.As usual a wonderful article.
LT Beale, spot on, as they say across the water. You nailed it. May we pray, hope and work for such a leader … with thanks, RBC
Churchill much as our President Lincoln is remembered in mythical terms having little to do with reality. Churchill was the begger in chief for England and managed to indebt the UK to the US until the 21st century. His continual begging of FDR to have the US enter the war was answered only after the war in the European theater was tactically over as the Nazis began their implosion with their Russian debacle. Now people are unaware that it was Russia that was responsible for some 78% of German troop deaths.
People also forget the deep anti semitism that defined part of Churchill. He was one of a few top level people in the UK that allowed captured SS members to merely be assimilated into society or……for the worse of the bunch, to be sent to Canada to live full lives unlike their countless victims.
This man doesnt deserve his current status. Perhaps remember him for Gallipoli….