SPRING 2006 • NUMBER 130 - Winston Churchill

Gilbert lecture; and session 4, on Churchill’s relevancetoday. Teachers also sent us evaluations of reading materials,the application process, general overviews, and suggestionsfor future seminar subjects.One teacher recommended a different format:inviting teachers to come for a program with up to tenstudents. This could not constitute a seminar because ofthe large numbers; but a combination of a ChurchillLecture, panel discussion, and Q&A session could beheld. Another teacher spoke highly of this. She specificallyapproved our inclusion of a political cartoon andquestions in the teacher packet, and asked that we providemore materials like that.Finally, there should be a written bibliographyprepared by the seminar leader, especially if he intendsto recommend a book.Although each teacher was presented with acopy of Celia Sandys’ Churchill, we should consider givingteachers other books, especially WSC’s autobiography,My Early Life. Perhaps for each future seminar, asession should be devoted to a review of his life.Here may be the best anecdote of the day. Lastweek one of our attendees had just finished teachingabout Gallipoli—the attempt to shorten the Great Warby forcing the Dardanelles (FH 127)—before his studentstook the SATs (Scholastic Aptitude Tests). One ofthe essay questions was along these lines: “Describe howyou can be successful in the face of failure.” Two of hisstudents wrote about Churchill and Gallipoli.Lecture Evaluationby Richard LangworthCo-chairman of TrusteesNot least because of the reputation of the lecturer,and the combination of his talk with a teacher seminarand benefit dinner, this was the most comprehensiveand “multi-tasking” Churchill Lecture we have ever conducted.Thanks to Bill and Moira Benjamin and a NewYork foundation, and a well-supported gala banquet atthe Army and Navy Club, the Centre was able to meetand exceed all its expenses. Among our five ChurchillLectures this has happened before only once, with ChrisMatthews in 2001. Financially as well as scholastically, itwas a model for the future.Our most significant problem remains studentturn-out, and here Suzanne Sigman’s suggestion aboutteachers bringing ten students each seems worth developing.I discussed the absence of university studentswith President Trachtenberg of GWU after the dinnerTuesday night, and he reminded me that in Washingtonespecially, students are “jaded.” It takes something veryunique and perhaps more controversial, or a celebritylike our always-supportive friend and trustee ChrisMatthews, to “stuff the hall.” We did have excellentcampus publicity, thanks to Jim Hess of the University,and our display advertisement (see page 26) ran prominentlyin the student newspaper. But this is perhaps lesssignificant these days than the Iraq war, assortedWashington scandals, and other burning questions.The Churchill Centre was deeply honored bythe presence of Senator John McCain at a dinner for SirMartin and Lady Gilbert at the Army and Navy Club onthe evening following the lecture. We were joined byCentre Trustee Chris Matthews; Joanne Kemp representingTrustee Jack Kemp; and our good friends SenatorBob Packwood and his wife, Congressman Charlie Dentand Deputy Secretary of Commerce David Sampson.Senator McCain on Churchill and GilbertChurchill Centre Benefit DinnerArmy and Navy Club, October 18thIt is a true honorto be heretonight to honorone of theworld’s great historiansand biographerof one of history’s greatleaders. I would like tothank The ChurchillCentre for all it does topreserve the memory ofSir Winston. In makingavailable his thoughts, words and deeds to new generations,the Centre helps foster the visionary leadership soperfectly embodied by the career of Churchill himself.Churchill led one of the greatest lives of the20th century. By the power of his speech and theunyielding courage of his example and convictions, heled his country through the most dangerous experienceof its long history. He saw with clarity the challengesand the dangers that faced the world, and he never,never gave in. And due in great part to the courage heinspired in others, neither did his country.No one understands this better than Sir MartinGilbert, who has authored no fewer than seventy-fivebooks, including his magisterial official biography. Hisnew book, Churchill and America, which I have on mydesk right now, is the story of Sir Winston’s long relationshipwith our country and its impact on the vitaland enduring “special relationship.”I have long admired Sir Martin’s works and,while I do not have seventy-five titles to my name, I >>FINEST HOUR 130 / 31