'Dinner With Churchill' Gives Insights Into Leader's Life
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Most people would agree that Winston Churchill was respected as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century. He was more beloved than most leaders, however, because of his "enduring sense of humor and nonstop wit."
Dr. Elliot Engel explained this statement and more at Thursday's "Dinner with Churchill," a fund-raiser for Kosciusko Literacy Services at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. Engel, an English professor, author and lecturer, spoke on Charles Dickens at last year's fund-raiser.
Churchill was born in 1874 into an aristocratic family of wealth and power. He began his career in the military, and was in and out of power, and popularity, until World War II, when, Engel said, "he was more important in keeping western democracy alive than anyone else. ... England would have fallen without Churchill's leadership."
Yet, 16 days after the end of World War II, the British people removed Churchill from office and retired him as the prime minister.
That act, Engel said, almost killed Churchill. "It was the greatest depression Churchill ever had."
He warned the world about the dangers of communism and what the world would be like if the United States and the Soviet Union were the only two superpowers (coining the term "iron curtain" in the process), and returned to power as prime minister in 1951, retiring in 1955 at age 82.
"He was a real symbol to all of us not just of freedom but of the courage to fight for it," Engel said.
Throughout his life, Churchill had a quick wit that never failed to amuse the public.
He once said of Charles DeGaulle's face: "He looks exactly like a female llama that has been surprised in her bath."
Another time, after he had obviously had too much to drink, Lady Nancy Astor, whom he disliked, told him he was disgusting because he was drunk.
"And you, Lady Astor, are ugly," Churchill replied. "But when I wake up, I'll be sober."
Sitting beside him at dinner, Astor once said to Churchill, "If you were my husband, I would put poison in your tea."
"If I were your husband, Lady Astor," Churchill said, "I would gladly drink it."
Churchill died at age 90, Engel said, after more than 50 years of marriage. His last words were: "This grand journey has well been worth the making - once."
Thursday's dinner, for almost 200 people, was organized by the Literacy Leaders Auxiliary of KLS. Funds raised by the dinner will go to promote literacy programs and services in Kosciusko County.
For more information on KLS, contact Brenda Rigdon, executive director, at 267-5380. [[In-content Ad]]
Most people would agree that Winston Churchill was respected as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century. He was more beloved than most leaders, however, because of his "enduring sense of humor and nonstop wit."
Dr. Elliot Engel explained this statement and more at Thursday's "Dinner with Churchill," a fund-raiser for Kosciusko Literacy Services at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. Engel, an English professor, author and lecturer, spoke on Charles Dickens at last year's fund-raiser.
Churchill was born in 1874 into an aristocratic family of wealth and power. He began his career in the military, and was in and out of power, and popularity, until World War II, when, Engel said, "he was more important in keeping western democracy alive than anyone else. ... England would have fallen without Churchill's leadership."
Yet, 16 days after the end of World War II, the British people removed Churchill from office and retired him as the prime minister.
That act, Engel said, almost killed Churchill. "It was the greatest depression Churchill ever had."
He warned the world about the dangers of communism and what the world would be like if the United States and the Soviet Union were the only two superpowers (coining the term "iron curtain" in the process), and returned to power as prime minister in 1951, retiring in 1955 at age 82.
"He was a real symbol to all of us not just of freedom but of the courage to fight for it," Engel said.
Throughout his life, Churchill had a quick wit that never failed to amuse the public.
He once said of Charles DeGaulle's face: "He looks exactly like a female llama that has been surprised in her bath."
Another time, after he had obviously had too much to drink, Lady Nancy Astor, whom he disliked, told him he was disgusting because he was drunk.
"And you, Lady Astor, are ugly," Churchill replied. "But when I wake up, I'll be sober."
Sitting beside him at dinner, Astor once said to Churchill, "If you were my husband, I would put poison in your tea."
"If I were your husband, Lady Astor," Churchill said, "I would gladly drink it."
Churchill died at age 90, Engel said, after more than 50 years of marriage. His last words were: "This grand journey has well been worth the making - once."
Thursday's dinner, for almost 200 people, was organized by the Literacy Leaders Auxiliary of KLS. Funds raised by the dinner will go to promote literacy programs and services in Kosciusko County.
For more information on KLS, contact Brenda Rigdon, executive director, at 267-5380. [[In-content Ad]]