A new work by author, Eric Larson, The Splendid and the Vile, revisits a moment in history that has been exhaustively covered, offering fresh insight into the character of Winston Churchill and the British public, during the second world war. It is a particularly apt subject during our present crisis.
Churchill has long been an interest. By turns he was one of the most charismatic and forceful leaders to emerge in the 20th century, yet given to bouts of severe depression, childish tantrums, extraordinary personal bravery, boorish behavior and seemingly impulsive risk taking. He was also, most certainly, the only individual in Britain able to lead during the most perilous and desperate of times, lending his manifest strength and resolve to the British public and especially the citizens of London. Brilliant, articulate and fiercely intelligent, Winston believed that his entire life had prepared him for the singular challenge of resurrecting the British war effort in the wake of Prime Minister Chamberlain’s resignation, and indeed through what can only be described as an act of personal will, he succeeded in preserving his country against its greatest threat.
Just as a reminder, shortly after Churchill took office, he was faced with the fall of the Maginot line and the rout of the French forces, an air force a fraction the size of the Luftwaffe, and a demoralized public. To lead in times of existential threat is a great challenge that few are capable of undertaking—to do so when by every account the fight is nearly over before it has begun and the prospects for survival, much less success, are seemingly non-existent, requires something greater than leadership. It requires resilience and resolve.
Students of history recall the hastily arranged, heroic rescue of the British Expeditionary Forces by a ramshackle fleet of small boats and ships, the extraordinary actions of the RAF defending the skies above London, and importantly, Churchill’s behind the scenes machinations to draw the US into the war through a lend-lease program and eventually a full and forceful engagement. Eighty plus years after the fact, we know how the story ends but what is less well understood perhaps is the degree to which Churchill’s character and the character of the British people were the decisive factors.
Churchill was not only trained as a soldier having served in the Boer War where he was injured, captured and escaped imprisonment, but he was also a well-regarded author and historian who had written volumes on the history of his country and many other subjects. He was also incredibly up to date on the latest intelligence, which he was privy to even before taking on the PM role in his position as Lord of the Admiralty. He championed new technologies leading to developments in artillery, armor and aircraft to say nothing of radar, sonar and early atomic science, partnering with the US in its development of the atomic bomb.
From the onset, Churchill led with a frankness and transparency that is rare in public life. It was then and even more so today. He was blunt about what lay ahead—never flinching from the truth, but at the same time he summoned a resolve to prevail—and he spurred action in his public addresses to the British people and in every other matter, engaging every individual. He made it clear that everyone could contribute and every action—even slight made a difference. He inspired resolve and more—he inspired others to believe as he did, that they could prevail if they came together as one. And they did--through the terrors of the Blitz, through years of privation and struggle--revealing a national character that set the bar for future generations.
Churchill was, in short, everything one could hope for in the spirit of a single individual that would lead a country, arguably a civilization, out of devastating circumstances. But my purpose is not to further lionize him, rather it is to shine a light on what is lacking at this precise moment. If the world is without confidence in the outcome, as indeed appears to be the case; if we feel betrayed by endless lies, excuses, inept and divisive acts in the face of clear and present danger; if we lack resolve—and more importantly a sense that as a people and a world we are in this together, we must look to our leaders and find them wanting and we must look to ourselves as well.
If ever there was a time for every citizen to demand honest dealing, decisiveness, and a full, frank and swift global collaboration it is now. We cannot tolerate partisanship, jingoistic nationalism, or politics as usual. All must be set aside-if we are to prevail. Even then the hardship and tragedy that lie ahead are already clear. Our leadership must rise to this occasion and so must we, the people. We cannot demonize each other, but we must demand of ourselves the best we are capable of being. We must finally see each life as precious and the welfare of all inextricably linked to the compassionate defense of every individual. It no longer matters where we live, what our economic, political or religious identification was, this plague does not respect such boundaries and neither should we.
We are being tested and tried on every front. How will future generations describe our character? Will we rise above these devastating circumstances or reveal ourselves a people whose only concern is for themselves. Will we impugn business as usual, chastise any politician who seeks to sow further division and resolve to salvage a better, and more noble world from this disaster? Whatever lies ahead for each of us I hope that it will be said, these were a people of resilience and resolve.