April 5, 2016

Washington, D. C. Program Engages Young Professionals with Churchill Legacy and U.S.-U.K. Special Relationship

UK Embassy DinnerL–R: Prof. Richard Aldous, Lee Pollock, Amb. Sir Kim Darroch, Kwame Kwei-Armah, and Amb. Matthew Barzun
This past March marked the seventieth anniversary of Churchill’s visit along with President Harry S. Truman to Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where the former Prime Minister delivered a speech that he called “The Sinews of Peace” but which is best remembered for introducing the term “Iron Curtain.” To mark the occasion, which signaled the importance of the Anglo-American “Special Relationship” as a bulwark for international peace and cooperation, The Churchill Centre partnered with the British Embassy in Washington.

The program, entitled “What’s Next for the U.S.-U.K. Partnership?” was held at the historic, Edwin Lutyens-designed British Embassy Residence and featured a specially selected audience of 150 young professionals from the Washington, D. C. area. Panelists included the United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James, the Hon. Matthew Barzun, and the recently appointed British Ambassador to the United States, Sir Kim Darroch. Previously National Security Advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron, Darroch assumed his post in January this year.

Amb. Darroch told the gathering, “As we look back on seventy years of the Special Relationship, it’s clear that the friendship between our two countries remains unparalleled and as essential as ever. Today, we are bound not only by our shared beliefs in democracy and freedom, but our partnerships in global security, trade, education and culture.”

Commentary on the historic context of Churchill’s speech was provided by Dr. Richard Aldous, Eugene Meyer Professor of British History at Bard College and the author of notable books on the post-war relationship between British and American leaders including Dwight Eisenhower and Harold MacMillan as well as Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. Program moderator was British playwright, director, and actor Kwame Kewi-Armah. Other guests included four British Members of Parliament who travelled from the United Kingdom to attend.

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Following the program and discussion, Amb. Darroch hosted a celebratory dinner for guests including senior staff of both Embassies, representatives of the U.S. State Department and selected foreign policy organizations in Washington. After toasting both Ambassadors with Churchill’s favorite Pol Roger champagne, Churchill Centre Executive Director Lee Pollock presented Amb. Darroch with a framed original ticket and invitation letter to the Fulton speech.

On behalf of The Churchill Centre, Pollock thanked both Ambassadors for their participation in the event and their ongoing support of the Centre’s work. He added: “It is a great pleasure to continue our collaboration with the Embassy in recognizing the historic legacy of Winston Churchill and the increasing relevance of his thoughts, words, and deeds to both Britain and America today.”

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