April 4, 2015

Finest Hour 133, Winter 2006-07

Page 24

By Philip and Susan Larson

Churchill was well received by the city of Chicago on all three of his visits, and fondly noted in local newspapers of the day. Churchill for his part avowed “there is a splendor in Chicago and a life thrust that is all its own”


Several weeks before the opening of the Chicago conference, Churchillians were invited to the City Council and office of Mayor Richard M. Daley for the presentation of a Churchill Proclamation, recognizing the conference’s historical significance and officially welcoming The Churchill Centre and its members, as matters of public record.

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Nearly two hundred Churchillians gathered along the shore of Lake Michigan to learn more of Churchill’s relationship with the city through his three visits in 1901, 1929 and 1932. His travels to Chicago, and America at large, are a snapshot of his maturation as a statesman and world leader. The conference theme, “Churchill in the Land of Lincoln,” embodied the conference focus.

The event was dedicated to the memory of friend and former Churchill Centre Treasurer Chuck Platt. The Centre’s prestigious Blenheim Award, which had already been voted to Chuck before his untimely death, was accepted by his wife Linda.

The grand dame Drake Hotel, crowning glory of Michigan Avenue’s “magnificent mile”โ€”the only remaining Chicago hotel that can claim Churchill as a guest (1929)โ€”was an ideal conference venue. Events began Wednesday evening with a welcome reception hosted by President Bill Ives. Ambassador Paul Robinson, Chairman Emeritus of Trustees, highlighted the key subjects that would be pursued. The conversation of members was silenced for a few minutes of stirring bagpipe music by the Shannon Rovers. Edwina Sandys donated two of her signed Churchill prints, which were raffled to benefit the Centre.

Thursday morning dawned with a full ballroom eagerly waiting to compare the leadership and oratory styles of Churchill and Lincoln. Frank Williams, founder of the Lincoln Forum and chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, began with a detailed review of Churchill, Lincoln and their war generals. Col. David Jablonsky, professor of National Security Affairs in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the Army War College, continued the morning session with an outstanding look at the two men and their generals.

The second session continued on the theme as Harold Holzer, leading authority on the political culture of the Civil War and co-chairman of the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, led the assembly into the details of the styles of the two men. Steven Hayward, adjunct professor of political science at Georgetown University, further delineated and contrasted the two leaders. Following each of the sessions, an open microphone allowed questions and observations from participating Churchillians, students and friends.

At luncheon in the elegant French Room, members heard the thoughtful words of former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar. Awards and thanks were presented to outgoing governors Paul Courtenay, Phil Larson and James Thomas. Bill Ives then thanked us on behalf of all members for chairing the conference. Gary Garrison, the Centre s Local Affairs Coordinator, announced that New England Churchillians, represented by their director Joe Hern, was the recipient of the Action This Day Award for the third consecutive year of outstanding local activities.

Thursday afternoon featured John Ramsden, Professor of Modern History at Queen Mary University of London, on his established area of expertise, the “Making of the Churchill Legend.” The open microphone was crowded as delegates exchanged views.

Friday was an exciting day for those who elected to travel west of Chicago to Cantigny, the 500+ acre estate of Col. Robert R. McCormick, former editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. Though a renowned Anglophobe, McCormick was also a friend of Churchill for over forty years (see FH 131: 33-37). The estate includes McCormick’s English manor-style home, the First Division (Big Red One) Museum, and enchanting gardens. Following lunch, General David L. Grange, president and CEO of the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation and former commanding general of the First Infantry Division, addressed 120 delegates. He gave a candid current analysis of the United States military strategy, including his opinions on the Middle East. Those who chose not to spend the day at Cantigny were free to enjoy the treasures of Chicago.

The unique Gold Coast Room of the Drake Hotel was the venue for a black tie dinner Friday night. Members dined on a carefully researched menu which included two dishes offered to the visiting Churchill party in 1929: Chicken Wellington and Peach Melba. The Loyal Toasts were offered by Paul Courtenay, Marcus Frost and James Muller. One of our own, Laurence S. Geller, co-chairman of The Churchill Centre’s Board of Trustees and president & CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts in Chicago, regaled the after-dinner audience with his personal journey in becoming a Churchillian, which began in war-torn London, and his first impressions of Churchill as a young boy. He brought his audience forward with memories which paralleled world events and charted his own experience as a soldier in the Israeli army, whom his mates nicknamed, “Laurence of Arabia”โ€”and concluded with a clarion call to Churchillians: that Winston Churchill’s wisdom and experience is never more relevant than it is today.

The Bugle Boy/USO Band entertained the group with their version of a USO show, complete with numbers reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters, and then offered dance band music of the era. The dance floor was crowded with enthusiastic Churchillians “showing their stuff.” When the band wound down at nearly 11:30 pm, some forty people were still on the dance floor.

Saturday morning, while conference delegates shopped or visited museums, James Muller, of the University of Alaska Anchorage and chairman of the Centre’s academic advisers, welcomed students and their teachers to a special session designed for them. He gave an overview of Churchill’s life and accomplishments while inviting students to offer details or ask questions. The group was spirited, and very interested in learning more about the great man. They visited and exchanged ideas over box lunches. Each received a signed copy of Celia Sandys’ Churchill, and a conference program.

On Saturday afternoon students joined the general session to hear us discuss “Churchill’s Chicago Affinity.” We gave eyewitness accounts of his three visits to Chicago, which we had researched over a five-year period, using newspaper and museum archives to weave a story of lost material with a “you are there” approach. The object was to transfer the audience to days gone by and to Winston Churchill’s visits to Chicago and America. (See also FH 118 & 131.)

James Muller took to the stage to discuss the now-rare four-volume Collected Essays of Sir Winston Churchill, the only collection of Churchill’s periodical articles in volume form. He was joined by Paul Alkon, professor of English and American Literature at the University of Southern California and author of a new book, Winston Churchill’s Imagination. Jim and Paul took questions following their presentation.

Michael Maibach, president and CEO of the European-American Business Council and sponsor of the Sir Martin Gilbert Essay Competition, announced and presented awards to the student essay contest winners. Commander Joseph E. Troiani, USNR, instructor on National Security at Northwestern University and Lewis University, served as program coordinator. James Kirchick of Yale University won the college division first prize of $1000; Sasha Rousseau of Johns Hopkins University won $250 as runner-up. Identical prizes were awarded in the high school division: first prize was won by Michael Nitz of McHenry High School West Campus. There were two runners-up: Matthew Palaparthi of Hyman G. Rickover Naval Academy, Chicago Public Schools system; and Bethany Reed of Thousand Oaks High School in California.

Richard Langworth, editor of Finest Hour, who is compiling a book of 5000 Churchill quotations, Winston Churchill by Himself, discussed his 2008 work with examples of quotations, including several ascribed to Churchill that he never uttered (some he wished he did). During the vigorous floor discussion Danny Mander, who had actually guarded Churchill and Eden during the Teheran Conference in 1943, introduced some new material unheard of by the audience, and his account is now to be published in Finest Hour. Christopher Hebb wrapped up the daytime sessions by describing details of the Vancouver conference in 2007.

Saturday’s dinner and grand finale was held at the historic and stately Union League Club, site of Churchill’s 1932 speech, “The World Economic Crisis,” to 1500 people who had spilled out into the hallways to hear him. The Club is noted for an art collection second only to The Art Institute in Chicago. The Churchill Centre presented a plaque to the Club marking Churchill’s historic speech, and also will be contributing a special copy of the forthcoming new edition of Churchill’s The River War. This limited, leather bound edition is also to be presented to conference benefactors.

Following dinner, Finest Hour’s editor offered a history of the speech and the circumstances that caused Churchill to deliver it, on the American journey where he was nearly killed by a car crossing Fifth Avenue in New York. Chicago’s British Consul General, Andrew Seaton, then rose to comment on the continued relevance and vibrancy of the “special relationship” between the English-speaking peoples Churchill loved. As we dispersed for the final time, a few lingering for the traditional cigars and cognac, we bid fond good-byes to fellow Churchillians at the close of a memorable event.

As we put the final period on the 23rd International Churchill Conference, we wish to thank those who stood by our side and made it all come to pass. We particularly thank John and Chrissy Stoffer, Phil and Laura Fiskow, Joe and Terri Troiani, Catherine Sommers, Bill Ives, Dan Myers and Richard Langworth. Presenters, benefactors, student sponsors, students and of course the loyal Churchillians who journeyed to Chicago have our deep and lasting thanks.

Essay Contest Winners

College Division. Winner: James Kirchick, Yale University (Professor Theodore Bromund). Honorable mention: Sasha G. Rousseau, Johns Hopkins University (Professor Stephen Dixon).

High School Division. Winner: Michael Nitz, McHenry, 111. High School West Campus (Teacher Cary Waxier). Honorable mention: Matthew Paul Palaparthi, Rickover Naval Academy (Teacher Cdr. Donna Fournier); Bethany Reed, Thousand Oaks, Calif. High School (Teacher John Daykin).

Conference Benefactors

Charles & Mary Anne Bobrinskoy, Gary & Beverly Bonine, Marcus & Molly Frost, Christopher & Dorothy Hebb, William & Virginia Ives, Philip & Susan Larson, Ruth Lavine, Carole Martyn, John & Susan Mather, Linda Plan, Dr. Joseph Troiani & Terri Badgett-Troiani, Raymond L. Wiesner.

Student Sponsors

Paul & Ellen Alkon, James B. Bennett, Gary & Beverly Bonine, Ronald J. & Janet Broida (2), Paul & Carolyn Brubaker (2), Mr. & Mrs. William R. Dales (3), Samuel Dodson, Robert H. Dunn, Marcus & Molly Frost, Gary Garrison (2), Bill and Virginia Ives (2), J. Willis Johnson, Barbara & Richard Langworth, Philip & Susan Larson, Richard S. Lowry, Mr. & Mrs. Frank C. Marshall (2), Drs. John and Susan Mather, Daniel & Eileen Myers, Mel Prideaux, Daniel & Suzanne Sigman, John Spooner, Richard R. & Jenny K. Streiff (3), Dr. Peter T. Suzuki, Cdr. Joseph E. Troiani.


The Larsons co-chaired the 2006 Churchill Conference and are directors of the Winston S. Churchill Friends of Greater Chicago.

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