Winston Churchill

The last (or at least the latest) great Western leader.

Individuals such as Winston Churchill don't come along just once in a lifetime, they come along perhaps once every 500 years. His span of influence is unchallenged. When he first took his seat in Parliament in 1900 he took his oath to Queen Victoria. When he resigned his seat in Parliament in 1964 Lyndon Johnson was president. He served in cabinets presiding over two major world wars, was introduced to speak by Mark Twain, was invited to the White House by President McKinley and was given honorary citizenship by President John F. Kennedy. He was the epitome of the Renaissance man for in his lifetime he was a soldier, journalist, author, artist, sportsman, historian, orator, statesman, and stonemason. As a soldier he saw action on 4 continents - Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, narrowly escaping death three times. (He once said "Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result." Ronald Reagan used this quotation while being carried to the hospital after he was shot in 1981) As an author, he had more words published than Dickens and Sir Walter Scott combined. His royalties as a writer exceeded Hemmingway and Faulkner. He used no speechwriters and his wartime speeches belong in the realm of literature, and for them he won a Nobel Prize. As a historian he authored many volumes about both world wars and also wrote the epic "History of the English Speaking Peoples" as well as biographies of his father and his ancestor the Duke of Marlborough. As a sportsman he was a ranking English polo player until age 50, and he hunted in Africa, Scotland, and Italy. As a man of ideas he conceived the use of the tank to break the stalemate of trench warfare in World War I and pioneered the idea of the portable landing harbors for D Day. As an artist his landscapes won him entry into the Louvre and his art was complimented by Picasso even though he hated Churchill's conservative politics. As a paid - up trades union member, Churchill, as a stonemason, built the walls for Chartwell, his country manor house. As an orator, General Omar Bradley said "His speeches were worth an army" and John Kennedy said "He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle." Churchill's 1930's "Days of the Locust" speech predicted the rise of Nazi Germany and his "Iron Curtain" speech in 1946 alerted the world to the threat of the Communist Soviet Union. Many of his other writings and speeches came to pass. He predicted the 8 hour work day in 1901, the dominance of air power in the next world war and the superbomb in 1917, and the energy crisis in 1928. He was a supreme craftsman of the English language and no other figure in history has spawned so many tales. His love for his wife, his poodle, his cats, his addiction to whiskey, champagne and cigars are all part of his legacy. To know Churchill is to be in touch with a man of epic proportions and his abilities and achievements were equally as remarkable. Great individuals have come and gone and will continue to do so, but none in the last 500 years has left a mark equal to that of Winston Churchill. (Thanks goes to Mr. James C. Humes for specific dates and information)

there were many people in england at the beggining of world war 2 who would have made peace with hitler, especially after duncurk. a true leader who was important in leading the world through one its most difficult stages

Again, a bit overrated, and his conversion to the awareness of the actual dangers presented by the Nazis was much later than is generally acknowledged by pop historians.

Even though this may not be the criteria considered on this list, I consider Churchill to be one of the greatest government leaders ever. He was so inspirational and courageous during one of the most rying times in England's history.

He might not have been a cuddly grandfather figure but when a country needs to defend itself from a man who though nothing of killing six million men, women and children simply for being Jewish, the last thing you want is a Care Bear. Yes, Churchill was blunt, rough and dry but brilliance relies on an ability to lead, not on how attractive the package is. Whether one seeks to draw parallels to the present day from the lessons of Churchill is subject to how one views his legacy. What is for sure, however, is Churchill's loyalty to the British people and to a greater extent, freedom.

Undoubtedly, a vicious old reactionary....... But... Also the right man in the right place at the right time. His duel with Hitler through 1940 and early 41 (and there is no more suitable word for the confrontation, a duel of warfare, diplomacy, and rhetoric) saved his nation, and arguably much more besides. Its hard to get a better legacy than that.

I am sad that I have to rank WC as a three. Fifty years ago when he was still with us, I adored him. I read everything he wrote and dwelled on his words. Now I realize that he was an old imperialist but did many great things. Be warned, dear RIA posters, your lifetime attitudes probably will change as you get more grizzled!