Churchill's Reputation Today with Dominic Sandbrook

[@alexcurtas2616]

There's not nearly enough Sandbrook content on KZbin so thank you for helping to remedy that. Great discussion!

[@dubsbridge]

@@alexcurtas2616 this right here! Exactly!

[@tommonk7651]

Churchill is clearly the most influential or important Britain of the 20th Century. Was he a flawed man? Sure, who isn't? He was a man of his time. His notions of the world reflect the thoughts of his generation - his age. But his influence is undeniable. Personally, I find him endlessly fascinating.... And Andrew Roberts' book "Walking With Destiny" is a fantastic read!

[@trevorcook9680]

My father who served in the Navy in ww2 and was no lover of the Tory establishment said about Churchill, when he broadcast on the radio even in the darkest days webeleived him, itwas a great boost to everyone

[@chrisstone7924]

Great discussion thank you

[@paulambry]

A brilliant discussion on Churchill, but then I'd expect no less from a guest such as Doctor Sandbrook. By the way, I think there IS one book that presents Churchill as some kind of faultless demi-god: Boris Johson's hagiography of Churchill. But then, I suspect Boris was writing as if looking into a mirror in anticipation of his own manifest destiny... alas, greatness was not to be his as these were not the times, nor was he the born with it, acheive it, or have it thrust upon him. Unlike Churchill who seemed to qualify for greatness in every regard, in spite of his faults and failings.

[@belaboured]

Churchill's example clearly shows that what is required is not just wisdom and experience, but great reserves of personal energy. The piano with the elephant sitting on it is not going to carry itself over the tightrope. I think most decent people sense that they had more of that energy to begin with, but agreed throughout their formation to sequester it to get along. It is the hardest thing in life to recover your own life force to any extent.

[@yj9032]

Churchill’s greatest underrated skill was his personal branding

[@frederickschwarz246]

I love Dr Sandbrook "real politische" approach to historiography - the underclass ultimately never really mattered, even in 1789 France or 1381 England. Ambition always filled the ruling class void.

[@minnyh]

I'm curious there are virtually no comments. Seems Winston Churchill is, while not cancelled, not easily able to be talked about. Personally he is and will remain to me ( born 1957) a titan of the 20th century who mandated the outcome of WW2 by his character, charisma and tenacity .

[@CB-fz3li]

@@paulthomas281 The thing is though what you just stated is not true.

[@KKTR3]

@@CB-fz3liwhat is truth in this day and age , every body has there own truth, just like you probably have.

[@WLDB]

Im much younger but totally agree. As they said in the talk he wasn't perfect but I'm not sure anyone ever claimed he was. The positives outweigh the negatives by a long shot.

[@trevorcook9680]

The millions of British men & women who died in WW2 had something to do with it & American & commonwealth troops as well

[@personalsigh]

It's a nice narrative to tell yourself but just not the case

[@sugarraywbc]

Wonderful and lucid

[@WLDB]

Enjoyed the talk.

[@Sean-p3o]

"I think a curse should rest on me - because I love this war. I know it's smashing and shattering the lives of thousands every moment - and yet - I can't help it - I enjoy every second of it." - Winston Churchill Written during 1914-19 Written in 1901 He then ignored his own words and was a chief cheerleader for war .A European war cannot be anything but a cruel, heartrending struggle, which, if we are ever to enjoy the bitter fruits of victory, must demand, perhaps for several years, the whole manhood of the nation, the entire suspension of peaceful industries, and the concentrating to one end of every vital energy in the community….a European war can only end in the ruin of the vanquished and the scarcely less fatal commercial dislocation and the exhaustion of the conquerors. Democracy is more vindictive than Cabinets. The wars of peoples will be more terrible than those of kings.”

[@winsomepickett7694]

I was certain that Dominic's response to the question of which historical figure deserves more attention would be Jim Callaghan.

[@frederickschwarz246]

Kindly Post Your Opinion: Who is a greater writer? Professor Sandbrook OR Sir Winston????! They're both BRILLIANT IMHO!!

[@smokingbrush2498]

I greatly admire Sandbrook, but Churchill is much more fallible and prone to misjudgement than the establishment image would have us believe. Like ersatz Tudor style villages and The Royal Family, Churchill is far more popular with our benighted cousins across than pond than here in the UK.

[@keithkaosHarv]

I love Sandbrook and want him to be my father, even though I’m a few months older than him.

[@heartofoak45]

Churchill lived all his life waiting for the moment in 1940, and for the next five years did on the whole a brilliant job of keeping the Country together and directing the War. He tended to interfere in the operational side of waging the war just a tad too much instead of allowing his Generals more scope. Once he had to face the Electorate after the war he had, by his own admission, very little to offer them. By the time his last opportunity came in 1951, he was ailing and almost irrelevant and in a very different age. One very different attitude of the Country towards Churchill compared to his ancestor The Duke of Marlborough was that a grateful Sovereign and Country bestowed a Dukedom on Marlborough along with the splendour of Blenheim. Churchill could hardly afford to keep Chartwell going until some very wealthy friends assisted him. I understand Churchill was offered an Earldom by the Queen, but he declined it, wishing to remain in the House of Commons as long as possible.

[@Sean-p3o]

Churchill was bankrolled through out his life by very wealthy individuals which was often pointed out during he’s life even in parliament Even he’s liberal colleagues would joke that he loved the cigars and Rolls-Royces but didn’t have the money for them. When he was put in the cabinet pre 1914 many of his colleagues were dismayed and worried because he was considered a reckless adventurer He’s roll in getting us into 1914 should be looked at far more seriously than it is today

[@Sean-p3o]

Dominic has said that Britain should not have gotten involved in the stupidity and catastrophe of 1914 Yet he’s ignoring Churchills behind the scenes actions in pushing us into that catastrophe

[@TheMegaMammoth]

We love you dominic

[@charlesfrith]

i have a man crush too cfx

[@KKTR3]

Amazing he’s at last poping up all over my KZbin. I do when I can find them often go to sleep listening to his TV programs

[@lmao1915]

Churchill and Thatcher the best ever

[@cameronjohns8639]

I always thought Sandbrook would look more like Matt Damon

[@charlesfrith]

I messaged Seamus and said, Dominic reminded me of him. Like you, this is my first glimpse, and he's similar in appearance but in cadence and humour, not forgetting delivery, he's exceptionally evocative. brilliant stuff

[@frederickschwarz246]

Did You mean Jason Bourne? He's got the character of SAS Legend Paddy Mayne

[@ComedyJakob]

All babies look like Winston Churchill, and Dominic.

[@philipbrooks402]

Yes Churchill was rude about Indians, Ghandi in particular. But then he was rude about everyone: Ramsay MacDonald, the 'boneless wonder;' the reputed exchange with Bessie Braddock, 'Winston you are drunk, Madam, you are ugly but I shall be sober in the morning;' My favourite, a spat between him and Nancy Astor 'Winston, if I were married to you I would put arsenic in your coffee, Madam, if I were married to you I would drink it.'

[@govindakeshavdas]

Hitler was pretty rude too . But alas he was the same with everyone .

[@philipbrooks402]

Denis Healey could be pretty rude too. Your point being?@@govindakeshavdas

[@philipbrooks402]

Six million reasons for starters.

[@Sean-p3o]

Ramsey Macdonald resigned over Britains entry into the stupidity of 1914 while Churchill the War Monger enjoyed the slaughter

[@Sean-p3o]

Interview Col Douglas Macgregor Ret Re Churchill

[@leo1961berlin]

There are two important facts which were not highlighted in the discussion. Yes, he showed poor judgement at certain stages of his career and had nasty streaks in his character. However, he was the only leading politician who got things right in the 1930s. The entire British Establishment was completely sold on the idea of appeasement. This included leading organs of opinion such as The Times. Churchill was the only figure who consistently warned about the threat coming from Nazi Germany and the need to rearm fast. It was because he was proved right on this key point, and his predecessor Chamberlain wrong, that he immediately gained exalted status. He was the prophet proved right and therefore quickly became the national saviour. The second factor in understanding his appeal to the general public is what he possessed which none of his contemporaries had to quite the same extent, namely his rhetorical qualities. Nobody had the power of his ringing declarations that were broadcast via radio, the range of metaphors he deployed in order to give his people comfort and above all inspiration, and the gravelly voice which was instantly recognisable. Churchill's speeches continue to be quoted to this very day. That can be said of very few politicians in the past. In that he has a similar standing to individuals like Martin Luther King ("I have a dream") or more recently Barack Obama ("Yes, we can!"). The collective war effort during WW2 was fuelled by the magnetic power and memorable phrases of Churchill's speeches.

[@patohare5254]

Hello Everyone - I'm fairly ill informed - can anyone help me with his contributions to Ireland? Did he have something to do with the Black and Tans? Also what was the "naughty document" - just a bit of craic after a couple of bottles of sherry? :)

[@augnkn93043]

He stopped Ireland being invaded by the Nazis. There is a popular myth in Ireland that he “send the Black and Tans” this is completely untrue. He did suggest the creation of a force to go after the murderers of policemen (the Auxiliaries) but he had no involvement in their creation or their administration or command.

[@Sean-p3o]

@@augnkn93043He had he’s fathers loathing of the Irish Stopped the Nazis invading Ireland Are you bloody serious Dev was the only world leader that went to a German Embassy and offered condolences when Hitler committed suicide

[@belaboured]

Best Thatcher? How about Patricia Hodge?

[@Bobmudu35UK]

I wonder if Dominic has changed his mind on the worst history book he's read after reading and critiquing Otto English' book Fake History. Im sure he said that was the worst book hes read!

[@samsaxe9164]

Yes we doooooo

[@charlesfrith]

i didn't think, i never dreamed, that i would live around, to see it all come true

[@matthewkeating5963]

Why no mention of the fact that Churchill achieved what he did while having a lifelong battle with the black dog.