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A Moment in Time is a series of theatrical audio clips in the style of early news radio broadcasts, covering events from Henry VIII to Hiroshima. Created by Dan Roberts starting in 1993, they are short "moments in time" that capture the feel and timbre of 1940s wartime radio.

A Moment in Time Archives: The Wit of Winston Churchill

Volume: 1

Number: 18

Date: 02/15/2002

Lead: Of the major leaders of the twentieth century, none is thought to have equaled the speaking ability of Winston Churchill

Tag: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts.

Content: Many credit his radio speeches during the dark days of World War II as helping to fend off defeat when Britain stood alone against Hitler's war machine. Yet, Churchill's rhetorical gifts were not natural. In fact his speeches were carefully crafted and meticulously rehearsed. He lacked a university education and as a member of Parliament early in the century, he encountered glib and eloquent graduates of the Oxford Debate Union and at times was bested by them. From then on he would write his speeches out and memorize them.

Among the most effective tools in Churchill's rhetorical arsenal were his wit and sarcasm. In his multi-volume biography William Manchester recalls some of the most incisive of Churchill's encounters. Lady Astor, the American-born socialite and first female Member of Parliament got so exasperated at a dinner party one night that she told him: "Winston, if I were your wife I'd poison your soup." He replied, "Nancy, if I were your husband I'd drink it."

But perhaps it was Clement Attlee, the man who defeated him in the elections of 1945 and whose ego was large enough to enjoy the jabs, who endured some of Churchill's most infamous digs. He called Attlee "a sheep in sheep's clothing," and "a modest man with much to be modest about."

Labor Party policy after World War II led to the government taking over major sections of British industry. Churchill despised this scheme of nationalization and made it clear one day when he met Attlee in the House of Common's men's room. Attlee arrived first. When Churchill arrived, he stood as far away from him as possible. Attlee said, "Feeling standoffish today, are we, Winston?" Churchill said: "That's right. Every time you see something big, you want to nationalize it." Winston Churchill, Statesman and Wit. At the University of Richmond, this is Dan Roberts.

Humes, James C. Churchill: Speaker of the Century. New York: Stein and Day, 1980. Manchester, William. The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Visions of Glory, 1874-1932. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1983.

Taylor, Robert L. The Amazing Mister Churchill: An Informal Study of Greatness. New York: McGraw-Hill and Company, Inc., 1962.

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