King George VI Archives - Richard M. Langworth

May — WSC in the Cabinet Room, 10 Downing Street, 1940. Photo by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) for the Ministry of Information. (Crown copyright expired, Wikimedia Commons)

80 Years On: Winston Churchill Prime Minister, 10 May 1940

10 May 2020 Comments 0 Comments

The 10th of May…

In the splintering crash of this vast battle the quiet conversations we had had in Downing Street faded or fell back in one’s mind. However, I remember being told that Mr. Chamberlain had gone, or was going, to see the King, and this was naturally to be expected. Presently a message arrived summoning me to the Palace at six o’clock. It only takes two minutes to drive there from the Admiralty along the Mall. Although I suppose the evening newspapers must have been full of the terrific news from the Continent, nothing had been mentioned about the Cabinet crisis.…

“Nothing to Hide”: The Truth about Churchill’s Naked Encounter

27 May 2011 Comments 5 Comments

Stark naked

Churchill (stepping naked from his bath): “The Prime Minister of Great Britain has nothing to hide from the President of the United States.” **

[Also quoted as: “You see, Mr. President, I have nothing to hide.”]

Churchill allegedly said this during his visit to the White House in December-January 1941. The Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor and America was in the war. The encounter was confirmed by Churchill’s bodyguard, Walter Thompson, and one of his secretaries, Patrick Kinna. On the strength of their comments I included it as “likely” in Churchill By Himself.…