November 04, 2005

The Churchill Wit

It's been a while, so I thought I would get out the Little Red Book with which Jim gifted me, and dispense a few gems.

From Page 24:

One of Winston Churchill’s arch opponents in the House of Commons was the dynamic Labour Party leader Aneurin Bevan. Sir Winston’s comments on Mr. Bevan frequently came in the most unexpected circumstances, as when he was speaking on the recognition of Communist China:

As we had great interest there and also on general grounds, I thought it would be good to have diplomatic representation.

But if you recognize anyone, it does not mean that you like him. We all, for instance, recognize the right honourable gentleman [Mr. Bevan].

July, 1952

From an earlier time, but on the same page, this zinger:

Toward the closing days of World War II, Aneurin Bevan pressed Prime Minister Churchill for information about the alleged installation of “reactionary governments in the liberated countries.” Mr. Churchill’s reply was to the point:

I should think it hardly possible to state the opposite of the truth with more precision.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at November 4, 2005 09:20 AM
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