RICHARD TOYE, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY WINSTON CHURCHILL: AN EXEMPLARY LEADER?

‘The Churchill Syndrome’ ‘the way in which politicians have often used the idea of Churchill as a means of self-validation’ –Toye 2008 Often used consciously, but not necessarily cynically Is it desirable for politicians to have role models/exemplars?

‘Reputational Entrepreneurs’ Heroic reputations can serve as a reference point to increase community solidarity Negative reputations help define what society is against Multiple interpretations always possible, e.g. Mbeki and Bush on Churchill ‘The maintenance of reputations requires self- interested custodians’ (Gary Alan Fine)

Churchill’s Reputation Assuming Churchill’s reputation deserved, still necessary to explain why it has survived and been used by others Acted as a reputational entrepreneur on his own behalf, e.g. memoirs Efforts not always received well, e.g. by Truman and Eisenhower Became less contentious post-retirement

Johnson, Wilson and Churchill LBJ did not attend Churchill’s funeral LBJ referred to Churchill ‘routinely and without qualification as “the greatest of all American citizens”’ (John Ramsden) LBJ compared Wilson to Churchill – wanted British help in Vietnam State Department stopped making comparison after withdrawal from east of Suez

From Nixon to Clinton Churchill’s name continually deployed as a ‘memory hook’ by UK and US politicians British keen to shore-up ‘special relationship’; US goodwill costs nothing Politicians reinforced Churchill’s iconic status by using it in support of their own agendas Became established as ideal leader (although historians try to show more complex picture) Little use by Major or Clinton

Tony Blair Sense of history Focused on Labour figures when addressing Party Invoked Churchill to American audiences Protective of Churchill’s memory

People said, why would you be interested in having the bust of an Englishman in your Oval Office. And the answer is because he was one of the great leaders in the twentieth century. He was an enormous personality. He stood on principle. He was a man of great courage. He knew what he believed. And he really kind of went after it in a way that seemed like a Texan to me […] He charged ahead, and the world is better for it.

One by one, we are finding and dealing with the terrorists, drawing tight what Winston Churchill called a ‘closing net of doom’ – George W. Bush, February 2004

A Contested Reputation Saddam Hussein (2003) promised to ‘fight them [the coalition forces] on the streets, from the rooftops, from house to house. We will never surrender’ Gore invoked Churchill in relation to climate change Obama returned Churchill bust – Mau Mau memories? Obama (April 2009) – ‘when London was being bombed to smithereens, [the British] had 200 or so detainees. And Churchill said, “we don't torture”’

Conclusion Churchill presented as almost superhuman; yet it is still suggested he should be imitated. Churchill’s non-exemplary behaviour ignored or explained away. Can we know if politicians are genuinely trying to imitate him? The ‘reform’ of exemplary leadership models seems unlikely to succeed.