It seems as though there are still new books published every month about Winston Churchill even though he died nearly 60 years ago. Some of the volumes are good, some are bad and some are intriguing because of the new perspective the book brings to the subject.
Such is the case of Robert Schmuhl’s biography “Mr. Churchill in the White House: The Untold Story of a Prime Minister and Two Presidents” (Liveright, 384 pgs., $32). And, by the way, this is good, very readable and crammed full of enjoyable anecdotes.
A favorite author, the late Stanley Weintraub, wrote extensively about the British prime minister’s first trip to the White House in December 1941 in his well-received book “Pearl Harbor Christmas” (2011). Bestselling author David McCullough also described the Franklin Roosevelt-Churchill White House meetings of 1941 in his short book, “In the Dark Streets Shineth: A 1941 Christmas Eve Story” (2010).
Schmuhl does, indeed, spotlight the Churchill’s first White House visit in December 1941, but he also writes extensively using much research about three other White House visits and four visits to Roosevelt’s country home, Hyde Park.
Later with “General Ike,” President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954 and 1959, Churchill’s stays at the White House became legendary.
Describing Churchill’s stays at Roosevelt’s White House, Michael O’Donnell of the Wall Street Journal wrote, “These visits were not social calls or empty pomp; they had a serious purpose. Churchill was there to coordinate details of wartime strategy and to cultivate Britain’s most important ally.”
Personal diplomacy was what Churchill was all about; the same was said of Roosevelt, Schmuhl writes.
Professor emeritus in American studies and journalism at the University of Notre Dame, Schmuhl provides a crisp analysis to put each visit into a world and multinational context, taking pains to focus on Churchill’s idiosyncrasies, demands and requests. As one White House staff said, he “acted as though he belonged there.”
Churchill’s first visit from late 1941 until mid-January 1942 was his longest and most involved. Staff members, Schmuhl relates, felt “Churchill just moved into the White House” to stay one week, but remained more than three weeks.
On one occasion, Schmuhl relates, Roosevelt went to Hyde Park for multiple days and left Churchill at the White House alone. He quotes British Gen. Hastings Ismay regarding Roosevelt’s departure: “On leaving (Roosevelt) said, in so many words, ‘Winston, please treat the White House as your home. Invite anyone you like to any meals, and do not hesitate to summon any of my advisers with whom you wish to confer at any time you wish.’”
First lady Eleanor Roosevelt had mixed feelings about Churchill personally, but very much disliked his routines at the White House, such as roaming the halls at all hours, Schmuhl explains. She also nudged her husband and the government to purchase Blair House, across Pennsylvania Avenue, as a “presidential guest house.”
Blair House was bought, but Churchill never stayed there, the author stresses, because “he wanted to stay close to power.”
“There will never be another series of visits (to a U.S president) as we saw with Winston Churchill,” Schmuhl writes.
Another readable novel
Retired William & Mary professor Robert Archibald is gradually making a name for himself as a novelist, writing one book a year, with his sixth and newest novel, “Fractured Frame” (Blue Fortune Enterprises, 273 pgs., $18.99).
To be honest when I heard about this book, I was hoping that Archibald had resurrected retired professor Phil Philemon, his erstwhile sleuth, and his covey of friends who in his first three books worked earnestly to bring killers to justice. Those novels were first-rate mysteries and page-turners.
Professor Phil did not return (hopefully he will in future Archibald tomes), but Archibald has done well and created another riveting story. Horace Narwhal committed a stupid crime in 1968 and instead of a jail sentence joins the Army. He fulfills his obligation, returns home to build a new life and along the way falls in love with a police detective.
On the other side is loner Kenny Sturgis, who works for his father. Then he meets Maybell Wilcox, who brings all kinds of fun, but she’s manipulative. Her actions eventually put him in a difficult situation — he’s charged with murder.
Archibald’s turns and twists are NOT predictable. You’ll just have to read and find out whether Narwhal and his police girlfriend come to Sturgis’ aide or not. It’s a goodie!
A children’s refuge in wartime France
Williamsburg writer Marty Parkes has put together a remarkable book, “The Children’s Front: The True Story of an Orphanage in Wartime France” (Indie Books International, 118 pgs., $20).
This is an unusual little book and should have been mentioned months ago. It is unusual in that it focuses on the orphanage that saved hundreds of displaced youngsters during World War II when families were separated by death, military occupation or simply economics.
If it were not for American Seymour Houghton, who saw the plights of these youths, many of them would not have survived either the war or its aftermath. Houghton established the Refuge des Petites and it became a leader in what was later known as The Children’s Front — a term for children who spent their formative years against dramatic, mostly negative events that impacted their childhood.
Parkes not only writes about the orphanage, but also includes a semi-biography of Houghton and how his parents met him. Parkes continues the relationship until Houghton dies many years after the war.
Parkes paints a portrait — often in simple black and white — of the trials and tribulations of starting and continuing to operate the orphanage. Beginning with the fall of France and the months before the U.S. entered the conflict, Houghton was in France at the orphanage.
He returned to his parents’ New York home just before the war. All the while he maintained contact with the orphanage he founded. Support all through the years came from American benefactors.
Parkes’ account of one of the amazing human-interest stories caught in the throes of conflict that should be part of the war’s history. And through this book, it is!
Have a comment or suggestion for Kale? Contact him at Kaleonbooks95@gmail.com.
