The Splendid and the Vile

Coveting power for power's sake was a “base” pursuit, he wrote, adding, “But power in a national crisis, when a man believes he knows what orders should be given, is a blessing.” He felt great relief. “At last I had the authority to give directions over the whole scene. I felt as if I were walking with destiny, and that all my past life had been but a preparation for this hour and for this trial....

Churchill. The Splendid and the Vile is the story of Winston Churchill, and Churchill is a person who embodies the greatest qualities of leadership in the world.

Churchill took the job as prime minister of England on the day Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands were overrun by Germany. France was near defeat. Much of Europe was Germany's.

A group of people waiting at the private entrance to No. 10 offered their congratulations and encouragement, with cries of “Good luck, Winnie. God bless you.” Churchill was deeply moved, Ismay saw. Upon entering the building, Churchill, never afraid to express emotion, began to weep. “Poor people, poor people,” he said. “They trust me, and I can give them nothing but disaster for quite a long time.”

The speech set a pattern that he would follow throughout the war, offering a sober appraisal of facts, tempered with reason for optimism. “It would be foolish to disguise the gravity of the hour,” he said. “It would be still more foolish to lose heart and courage.”