CHST 504 Assignment One – Winston Churchill and his impact on International Relations The political life of Winston Churchill was as vast and varied as his life was long. There is little question that Sir Winston Churchill is one the most fascinating and iconic figures of the 20th Century. There are numerous books about the life and times of Sir Winston Churchill with titles such as “Man of the Century”, and containing chapter headings like “the greatest living Englishman” (Ramsden, 2002, p.81). However, If his political life ended in 1936, his career marked by poor judgement and error would have been seen as “A study in Failure”. Churchill was a consummate politician and parliamentarian and the pace of his career only accelerated at age 62, an age when most politicians were looking forward to a peaceful retirement. It was during these years that Sir Winston Churchill gained the admiration and respect of the English speaking world and truly became the “Greatest Living Englishman”. Churchill’s impact on international relations, particularly with the United States in the years leading up to and including the war era had lasting effects, the consequences of which are felt to this day. Churchill is best known for his war leadership and the impact he had on events leading up to and including the Second World War. The most powerful and impactful aspect of Churchill’s role in international relations lay with his special relationships with great American Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, as well as the admiration he had garnered from the American people. Had it not been for Churchill’s strong diplomatic ties to the United States, strong oratory, impassioned speeches to the American public via radio broadcasts, numerous lecture tours, perhaps the American government would have maintained their safe distance from Germany and Hitler’s totalitarian regime in Europe. It was the impact of Churchill’s eloquent and persistent prose that lead to the eventual changing of the...