The Splendid and The Vile
Erik Larson
Contributed by Youlanda Mill
Part 1 Chapter 3
Summary

There was no question that for Great Britain to succeed, the manpower and support of the United States was paramount. The relationship between the two countries was rocky as the United States was adamant about maintaining neutrality. This was further solidified in the signing of the 1935 Neutrality Acts, which regulated the export of weapons and banned the transport of munitions on American ships to any nation at war.

American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was skeptical of the stability of the British Empire. On May 11th, FDR and his cabinet convened a meeting where Churchill became a topic of discussion. Was Churchill capable of leading Britain in the newly expanded war? This was the question FDR and his cabinet sought to answer, but FDR had communicated with Churchill before when he was the first lord of the Admiralty. This correspondence was kept private as not to sway public opinion.

Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes brought forth another potential flaw about Churchill—his drinking problem. This, however, would not be the first time Churchill’s drinking problem is brought to light. In 1940, Sumner Welles, the undersecretary of the U.S. State Department, conducted an international tour called the “Welles Mission,” which met with leaders from Berlin, London, Rome, and Paris to gauge the political conditions of Europe. In meeting with Churchill, Welles describes walking into Churchill’s office where he “was sitting in front of the fire, smoking a 24-inch cigar, and drinking whiskey and soda” (Larson, 78).

Above all else, America’s Ambassador to Britain, Joseph Kennedy, disliked the Prime Minister and continuously bombarded him with pessimistic reports. At one point, Kennedy told FDR about a comment Neville Chamberlain made in regards to Churchill in which he “has developed into a fine two-handed drinker and his judgment has never proved good” (Larson, 78). This presents difficulties because the absolute need for American involvement is strung upon Churchill’s perceived personality and flaws.

It was always Churchill’s mission to bring the United States into the war; if he failed to do so, the British defeat was seemingly inevitable. Dragging FDR into the fight and having the robust American War Machine helping the Allied effort was much needed.

Analysis

This chapter seems to focus immensely on the sanctity of trust amongst world leaders. The way one presents themselves and their ability to have self-control—in this case, the inability for Churchill to curtail his drinking impeded FDR, who was uncertain about Churchill to begin with. In a conversation with his son Randolph, Churchill talks about his plan to win the war, which was an uncommon belief amongst the citizenry, including his son, who felt a British victory would be nothing short of a miracle.

Furthermore, the statement from Churchill to “drag the United States in” posits a discussion on international affairs and the realistic nature of American neutrality in WWII. American involvement was inevitable; the line of communication from Downing Street to Washington was much needed at such peril. Lastly, Churchill had little knowledge of the American government, let alone Congress. He was unsure as to what the rules and procedures were for a declaration of war. During this period, the consistent monitoring of public opinion plays an immense role in American involvement.

Nonetheless, this chapter was necessary because a level of questionability lies within Churchill’s leadership ability. World leaders were curious about his stability and skeptical of his persona. Much of these sentiments were felt by his inner-circle and everyone else on Downing Street. Still, Churchill will have to come into the role exceeding everyone’s expectations during a crisis in which optimism is grim.

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