Churchill's legacy - Alan Watson

Churchill's Legacy describes how Churchill wielded his influence in post-war politics to enable the restoration of Europe through two key speeches in 1946.
Having first helped bring victory to the Allies in 1945, Churchill went on to preserve the freedom of the world by gaining the support of the United States in the restoration of Europe.
In Fulton Missouri, Churchill alerted America to the reality of 'Uncle Joe' - a tyrant determined to dominate Europe at any cost. Churchill called for an Anglo-American alliance based on their shared values and the deterrent of America's possession of the atomic bomb.
Churchill also urged the Americans to recognise the debt they owed Britain for opposing Hitler in 1940.
In doing so, he contributed to the US thinking behind the need for the Marshall Plan.
In Zurich, Churchill boldly proposed a partnership between France and Germany: a United States of Europe. The hatred stirred up by the war had to be replaced by partnership for Europe to recover its economic vitality and regain its moral stature.
Together, the Anglo-American Alliance and a United States of Europe led by France and Germany would have the power to 'smite the crocodile' of Soviet ambition. To understand what Churchill intended with these two speeches requires perspective. The daring of his imagination and the scale of his architecture for a new Western Alliance was extraordinary. At the time, not many recognized the symmetry of what was proposed. At Churchill's funeral in 1965, commentators bemoaned the end of an era. In truth, Churchill was the catalyst of a new era-one built upon effective defence, economic revival, and European unity. His speeches have been added to UNESCO'S International Memory of the World Register.

Alan Watson is a broadcaster, author, High Steward of Cambridge University, former President of the Liberal Party, public relations consultant and Peer. An accomplished public speaker, presenter, campaigner and consultant, his fascination with Churchill has been lifelong. His enthusiasm for Britain at the interface of Churchill's three circles - Europe, America, and the English-speaking world - remains unmatched.

A fine and insightful tribute to my great-grandfather's political instincts and his courageous approach to difficult international matters. It also acts as a reminder of the need of vigilance and tenacity in defence of our hard-won freedoms.
Although Churchill died over fifty years ago, the foundations of our current peace and freedom are drawn from those two speeches of 1946
Randolph Churchill

Although they were attacked and denounced at the time, Winston Churchill's two great speeches of 1946 - delivered 4,700 miles away from each other - created the political architecture for the whole postwar
period. To a very great degree, the geostrategic world we inhabit today sprung from the words Churchill spoke at Fulton, Missouri and Zurich, Switzerland. Alan Watson's scholarly, well-written and penetrating analysis shows how that came about
Andrew Roberts

A masterpiece. The manner in which Alan Watson has engaged in such detailed scholarship and the style and power in which he has brought the past to life is most impressive.
Professor Ian White, Master of Jesus College Cambridge

With this fascinating and meticulously researched book Alan Watson reminds us of Churchill's great influence on world affairs even after he left office in 1945. Churchill was exhilarated by preparing his Fulton and Zurich speeches, and the result is that their power and reach is still of huge relevance to us today. This book is well worth reading
William Hague

As far as I am aware the word 'prophet' has never been used to describe Winston Churchill, but in these two remarkable and and insightful speeches given in 1946 we see Churchill's extraordinary prescience and forward-looking leadership. We are in Alan Watson's debt for reminding us of those tumultuous times.
Lord Carey of Clifton

It is to the great merit of Lord Watson that in Churchill's Legacy he has convincingly argued that the free World as a whole owes a great debt of gratitude to these two seminal speeches in 1946, delivered by an indefatigable promoter of man's inalienable right to freedom from tyranny and war
Thomas Kielinger

Lord Watson has managed to capture an important bit of history in the most wonderful way.
I am that bit the wiser
Vice Admiral Johnstone, NATO Commander Maritime Forces

This engaging, masterfully concise volume shows how Churchill, alarmed at Soviet incursions into Eastern Europe and frustrated by US reluctance to acknowledge the threat, shrugged off a devastating defeat at the polls to rally the free world
Richard Nye

Winston Churchill's speeches remind us how one man can turn the world around...A book for our times
Australian Financial Review

A fascinating account of the two celebrated speeches made by Winston Churchill in 1946
The House Magazine - Giles Radice