Churchill: The Power of Words

Sir Winston Churchill's impact upon the twentieth century is difficult to overestimate. A master orator and writer, Churchill's use of spoken and written words is explored in this exhibition that covers more than a half century of his life—from Victorian childhood letters to his parents to Cold War correspondence with President Eisenhower—and features some of his most famous wartime oratory. Drawn from the Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge, the presentation uses drafts, speaking notes, personal and official correspondence, public statements, and recordings from some of his most compelling speeches and broadcasts as lenses to examine the main events in Churchill's life. Of particular focus will be Churchill's lifelong relationship with the United States, homeland of his Brooklyn-born mother—from his first visit in 1895 to  his acceptance of honorary citizenship in 1963—and the ways in which he used the written and spoken word to develop, complement, and advance his political career.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Morgan and the Churchill Archives Centre have also launched DiscoverChurchill.org. The site, created to generate interest in Churchill among educators and a younger audience, features fun facts, videos, quotes, and links to Churchill-related content. Special gallery discussions for teens, designed and led by high school student Isaac Norwich, are offered on Wednesdays throughout July and August.