Home
Search transcripts:    Advanced Search
Notable New     Yorkers
Select     Notable New Yorker

Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
Photo Gallery
Transcript

Part:         Session:         Page of 912

President was getting ready to have some kind of a meeting with Churchill. I just came to that conclusion. I never speculated as to how or where. I just felt that the President was working up to the point where he felt that he must talk to Churchill, that he must meet him, that he must take the measure of the man himself and that he mustn't go any further with what he was doing until he had a personal conviction as to what Churchill was, would be and would do.

So when I heard they had met at Argentia, I was not at a surprised. That doesn't mean that I had any forewarning that they were going to meet at that time or at that place, but I thought that things were working themselves up to a meeting somewhere.

When Roosevelt returned, he liked Churchill very much and was enthusiastic about him. I realized that Churchill's spell was still good. When he was a young man, Churchill could cast a spell over people. You've no idea what a persuasive person he is, or how polite, how very cordial and considerate he can be when he wants to. He has a most winning way of winning people's affection and confidence. Of course, I think he's worth confidence myself. I think that although he undoubtedly expects people to follow him into the jaws of death that nevertheless he has got better judgment than most people have. He doesn't intend to ruin the lives of those who follow him, although they sometimes get ruined by accident. He's got good judgment. I remember





© 2006 Columbia University Libraries | Oral History Research Office | Rights and Permissions | Help