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Mr. Churchill in the White House: The Untold Story of a Prime Minister and Two Presidents
Winston Churchill’s frequent stays at the White House inform this illuminating account of America and Britain’s “Special Relationship” during World War II and the 1950s. Scores of biographies have been written about Winston Churchill, yet none examine his frequent, sometimes furtive, trips to the White House, where he resided for weeks on end―the (often unclothed) visitor who “dropped out of the sky.” These extended visits during his two terms as prime minister were spirited, even entertaining, occasions. Yet, in retrospect, they take on a new level of diplomatic significance, demonstrating just how influential a foreign leader can become in shaping American foreign policy. Drawing on years of research, Robert Schmuhl not only contextualizes the days Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower spent together, but also vividly portrays the individual characters, from Churchill himself―a devoted fisherman who never stopped “angling”―to a resentful Eleanor Roosevelt. Evoking an era far different from today, Mr. Churchill in the White House becomes an insightful work for our own fractious times. 25 black-and-white illustrations throughout
384 pages, Hardcover
Published July 2, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 20, 2025
I am a devoted admirer of Sir Winston Churchill who was a master of the English language, a talented author, a leader when Britain was in it's darkest hour, and a rather complicated man. This book looks at his twelve visits as PM to the US White House under two Presidents, FDR and Lyndon Johnson.
Although he was all the things that I mentioned above, he was a terrible guest who followed his own rules. He roamed the halls in the middle of the night, slept late, did much of his work in bed, drank like a fish but didn't appear drunk,, and usually wore his famous "siren suit"while others were wearing a suit and tie.
Elanor Roosevelt, wife of FDR, could hardly bear him but FDR was rather fond of him. They worked well together during the wartime visits as they cussed and discussed plans for both military and diplomatic issues. Each had to give and take but usually came to a consensus without rancor.
I enjoyed this first half of the book but wasn't particularly taken with the second half which covered the LBJ visits. Other readers may not feel the same but I am particularly interested in WWII history and the behind the scenes information between these two world leaders.
This history is well worth reading and can sometimes give you a chuckle regarding Churchill's wit and lifestyle habits.
Although he was all the things that I mentioned above, he was a terrible guest who followed his own rules. He roamed the halls in the middle of the night, slept late, did much of his work in bed, drank like a fish but didn't appear drunk,, and usually wore his famous "siren suit"while others were wearing a suit and tie.
Elanor Roosevelt, wife of FDR, could hardly bear him but FDR was rather fond of him. They worked well together during the wartime visits as they cussed and discussed plans for both military and diplomatic issues. Each had to give and take but usually came to a consensus without rancor.
I enjoyed this first half of the book but wasn't particularly taken with the second half which covered the LBJ visits. Other readers may not feel the same but I am particularly interested in WWII history and the behind the scenes information between these two world leaders.
This history is well worth reading and can sometimes give you a chuckle regarding Churchill's wit and lifestyle habits.
May 13, 2024
Another important book on one of my favorite statesmen in history: Churchill. We learn about his considerable influence on American foreign policy in this beautifully written and meticulously researched marvel. Highly recommended!
September 3, 2024
In this book I learned that Winston Churchill was a terrible house guest, but he’s still among the top three historical figures I want to have dinner with, lol.
“He could do justice to a bottle of brandy,” FDR said about Churchill’s drinking.
🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
“He could do justice to a bottle of brandy,” FDR said about Churchill’s drinking.
🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
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June 5, 2024Thank you to Netgalley and Liveright for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I, sadly, DNF'd this book at around 11%. I am currently trying to read more historical books and I found the focus of this one intriguing and decided to give it a go. Unfortunately, the way the book skips around in time, and characters, and elaborates on the smallest details led me to lose interest in this topic quickly and dread the idea of picking this up again. I found the pacing to be slow and the writing a bit rough to get through. I kept glancing down at the percentage point and was disappointed that I hadn't made further progress. All these reasons have led me to DNF Mr. Churchill in the White House. Maybe I will give this book another chance in the future, but it is unlikely.
I, sadly, DNF'd this book at around 11%. I am currently trying to read more historical books and I found the focus of this one intriguing and decided to give it a go. Unfortunately, the way the book skips around in time, and characters, and elaborates on the smallest details led me to lose interest in this topic quickly and dread the idea of picking this up again. I found the pacing to be slow and the writing a bit rough to get through. I kept glancing down at the percentage point and was disappointed that I hadn't made further progress. All these reasons have led me to DNF Mr. Churchill in the White House. Maybe I will give this book another chance in the future, but it is unlikely.
December 22, 2024
This Week on History Happy Hour(120824): From his first visit in 1941 to his last one eighteen years later, Winston Churchill made himself at home in the White House, sometimes staying for weeks at a time. These extended stays at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue changed the course of history. We will explore this story with Robert Schmuhl, author.
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January 10, 2025they hate to see a dual citizen diva with a british dad and american mom winning
August 14, 2024
“Mr. Churchill in the White House” recounts Winston Churchill’s 12 extended visits to the Executive Mansion from 1941 until 1958. While it is the product of extensive research and fine writing and is illuminative in many respects, it sometimes seemed to me incomplete or lacking in context.
First, it’s important to note what this history is not. It is not a gossipy tell-all full of salacious details. Yes, it portrays some interesting personal quirks and foibles (mostly Churchill's) and various personality conflicts. But it’s not a “muckraker.”
Nor is it a biography of any of its principal subjects or a detailed history of WWII or the Cold War. Yes, many readers may glean a good sense of who Churchill was, and some sense of FDR’s character. But those hoping to learn about Churchill, FDR, and Eisenhower should perhaps seek biographies devoted exclusively to each man.
Nor does it give readers much of an inside look at what life in the White House was like under FDR or Eisenhower, (except for “the Rose Bedroom,” now known as “The Queen’s Bedroom,” where Churchill habitually stayed and very much enjoyed its air-conditioning unit.)
Instead, it explores the relationship between Churchill and FDR, and between Churchill and Eisenhower, by examining their times together at the White House and other presidential retreats. What was the extent and nature of the friendship between Winston and Franklin? Were they as close as they seemed? Winston and Ike worked well together as Prime Minister and Supreme Allied Commander during the war. Did that continue when Ike became president? What did Churchill want, first from Roosevelt and then from Eisenhower? What did they want or need from Winston? What was the relationship between the United States and Great Britain? Was it wholly a “special relationship” or were there conflicts? And how did Winston regard the United States? What did he think was its place in the world and Britain’s position in relation to her?
These and other questions are what author Robert Schmuhl seeks to explore in this 270-page history based on extensive research. Sources relied on include memoirs, press accounts, interviews, histories, personal diaries, White House logs, and materials contained in presidential libraries and various museums. Some of its content is devoted to separating fact from fiction and legend. For example, Mr. Schmuhl devotes a good twenty pages to an incident in which FDR came to Churchill’s bedroom to sound him out about the phrase “United Nations,” which FDR had just thought up, only to find Churchill in the altogether and ultimately joking that he had nothing to hide from the US president. There are many retellings of that incident—and thus many variations—and Mr. Schmuhl runs them all down for us in an apparent effort to be complete and find the exact truth.
However, I found other aspects of the history incomplete. For example, on several occasions Mr. Schmuhl refers to disagreements and conflicts arising between the US and Great Britain, or between their leaders, but does not fully explain the event or issue dividing them, leaving it to the reader to check other sources. And while we’re shown some of FDR’s complex character, again, we are not told all that much about Eisenhower’s.
Nevertheless, Mr. Schmuhl does include a large number of interesting details. For example, who knew that Roosevelt’s armored presidential limousine had once belonged to Al Capone? Or that there was a tunnel running from the White House to the Treasury building and its gold vault? Or that Eleanor Roosevelt wasn’t thrilled to have Churchill as a houseguest (since she strongly disagreed with some of his and England’s policies and because she didn’t appreciate some of his more eccentric habits). Or that thousands of cigars arrived at the White House as gifts for Churchill, none of which he smoked and all of which had to be thrown away due to concerns over poisoning. Or that FDR was a man who may never have had a close friend, Mrs. Roosevelt included.
All in all, an interesting history most suitable for those who already have a good amount of knowledge about Churchill, Roosevelt, and Eisenhower, the times during which they lived, and the issues they were compelled to grapple with.
First, it’s important to note what this history is not. It is not a gossipy tell-all full of salacious details. Yes, it portrays some interesting personal quirks and foibles (mostly Churchill's) and various personality conflicts. But it’s not a “muckraker.”
Nor is it a biography of any of its principal subjects or a detailed history of WWII or the Cold War. Yes, many readers may glean a good sense of who Churchill was, and some sense of FDR’s character. But those hoping to learn about Churchill, FDR, and Eisenhower should perhaps seek biographies devoted exclusively to each man.
Nor does it give readers much of an inside look at what life in the White House was like under FDR or Eisenhower, (except for “the Rose Bedroom,” now known as “The Queen’s Bedroom,” where Churchill habitually stayed and very much enjoyed its air-conditioning unit.)
Instead, it explores the relationship between Churchill and FDR, and between Churchill and Eisenhower, by examining their times together at the White House and other presidential retreats. What was the extent and nature of the friendship between Winston and Franklin? Were they as close as they seemed? Winston and Ike worked well together as Prime Minister and Supreme Allied Commander during the war. Did that continue when Ike became president? What did Churchill want, first from Roosevelt and then from Eisenhower? What did they want or need from Winston? What was the relationship between the United States and Great Britain? Was it wholly a “special relationship” or were there conflicts? And how did Winston regard the United States? What did he think was its place in the world and Britain’s position in relation to her?
These and other questions are what author Robert Schmuhl seeks to explore in this 270-page history based on extensive research. Sources relied on include memoirs, press accounts, interviews, histories, personal diaries, White House logs, and materials contained in presidential libraries and various museums. Some of its content is devoted to separating fact from fiction and legend. For example, Mr. Schmuhl devotes a good twenty pages to an incident in which FDR came to Churchill’s bedroom to sound him out about the phrase “United Nations,” which FDR had just thought up, only to find Churchill in the altogether and ultimately joking that he had nothing to hide from the US president. There are many retellings of that incident—and thus many variations—and Mr. Schmuhl runs them all down for us in an apparent effort to be complete and find the exact truth.
However, I found other aspects of the history incomplete. For example, on several occasions Mr. Schmuhl refers to disagreements and conflicts arising between the US and Great Britain, or between their leaders, but does not fully explain the event or issue dividing them, leaving it to the reader to check other sources. And while we’re shown some of FDR’s complex character, again, we are not told all that much about Eisenhower’s.
Nevertheless, Mr. Schmuhl does include a large number of interesting details. For example, who knew that Roosevelt’s armored presidential limousine had once belonged to Al Capone? Or that there was a tunnel running from the White House to the Treasury building and its gold vault? Or that Eleanor Roosevelt wasn’t thrilled to have Churchill as a houseguest (since she strongly disagreed with some of his and England’s policies and because she didn’t appreciate some of his more eccentric habits). Or that thousands of cigars arrived at the White House as gifts for Churchill, none of which he smoked and all of which had to be thrown away due to concerns over poisoning. Or that FDR was a man who may never have had a close friend, Mrs. Roosevelt included.
All in all, an interesting history most suitable for those who already have a good amount of knowledge about Churchill, Roosevelt, and Eisenhower, the times during which they lived, and the issues they were compelled to grapple with.
September 28, 2024
Mr. Churchill in the White House, 2024
Robert Schmuhl
Qué buen libro. Una historia muy especial sobre un personaje que logró cambiar el mundo en el siglo XX:
Churchill ha sido una de las personas más inteligentes del mundo contemporáneo que además apreciaba el arte, la historia, la literatura y era apasionado en todo lo que se comprometía. Dejó huella en cada uno de estos espacios y sembró las bases para que los países trabajaran en equipo si querían lograr las metas de bienestar y de enfrentamiento efectivo a enemigos poderosos, como lo fue en el caso de la terrible amenaza de Alemania, Italia y Japón.
Era terco e insistente, lograba sembrar sus puntos de vista con inteligencia, comunicación, amabilidad y una gran facilidad de palabra que siempre describía de manera concreta lo que quería.
Para lograr el éxito de ganar la Segunda Guerra Mundial le dedicó esa época desu vida a consolidar una alianza con los Estados Unidos —en particular con el presidente Roosevelt— y prácticamente en esos tensos momentos fue un habitante más de la Casa Blanca por las numerosas semanas que residió allí.
Tenia gran claridad de las amenazas y la tragedia que hubiera sido una derrota, que en los primeros años del conflicto se alcanzaba a vislumbrar. Insistió en que los aliados dejaran a un lado sus intereses particulares y se dedicaran a un fin común de lograr la paz. Pronosticó, de manera increíble, lo que iba suceder basado en las derrotas que los británicos alcanzaron a tener a los inicios. Y en el conocimiento que tenia de los tiranos de ese triángulo infame. Describió con claridad el panorama que vivían, planteó la estrategia de defensa y ataque, fue realista en definir un proyecto a largo plazo basado en las experiencias de los grandes generales que los acompañaron en esos difíciles momentos y fue claro, manejó inteligente y sabiamente la información a sus conciudadanos y dirigentes para no crear ilusiones innecesarias ni hacerles pensar que lo buscado sería fácil de lograr.
Fue muy particular en su vida intima poco tradicional, siempre combinando sus preocupaciones con sus distracciones. Le encantaba la literatura —fue premio Nobel de literatura—, la buena vida —fumaba varios puros acompañados de su buen vaso de whisky—, la levantada al final de la mañana y a partir de esos momentos desarrollaba una actividad intensa e inagotable.
Es una historia fascinante y única, muy bien documentada, que entrega muchas enseñanzas entre líneas de cómo se logran hazañas imposibles con persistencia, liderazgo, mucho trabajo en equipo y sin pensar con el deseo sino con la cruda realidad. Los relatos de sus actividades y relacionamiento con Roosevelt, Truman y Eisenhower son muy bien elaborados y ayudan a entender la importancia que tuvo durante toda su vida par buscar un mundo mas humano y solidario.
Los anexos de sus tres discursos que elaboró en La Casa Blanca y presentó al congreso los Estados Unidos en dos ocasiones y a la Universidad de Harvard cuando recibió un titulo ad honorem, son documentos de referencia exquisitos que describen el pasado, el presente y el futuro de lo que vivió y que , además, en sus predicciones fueron casi exactos los resultados.
Vale la pena
Robert Schmuhl
Qué buen libro. Una historia muy especial sobre un personaje que logró cambiar el mundo en el siglo XX:
Churchill ha sido una de las personas más inteligentes del mundo contemporáneo que además apreciaba el arte, la historia, la literatura y era apasionado en todo lo que se comprometía. Dejó huella en cada uno de estos espacios y sembró las bases para que los países trabajaran en equipo si querían lograr las metas de bienestar y de enfrentamiento efectivo a enemigos poderosos, como lo fue en el caso de la terrible amenaza de Alemania, Italia y Japón.
Era terco e insistente, lograba sembrar sus puntos de vista con inteligencia, comunicación, amabilidad y una gran facilidad de palabra que siempre describía de manera concreta lo que quería.
Para lograr el éxito de ganar la Segunda Guerra Mundial le dedicó esa época desu vida a consolidar una alianza con los Estados Unidos —en particular con el presidente Roosevelt— y prácticamente en esos tensos momentos fue un habitante más de la Casa Blanca por las numerosas semanas que residió allí.
Tenia gran claridad de las amenazas y la tragedia que hubiera sido una derrota, que en los primeros años del conflicto se alcanzaba a vislumbrar. Insistió en que los aliados dejaran a un lado sus intereses particulares y se dedicaran a un fin común de lograr la paz. Pronosticó, de manera increíble, lo que iba suceder basado en las derrotas que los británicos alcanzaron a tener a los inicios. Y en el conocimiento que tenia de los tiranos de ese triángulo infame. Describió con claridad el panorama que vivían, planteó la estrategia de defensa y ataque, fue realista en definir un proyecto a largo plazo basado en las experiencias de los grandes generales que los acompañaron en esos difíciles momentos y fue claro, manejó inteligente y sabiamente la información a sus conciudadanos y dirigentes para no crear ilusiones innecesarias ni hacerles pensar que lo buscado sería fácil de lograr.
Fue muy particular en su vida intima poco tradicional, siempre combinando sus preocupaciones con sus distracciones. Le encantaba la literatura —fue premio Nobel de literatura—, la buena vida —fumaba varios puros acompañados de su buen vaso de whisky—, la levantada al final de la mañana y a partir de esos momentos desarrollaba una actividad intensa e inagotable.
Es una historia fascinante y única, muy bien documentada, que entrega muchas enseñanzas entre líneas de cómo se logran hazañas imposibles con persistencia, liderazgo, mucho trabajo en equipo y sin pensar con el deseo sino con la cruda realidad. Los relatos de sus actividades y relacionamiento con Roosevelt, Truman y Eisenhower son muy bien elaborados y ayudan a entender la importancia que tuvo durante toda su vida par buscar un mundo mas humano y solidario.
Los anexos de sus tres discursos que elaboró en La Casa Blanca y presentó al congreso los Estados Unidos en dos ocasiones y a la Universidad de Harvard cuando recibió un titulo ad honorem, son documentos de referencia exquisitos que describen el pasado, el presente y el futuro de lo que vivió y que , además, en sus predicciones fueron casi exactos los resultados.
Vale la pena
May 25, 2024
Thank you W.W. Norton & Company for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. No review was required in return for an advance reading copy and no review was promised.
Mr. Book just finished Mr. Churchill In The White House: The Untold Story Of A Prime Minister And Two Presidents, by Robert Schmuhl.
I was initially uncertain whether I really wanted request this book. While I am a big fan of history, my interest is almost exclusively limited to US history. Books on other areas of history are rarely able to hold my attention. But, since the book wasn’t merely about Churchill, but rather his relationships with Presidents Roosevelt and Eisenhower, I decided it was worth taking the time to check it out. And I am glad that I did.
I was unaware that Churchill’s first trip to the White House actually occurred all the way back in December 1900. At the time, the 26-year-old Churchill had just written a best-seller. was in United States on a lecture tour and had recently been elected to the House of Commons for the first time. Churchill worked with Senator Depew (R-NY) who took him to meet the newly reelected President McKinley. Of course, that visit did not generate much notice.
I always enjoy the little tidbits that can be found in history books, such as when Churchill arrived a couple of weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he vetoed Eleanor Roosevelt’s choice of him staying the Lincoln Bedroom, since he preferred the Rose Bedroom.
Another good tidbit I don’t recall previously seeing was Churchill had said that he “cannot help reflecting that if my father had been American and my mother British, instead of the other way round, I might have gotten here [Congress or the presidency] on my own.” He was probably right, especially if he had meant Congress (it’s uncertain from the context which one he was referring to).
One of the highlights of the book was a story that Churchill told how he had ordered that a machine gun should be mounted to his lifeboat, in case the ship he’s on was ever sunk by the Germans. When told, by Averell Harriman that talk about an attack scared him, the Prime Minister responded “You must have with me in the boat and see the fun.” It’s stories like that make books like this one so enjoyable.
There were plenty of good insights into the Roosevelt/Churchill relationship as well as many stories that helped to personalize the two leaders. The book did not go into as much detail about Churchill’s relationship with President Eisenhower, the other president that the subtitle refers to. But, that was because there wasn’t as much to their relationship as there was to the former.
Mr. Book gave this a B+. Amazon, Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, a B+ equates to 4 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at NetGalley and Goodreads. It will also be posted at Amazon, as soon as the book is released to the public on July 2.
Mr. Book originally read this on May 25, 2024.
Mr. Book just finished Mr. Churchill In The White House: The Untold Story Of A Prime Minister And Two Presidents, by Robert Schmuhl.
I was initially uncertain whether I really wanted request this book. While I am a big fan of history, my interest is almost exclusively limited to US history. Books on other areas of history are rarely able to hold my attention. But, since the book wasn’t merely about Churchill, but rather his relationships with Presidents Roosevelt and Eisenhower, I decided it was worth taking the time to check it out. And I am glad that I did.
I was unaware that Churchill’s first trip to the White House actually occurred all the way back in December 1900. At the time, the 26-year-old Churchill had just written a best-seller. was in United States on a lecture tour and had recently been elected to the House of Commons for the first time. Churchill worked with Senator Depew (R-NY) who took him to meet the newly reelected President McKinley. Of course, that visit did not generate much notice.
I always enjoy the little tidbits that can be found in history books, such as when Churchill arrived a couple of weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he vetoed Eleanor Roosevelt’s choice of him staying the Lincoln Bedroom, since he preferred the Rose Bedroom.
Another good tidbit I don’t recall previously seeing was Churchill had said that he “cannot help reflecting that if my father had been American and my mother British, instead of the other way round, I might have gotten here [Congress or the presidency] on my own.” He was probably right, especially if he had meant Congress (it’s uncertain from the context which one he was referring to).
One of the highlights of the book was a story that Churchill told how he had ordered that a machine gun should be mounted to his lifeboat, in case the ship he’s on was ever sunk by the Germans. When told, by Averell Harriman that talk about an attack scared him, the Prime Minister responded “You must have with me in the boat and see the fun.” It’s stories like that make books like this one so enjoyable.
There were plenty of good insights into the Roosevelt/Churchill relationship as well as many stories that helped to personalize the two leaders. The book did not go into as much detail about Churchill’s relationship with President Eisenhower, the other president that the subtitle refers to. But, that was because there wasn’t as much to their relationship as there was to the former.
Mr. Book gave this a B+. Amazon, Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, a B+ equates to 4 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at NetGalley and Goodreads. It will also be posted at Amazon, as soon as the book is released to the public on July 2.
Mr. Book originally read this on May 25, 2024.
July 2, 2024
I am a book reviewer with a graduate degree in Military History. The bookshelf in our home has several sections full of military history books written by the greats. With that presented, it will be no surprise how excited I was to read Mr. Churchill in the White House. I was quickly disavowed of excitement and instead filled with disappointment.
There is revisionist history in the world now that makes my head shake. The past is the past. We can learn from the past by studying it. In today’s world, it can be used to teach how the world was then. People can use that as a tool to see how the world is different now and strengthened with lessons learned from studying the past.
There is also apologist history which I personally don’t understand. History is the story of the past. One doesn’t have to apologize for it unless you were personally there doing something. Further, this tact is usually done via viewing the past through a prism that was created in modern times. This format, if it has a place in academia at all, doesn’t belong in the body of a history text.
The amount of primary source research done here is impressive. The author availed himself of many previously unavailable sources. The amount of research done to create this tome is worth applauding.
Brevity is a value that seems to have lost its place here. That the Prime Minister was without clothing when FDR found him for a quick discussion is a lovely aside and could be seen as humorous. To spend twenty odd pages discussing this one point from at least a dozen or more sources is at least salacious. If nothing, it is an extremely odd utilization of time, resources and content.
If the reader is seeking to peek behind the curtain at historical greats, then this book is for you. You get to see FDR, Churchill and Ike ‘somewhat’ as normal humans. There can be some value in allowing figures oft on pedestal to be shown as those who put their pants on one leg at a time.
My only issue here is that I perceive there is a bias against Winston Churchill. Every opportunity seems to be taken to poke fun at him. The use of ten or twelve primary sources to back up the pillaring of him doesn't make the effort more valid to me.
If you know very little about the strategic issues surrounding World War 2 and the geopolitic world at the time, then this book is a must read for you. If you want to see what life is like when prying eyes are not on famous people, then this is your book. A tremendous amount of research went into creating this book. A companion to the classic, One Christmas In Washington.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
There is revisionist history in the world now that makes my head shake. The past is the past. We can learn from the past by studying it. In today’s world, it can be used to teach how the world was then. People can use that as a tool to see how the world is different now and strengthened with lessons learned from studying the past.
There is also apologist history which I personally don’t understand. History is the story of the past. One doesn’t have to apologize for it unless you were personally there doing something. Further, this tact is usually done via viewing the past through a prism that was created in modern times. This format, if it has a place in academia at all, doesn’t belong in the body of a history text.
The amount of primary source research done here is impressive. The author availed himself of many previously unavailable sources. The amount of research done to create this tome is worth applauding.
Brevity is a value that seems to have lost its place here. That the Prime Minister was without clothing when FDR found him for a quick discussion is a lovely aside and could be seen as humorous. To spend twenty odd pages discussing this one point from at least a dozen or more sources is at least salacious. If nothing, it is an extremely odd utilization of time, resources and content.
If the reader is seeking to peek behind the curtain at historical greats, then this book is for you. You get to see FDR, Churchill and Ike ‘somewhat’ as normal humans. There can be some value in allowing figures oft on pedestal to be shown as those who put their pants on one leg at a time.
My only issue here is that I perceive there is a bias against Winston Churchill. Every opportunity seems to be taken to poke fun at him. The use of ten or twelve primary sources to back up the pillaring of him doesn't make the effort more valid to me.
If you know very little about the strategic issues surrounding World War 2 and the geopolitic world at the time, then this book is a must read for you. If you want to see what life is like when prying eyes are not on famous people, then this is your book. A tremendous amount of research went into creating this book. A companion to the classic, One Christmas In Washington.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
January 21, 2025
You can't imagine this happening, let alone today, but at one point a foreign leader held court at the White House. Luckily, this was Churchill, conveniently half-American. Great Britain had been under siege for a few years and Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, finally bringing the Americans into World War II. Churchill came to the US shortly after and stayed in the White House for the first time. For the war, he spent several weeks there and despite Eleanor Roosevelt pushing for the purchase of Blair House so he could stay somewhere else, he kept coming back. He would sometimes leave to stay with FDR at his home in New York or visit military installations across the country. In FDR's absence, he would hold meetings with military commanders at the White House. No President was necessary. In today's terms, it would be Zelensky camped in the White House on behalf of Ukraine.
Churchill's admiration for FDR knew knew no bounds. FDR was generous with his time and energy, collecting him every time he arrived and sending him home again. But in the end, Churchill felt shut out and shunned by FDR. Were they truly friends? Only FDR knows. 3/4th of this book is about the FDR presidency, but the last few chapters captures the scope of Churchill's relationship with the US. Schmuhl does a great job explaining the Eisenhower friendship. They worked in close proximity during the war, but leader to leader was at another level. Eisenhower could be frustrated with Churchill, but also deeply respected him and valued him as a fellow leader and friend. He took him to his Gettysburg farm and gave him a tour of the battlefields by golf cart. Oh, to be a fly on that day to sit in for that conversation. Kennedy discovered Churchill was changing planes to return home and asked if Churchill could come to visit. Churchill's secretary declined this invitation knowing Churchill would not want to see a president in his diminished state. Kennedy was disappointed as he considered Churchill a mentor to idolize. He made Churchill an honorary citizen of the United States (the only one, ever). LBJ was unable to attend Churchill's funeral due to poor health but managed to anger his VP by not sending him in his place. It is clear Humphrey was bitter about this slight.
In the end, there would be not US/UK partnership without the time and effort Churchill put into building it.
Churchill's admiration for FDR knew knew no bounds. FDR was generous with his time and energy, collecting him every time he arrived and sending him home again. But in the end, Churchill felt shut out and shunned by FDR. Were they truly friends? Only FDR knows. 3/4th of this book is about the FDR presidency, but the last few chapters captures the scope of Churchill's relationship with the US. Schmuhl does a great job explaining the Eisenhower friendship. They worked in close proximity during the war, but leader to leader was at another level. Eisenhower could be frustrated with Churchill, but also deeply respected him and valued him as a fellow leader and friend. He took him to his Gettysburg farm and gave him a tour of the battlefields by golf cart. Oh, to be a fly on that day to sit in for that conversation. Kennedy discovered Churchill was changing planes to return home and asked if Churchill could come to visit. Churchill's secretary declined this invitation knowing Churchill would not want to see a president in his diminished state. Kennedy was disappointed as he considered Churchill a mentor to idolize. He made Churchill an honorary citizen of the United States (the only one, ever). LBJ was unable to attend Churchill's funeral due to poor health but managed to anger his VP by not sending him in his place. It is clear Humphrey was bitter about this slight.
In the end, there would be not US/UK partnership without the time and effort Churchill put into building it.
August 25, 2024
Princess Fuzzypants here: There have been multitudes of books that have examined the unique relationship that existed between Winston Churchill and FDR. Perhaps because of the timing and the delicacy of their associations, it will always have a stronger pull for me than the one with Eisenhower. Had it not been for Churchill’s persistence, tact and careful nurturing, WWII might have ended differently. It might have seemed to some, and certainly did to others at the end of the war, as a one sided affair. But I truly believe, had he not provided the grit and the wisdom after Pearl Harbour, FDR would not have found his way as quickly, if at all. They were good for each other. Both consummate politicians who knew how to play the stage, FDR was a poker player, until illness and hubris towards the end robbed him on his ability to spot the fox in the henhouse. And by that time, Churchill’s voice, which could be impetuous and emotional, had lost its resonance.
I found it fascinating that FDR had a tell. Once he “dropped” someone and found a new “best friend and advisor”, there was no coming back. Once your usefulness had been exhausted, it was time to move on.
I was hooked by this book, both because I have had this lifelong fascination and admiration for Churchill, not in spite of his foibles, but because of them. The greatest man of the century was nowhere near perfect but his imperfections only made me marvel in his strengths even more. I found my admiration for FDR, which had been massive, diminished somewhat by the traits that, had he lived, he too might have seen he’d misjudged the world that would come after the defeat of the Nazis.
I found the relationships with Churchill and Ike more enlightening and uplifting. I think the two warhorses had a genuine affection for each other. They tried to navigate the world that was, to a certain amount, created by FDR or perhaps Truman’s misreading of Soviet intentions. Cassandra’s warnings had been ignored before. Sadly, they were ignored a second time. Excellent book, filled with details and insights, this should hold a spot in any Churchillian library. Five purrs and two paws up.
I found it fascinating that FDR had a tell. Once he “dropped” someone and found a new “best friend and advisor”, there was no coming back. Once your usefulness had been exhausted, it was time to move on.
I was hooked by this book, both because I have had this lifelong fascination and admiration for Churchill, not in spite of his foibles, but because of them. The greatest man of the century was nowhere near perfect but his imperfections only made me marvel in his strengths even more. I found my admiration for FDR, which had been massive, diminished somewhat by the traits that, had he lived, he too might have seen he’d misjudged the world that would come after the defeat of the Nazis.
I found the relationships with Churchill and Ike more enlightening and uplifting. I think the two warhorses had a genuine affection for each other. They tried to navigate the world that was, to a certain amount, created by FDR or perhaps Truman’s misreading of Soviet intentions. Cassandra’s warnings had been ignored before. Sadly, they were ignored a second time. Excellent book, filled with details and insights, this should hold a spot in any Churchillian library. Five purrs and two paws up.
March 28, 2024
Mr. Churchill in the White House: The Untold Story of a Prime Minister and Two Presidents
by Robert Schmuhl by July 2, 2024
📌This is usually not my genre but my love of history and the curiosity of Mr. Churchill sucked me in. He is referenced so often in comedy skits and tv and movie scripts I wanted to know just a bit more about him. He apparently was a big deal. This was chock full of events and gave a peak into his persona... I loved the story telling style of this history from the author. I really would like to know how the history of this man walking around "unclothed" in the White House was the tabloid fodder of that time. This was entertaining and informative.📌
Winston Churchill’s frequent stays at the White House inform this illuminating account of America and Britain’s “Special Relationship” during World War II and the 1950s.
Scores of biographies have been written about Winston Churchill, yet none examine his frequent, sometimes furtive, trips to the White House, where he resided for weeks on end—the (often unclothed) visitor who “dropped out of the sky.” These extended visits during his two terms as prime minister were spirited, even entertaining, occasions. Yet, in retrospect, they take on a new level of diplomatic significance, demonstrating just how influential a foreign leader can become in shaping American foreign policy. Drawing on years of research, Robert Schmuhl not only contextualizes the days Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower spent together, but also vividly portrays the individual characters, from Churchill himself—a devoted fisherman who never stopped “angling”—to a resentful Eleanor Roosevelt. Evoking an era far different from today, Mr. Churchill in the White House becomes an insightful work for our own fractious times.
by Robert Schmuhl by July 2, 2024
📌This is usually not my genre but my love of history and the curiosity of Mr. Churchill sucked me in. He is referenced so often in comedy skits and tv and movie scripts I wanted to know just a bit more about him. He apparently was a big deal. This was chock full of events and gave a peak into his persona... I loved the story telling style of this history from the author. I really would like to know how the history of this man walking around "unclothed" in the White House was the tabloid fodder of that time. This was entertaining and informative.📌
Winston Churchill’s frequent stays at the White House inform this illuminating account of America and Britain’s “Special Relationship” during World War II and the 1950s.
Scores of biographies have been written about Winston Churchill, yet none examine his frequent, sometimes furtive, trips to the White House, where he resided for weeks on end—the (often unclothed) visitor who “dropped out of the sky.” These extended visits during his two terms as prime minister were spirited, even entertaining, occasions. Yet, in retrospect, they take on a new level of diplomatic significance, demonstrating just how influential a foreign leader can become in shaping American foreign policy. Drawing on years of research, Robert Schmuhl not only contextualizes the days Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower spent together, but also vividly portrays the individual characters, from Churchill himself—a devoted fisherman who never stopped “angling”—to a resentful Eleanor Roosevelt. Evoking an era far different from today, Mr. Churchill in the White House becomes an insightful work for our own fractious times.
April 2, 2025
With Churchill, as with FDR or Lincoln, there still can be room for "niche" books if the author finds the right niche and exploits it well.
Schmuhl does OK but not well.
First, while he does note the lack of notes about all these White House meetings on FDR's side, and does note that in most cases, however, other US, as well as British, participants in these meetings kept diaries, wrote their own memoirs, etc., he doesn't exploit these quite as much as he could.
Second, while it is true that he never stayed in the White House while Truman was president (in part because of renovations it was undergoing during part of Truman's presidency) Churchill did officially visit Truman more than once, whether as Leader of the Opposition or back at No. 10 Downing. It seems silly to exclude things like their joint railroad trip to Fulton, Missouri and Westminster College for the "Sinews of State," aka "Iron Curtain," speech.) The flip side of that is including Churchill's visits to Hyde Park as well as the White House while Roosevelt was president.
Finally, there's bits of not totally accurate items here. One is that Schmuhl repeats the canard that Truman was basically clueless about the atomic bomb as of April 12, 1945. In reality, even if FDR wrongly shared little about his presidential operations in general, Truman knew a decent amount about the Manhattan Project from his time in the Senate.
Possibly 3.25 or even 3.5, but certainly not more than that and I can't round it up.
Schmuhl does OK but not well.
First, while he does note the lack of notes about all these White House meetings on FDR's side, and does note that in most cases, however, other US, as well as British, participants in these meetings kept diaries, wrote their own memoirs, etc., he doesn't exploit these quite as much as he could.
Second, while it is true that he never stayed in the White House while Truman was president (in part because of renovations it was undergoing during part of Truman's presidency) Churchill did officially visit Truman more than once, whether as Leader of the Opposition or back at No. 10 Downing. It seems silly to exclude things like their joint railroad trip to Fulton, Missouri and Westminster College for the "Sinews of State," aka "Iron Curtain," speech.) The flip side of that is including Churchill's visits to Hyde Park as well as the White House while Roosevelt was president.
Finally, there's bits of not totally accurate items here. One is that Schmuhl repeats the canard that Truman was basically clueless about the atomic bomb as of April 12, 1945. In reality, even if FDR wrongly shared little about his presidential operations in general, Truman knew a decent amount about the Manhattan Project from his time in the Senate.
Possibly 3.25 or even 3.5, but certainly not more than that and I can't round it up.
July 8, 2024
Few, if any, histories of the 40's, especially those focused on WWII, have omitted mention of Winston Churchill's visits to the White House. The recitation of Churchill's 1941 Christmas arrival, his idiosyncratic habits and the famous Roosevelt encounter with a naked Churchill are frequent tropes. Schmuhl goes far beyond these oft repeated stories and gives an accounting of Churchill's many subsequent returns. His sources are drawn from official accounts and from diaries of the participants and witnesses. Schmuhl is a careful historian and he is reluctant to leave any details out at all in the service of brevity. Accordingly, his account can at times be tiresome and repetitive.
One particularly valuable part of the book examines the degree to which either man viewed the other as a friend, despite the numerous effusions of bonhomie. One doubts that either man cast the interests of his nation aside nor should he have. Churchill was known to have cultivated a number of deep and lasting relationships that survived their political use by date However, it would be hard to discover Roosevelt having even one true friendship, not with Harry Hopkins, not with his wife, not with his family .
One particularly valuable part of the book examines the degree to which either man viewed the other as a friend, despite the numerous effusions of bonhomie. One doubts that either man cast the interests of his nation aside nor should he have. Churchill was known to have cultivated a number of deep and lasting relationships that survived their political use by date However, it would be hard to discover Roosevelt having even one true friendship, not with Harry Hopkins, not with his wife, not with his family .
November 13, 2024
I found this book both a difficult but interesting read. It seems to have been said lately that Roosevelt was maybe not the friend to Great Britain that Churchill hoped he would be. Roosevelt appeared to prefer to ally himself with Stalin even though Churchill could foresee that this would not be a good idea going forward. Having said this, I learnt that having Churchill to stay was not easy for his host in the White House.
Reading between the lines, I’m guessing that Churchill being senior and having experiences of war felt he should lead and that others should listen. I’m guessing that his attitude may have pushed the others into being resistant to his ideas.
I felt the book was relatively fair, telling the stories of his stays from both the side of his supporters and his detractors…. Including Mrs Roosevelt!!
Reading between the lines, I’m guessing that Churchill being senior and having experiences of war felt he should lead and that others should listen. I’m guessing that his attitude may have pushed the others into being resistant to his ideas.
I felt the book was relatively fair, telling the stories of his stays from both the side of his supporters and his detractors…. Including Mrs Roosevelt!!
December 30, 2024
4.25 stars. Schmuhl successfully balances the observations and accounts of Churchill's sometimes humorous eccentricities (i.e., stalking the halls of the White House in his PJ's, keeping hoot owl hours, and conducting business from his bed or bathtub) with the mind-blowing residential visits b/w the two most important WW II leaders, FDR and WSC. Using a blend of sources, official and personal, he illuminates the opaque relationship b/w the two, raises questions about how much we can really know, and confirms the importance of their discussions of issues, big and small, during the war. Although often less noted in the public history, Schmuhl's narrative of the visits b/w Ike and WSC also offers interesting insights into the relationship and work of the two former WWII allies. Well worth your time.
June 30, 2024
Winston Churchill visited the White House many times during his two terms as prime minister. He met with FDR and Dwight D. Eisenhower and shaped American foreign policy during the Second World War. He arrived after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He had a great relationship with FDR but not so much with Eisenhower. I really did enjoy this book and reading about Churchill. Never knew that he came about fifteen times and stayed in the Rose Room at the White House. He also went a couple of times to Canada and met with the prime minister there. If you like history books then you will love this book. Highly recommended!
October 31, 2024
I didn’t realize how old Churchill was in his last stint as PM - 80s+. Nevertheless, despite his firm attachment to the Empire, he was a brilliant leader and politician who literally won the war. Interesting to know that Blair House was purchased during his extended stays - at Eleanor’s insistence - although he never used it. She didn’t like him, nor the fact that he kept FDR up until all hours, wandered around in his bathrobe and slippers, and showed off his bright orange raid suit in front of the White House. As soon as the PM left, FDR usually went up to Hyde Park for a rest!
Another fascinating discussion is of the truthfulness of different recollections on policy decisions or events during the visits. Did or did Churchill not receive FDR naked in the bath? MUCH debate on that point! The D-Day operation apparently originally was code named Operation Mothball. Churchill, understanding the value of words, exploded. A critical event, one that could win the war could not, in his view, be called Operation Mothball. After throwing around a whole series of ideas himself, he, on the spot, came up with “Operation Overlord.”
The book drifts a little. Churchill is the one who pushes for the visits, but it’s another good snapshot of three wartime figures - Roosevelt, Churchill, and Eisenhower. Incidentally, I was impressed by Eisenhower’s respect for and attachment to the PM.
Another fascinating discussion is of the truthfulness of different recollections on policy decisions or events during the visits. Did or did Churchill not receive FDR naked in the bath? MUCH debate on that point! The D-Day operation apparently originally was code named Operation Mothball. Churchill, understanding the value of words, exploded. A critical event, one that could win the war could not, in his view, be called Operation Mothball. After throwing around a whole series of ideas himself, he, on the spot, came up with “Operation Overlord.”
The book drifts a little. Churchill is the one who pushes for the visits, but it’s another good snapshot of three wartime figures - Roosevelt, Churchill, and Eisenhower. Incidentally, I was impressed by Eisenhower’s respect for and attachment to the PM.
August 25, 2025
Exceptional Research Produces an Exceptional Insight
The perceptive analysis of Churchill's complicated relationship with FDR and with the USA offers a unique view of a flawed man who was nonetheless the perfect man for the job of leading Britain out of the darkness of war. A mountain of words offering various views by dozens of writers has been expertly crafted By Mr. Schmuhl into a valuable picture of these giants in our history.
The perceptive analysis of Churchill's complicated relationship with FDR and with the USA offers a unique view of a flawed man who was nonetheless the perfect man for the job of leading Britain out of the darkness of war. A mountain of words offering various views by dozens of writers has been expertly crafted By Mr. Schmuhl into a valuable picture of these giants in our history.
August 18, 2024
A very interesting book about the greatest man of the 20th century. I am glad I read it. My failure to give it more stars is because the author poses many questions, but fails to give his thoughts . It left me wondering about many of the quotes.
September 14, 2024
DNF. I wanted to like this book, but the writing style is too academic and dry that it didn’t catch my interest. It seems that the author is trying to review the literature out there about Churchill’s visits, but if you’ve read Jon Meachum or William Manchester, you’re not missing much.
October 17, 2024
Didn't really cover any new ground for me. However, I have read many books on WWII history. I was less familiar with the Eisenhower period and found it more revelatory. Worth a read if you are unfamiliar with the subject matter.
November 5, 2024
I fell for Churchilliana again and this time it didnt quite pay out.
A well researched and sometimes interesting book but not inspiring or otherwise valuable for me.
Bad "great men history" to "quirky interesting anecdotes" ratio
A well researched and sometimes interesting book but not inspiring or otherwise valuable for me.
Bad "great men history" to "quirky interesting anecdotes" ratio
November 30, 2024
Best part of this poorly organized tome is the inclusion of three remarkable Churchill speeches. Too redundant at times, but obviously meticulously researched, you may need a thesaurus to truly appreciate some lengthy sections.
Read
May 14, 2025I feel like I've been listening forever and have a firm grasp on Churchill's relationships with US Presidents. How are there still 10hrs left? What more could they possibly cover? I listened to the first 4 hours while painting. I'm pretty sure that's the only reason I got that far.
September 14, 2024
Wow! So much to learn about history and our country. Really enjoyed this part of history.
September 15, 2024
Fascinating, especially for folks like me who are Churchillophiles.
January 3, 2025
Enjoyable read. Not overly scholarly but packed with information not widely known.
January 8, 2025
Interesting subject matter but a very difficult read, didn't get on with the style at all and thus it took me a long time despite being quite short!
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