Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy


Main Page Our Cause Patrons & Directors Award for Excellence Churchill Collection at Trinity College Churchill Society Dinner Educational Programme Educational Links Luncheon Series Churchilliad Online Churchill Book Discussion Group Digital Exhibits Event Archives Membership Donations Volunteer Contact Us E-Mail Updates "THE GOVERNMENT IS THE SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE AND NOT ITS MASTER" Winston Churchill Oslo 1948	Nineteenth Annual Churchill Society Dinner John Plumpton President of the Board of Directors Churchill Centre, Washington Two Great Men, Two Great Themes Lord Jenkins and Winston Churchill: The Study of History and the Practice of Politics. On November 26^th 2002, the Churchill Society members and guests who gathered at the 19^th Annual Churchill Dinner in Toronto were greeted with the news that Lord Jenkins had been experiencing difficulties with his heart condition and was under his doctor’s orders not to fly. Recovering at his home, Jenkins deeply regretted not being able to make the trip. It would not be until Sunday January 5, 2003 when we would learn of his death. Standing in for Lord Jenkins would be John Plumpton, President of the Board of Directors of the Churchill Centre in Washington, D.C. The Honourable Flora MacDonald Award for Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy The Honourable Barbara McDougall, President and CEO of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs and former cabinet colleague, presented The Honourable Flora MacDonald with the Churchill Society Award for Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy. Barbara McDougall paid tribute to her friend by recalling her own early political career when she used to say, “I want to be Flora MacDonald”. Flora McDonald served as the Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands for 16 years and held three cabinet positions: Minister of External Affairs, Minister of Employment & Immigration and Minister of Communications. She broke new ground for women parliamentarians in 1976 as the first female candidate for the leadership of the Tories. Ms. MacDonald impressed and inspired the audience with stories about her early life, her political career, as well as her impressive work for women and human rights causes in developing countries. Substituting for Lord Jenkins was a worthy “understudy” in John Plumpton who was introduced by Margaret MacMillan, author of Paris 1919: Six Months that Changed the World. A former President of the International Churchill Societies-Canada, John Plumpton is no stranger to Churchill or Jenkins. His address was entitled “Two Great Men, Two Great Themes – Lord Jenkins and Winston Churchill: The Study of History and the Practice of Politics.” On the subject of history, Plumpton recalled Churchill’s advice to U.S. Presidential speechwriter James Humes, when the latter was a teenager: ‘Study history, study history. In history lie all the secrets of statecraft.’ But in history lies much more, Plumpton said. “So much more than that the battle over the history taught in our schools is seen by many as a battle over our national identity and the values of our society.” To this end, he quoted Margaret Macmillan who had said: “There is a huge debate in the profession. Social and cultural historians have accused people like me of being old-fashioned and never reading anything new.” On Jenkins, Churchill and politics, Plumpton said “the most important thing Roy Jenkins brings to his book is Roy Jenkins himself and he brings the political Churchill alive as none has done before. Jenkins was one of the few students of Churchill who had actually observed him in the House of Commons and thus his most useful insights relate to Churchill’s political career. Notwithstanding all the achievements of the great war leader and statesman. Jenkins reminds us that Churchill was first and foremost a politician – and proud to be so.” The full text of MacDonald and Plumpton’s addresses will be in the Blue Book. Read John Plumpton's address here. Barbara McDougall presents Flora MacDonald with the Churchill Society Award for Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy The Head Table Seated (left to right): Peter H. Russell, John Plumpton, Hon. Flora MacDonald, Dan Tisch, Standing (left to right): Robert O'Brien, Ruth Plumpton, Dave Scrymgeour, Patricia Smith, Michael Wilson, Hon. Barbara McDougall, Margaret MacMillan, Graham Erion. Previous Churchill Dinner Speakers 2001 Andrew Roberts 2000 Professor John A. Luckacs 1999 Professor David N. Dilks 1998 The Honourable Nicholas Soames 1997 Professor Christopher Andrew 1996 Sir Edwin Leather 1995 The Honourable Celia Sandys 1994 Anthony Montague Browne 1993 The Lady Soames 1992 The Right Honourable Lord Weatherhill 1991 Professor Reginald V. Jones 1990 Sir David Hunt 1989 The Honourable Caspar W. Weinberger 1988 Professor M.R.D. Foot 1987 The Lady Soames 1986 Sir John Colville 1985 Dr. J. Austin Ranney 1984 Martin Gilbert