Iron Curtain Speech

Churchill makes clear from the outset that this speech is a personal appeal and not some kind of trial balloon of a diplomatic idea from England. He opens with humor, joking at how familiar the name “Westminster” is to him, thereby subtly highlighting from the start the intimate connection that England and the United States already share. He also emphasizes what the president has already said in introducing him, namely that the president wishes—presumably along with the rest of the audience—for Churchill to have “full liberty” to speak his mind. Churchill insists that he is about to do just that.

Throughout the speech, Churchill speaks with frankness about the devastation his own country, as well as other countries, has faced due to the war. He speaks in particular to the “average family,” appealing to the vast majority of his audience, who are regular citizens likely harmed by the effects of the war and eager for a period of peace. In the end, he also emphasizes his own people’s resilience and strength, calling on the United States to pursue his proposal as a representative of England himself.