"A Spacious, Delectable Land": Winston Churchill in California In-Person
A Talk by Lee Pollock, Director and Senior Advisor to the Board, The International Churchill Society
Winston Churchill was one of the greatest statesmen of modern times, renowned for leading Britain and the world in the darkest hours of the Second World War. He was also an inveterate traveler, journeying from the mountains of northwest India to the plains of South Africa, across Britain and Europe and through the deserts of Morocco and the Middle East.
Churchill was half-American and his sixteen visits to what he called the “Great Republic” were of paramount importance to his life. The months he spent in Washington were critical to his collaboration with several Presidents and to building the “Special Relationship”, which became the bedrock of 20th century British policy.
Less known, but equally fascinating were the three weeks Churchill spent in California in September 1929, where he roamed the state from the redwood country to Catalina Island, touring San Francisco and Los Angeles and meeting the most prominent figures in California business, entertainment, and society. His insightful observations on the Golden State and his colorful and idyllic description of its people and places were recorded in a series of newspaper articles thatb captivated readers in the U.K. To Churchill, California was “a spacious, delectable land”, Los Angeles a “gay and happy city,” and the studios of the new Hollywood, “a strange and amusing world.”
Why did Churchill travel 7,000 miles to be in California, who did he meet and what did he see on this unusual visit? And how did those experiences influence his view of America and its place in the world?
For answers to these fascinating questions and to learn more about Winston Churchill’s only visit to California, join us in welcoming acclaimed historian Lee Pollock.
Registration requested to join us in person. To watch live online (no registration needed) visit: https://vimeo.com/event/6110364. A recording will be available to watch on The Community Library's Event Archive.
Registration closes 45 minutes before the program. For most programs, we will have room for walk-ins to join us.
- Date:
- Wednesday, August 19, 2026
- Time:
- 5:30pm - 6:30pm
- Time Zone:
- Mountain Time - US & Canada (change)
- Location:
- John A. and Carole O. Moran Lecture Hall
- Campus:
- The Community Library
- Audience:
- Adults
- Categories:
- Lectures & Conversations
Lee Pollock is an award-winning historian, writer and public speaker on the life of Winston Churchill. His articles have been published in the Wall Street Journal, the New Criterion, American Purpose, and the Daily Beast. He has appeared on CBS, the BBC, and other media outlets in the U.S. and Britain. Lee has spoken about Churchill’s legacy and leadership at venues ranging from the U.S. Congress, the Pentagon and the Supreme Court to leading universities, museums, non-profit institutions, and clubs across the country.
He is a Director and Senior Advisor to the Board of The International Churchill Society and previously served as its Executive Director. Lee is a Fellow of the National Churchill Museum and a recipient of the Churchill Society’s prestigious Chartwell Award. He is editor of "Winston S. Churchill on Public Speaking," and the author of "Action This Day: Adventures with Winston Churchill."