Grapevine: Let’s Lift One as We Celebrate Presidents’ Day Weekend
In the spirit of the upcoming Presidents’ Day weekend — and in my insatiable search to relate events around me to a wine-centricity – I contemplated this week’s column.
Seeking references to any imbibing habits by our first and 16th leaders, I found the landscape highly polarized.
George Washington brewed his own beer, of which he consumed copious amounts at dinners in his home and at various venues when crafting the Constitution with his fellow Founding Fathers. He was also fond of the fine wines purchased by Thomas Jefferson on his governmental boondoggles to French wineries. And Washington was a fan of the wine rage of Colonial times: Portuguese Madeira fortified wines.
President Lincoln was the extreme opposite. A self-proclaimed teetotaler, he once pronounced his attitude toward tippling: the problem with alcohol was not that it was a bad thing, but a good thing abused by bad people.
With Lincoln’s statement in mind, I began to ponder the drinking habits of other world leaders, and their influence on the course of world events.
The proclivities of many leaders came to mind, both indulgers and abstainers, including Napoleon, Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt and George W. Bush. But the one leader, in my mind, that history attributes an indomitable spirit of military prowess and political acumen, equally intermeshed with conspicuous consumption, is Winston Churchill.
Coincidentally, last week marked the 50th anniversary of his death at age 90. With this occasion as inspiration for furthering this week’s wine-centric theme, I researched the numerous links between Sir Winston’s exploits in the cabinet war rooms and at the dinner table within 10 Downing St.
As British Prime Minister from 1940-45, Churchill led his country from the brink of defeat to victory during World War II. With his vow of “blood, toil, tears and sweat” to Parliament upon taking office, his constituents considered him their savior – and forgave him for his many excesses.
His excesses?
- It is well-documented that his typical alcohol consumption consisted of two or three Scotches, several glasses of Champagne, at least two brandies and a highball–each day.
- At a banquet at the home of the Saudi king, where, for religious reasons, no alcohol or cigars were served, Churchill protested: “My religion prescribes, as an absolute sacred ritual, smoking cigars and drinking alcohol before, after, and, if need be, during all meals and the intervals between them.”
- Of all libations, he favored Champagne. He once admitted: “In victory I deserve it; in defeat, I need it.”
- During the war, Churchill visited the White House for weeks at a time, engaging in his smoking and drinking habits into the wee hours of the morning with his drinking buddy. An aide to President Roosevelt admitted that after Churchill’s visits, FDR slept for 10 hours a night for three consecutive days.
These excesses were encapsulated in his penchant for inspiring his constituents, at times with classic wit and sarcasm. Here are a few tidbits I gleaned from various sources:
- “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”
- “This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.”
- “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing has happened.”
- “He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.”
- Dialogue at a dinner with British politician Bessie Braddock: “Winston, you are drunk, and what’s more you are disgustingly drunk.”
“Bessie, my dear, you are ugly, and what’s more, you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be disgustingly ugly.”
- “Don’t interrupt me while I’m interrupting.”
As we remember the accomplishments of these leaders this weekend, consider President Lincoln’s words on drinking. I guess there are exceptions to every maxim.
Nick Antonaccio is a 35- year Pleasantville resident. For over 15 years he has conducted wine tastings and lectures. He also offers personalized wine tastings and wine travel services. Nick’s credo: continuous experimenting results in instinctive behavior. You can reach him at nantonaccio@theexaminernews.com or on Twitter @sharingwine.
