May 16, 2016

Dinner at the State Department

The thirty-third International Churchill Conference in Washington, D. C. (27–29 Oct.) will be highlighted by a black-tie banquet in the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room at the US Department of State. Named after the “Father of the American Foreign Service,” this is the primary room used to entertain both foreign and American guests. At far the end of the room hangs a portrait of Benjamin Franklin painted by David Martin in London (1767). The Great Seal of the United States decorates the center of the ceiling, along with eight Adam-style, cut-glass chandeliers. The floor is covered with a Savonnerie-style carpet that includes symbols of the four important crops of the early Republic, the four seasons, and, in the field, fifty stars representing the States of the Union. For booking details and to see the full program, please click on the Read More tab below.

To register online, please CLICK HERE. To book rooms at the Mayflower Hotel, please CLICK HERE or call 1-877-212-5752 and quote “The 33rd International Churchill Conference, October 27–29.” Churchill Centre members receive a 10% discount on all tickets by entering promotional code TCCINDC after selecting their tickets (you can find the promotional code selection just under the “Student Registration” line). Enter the promotional code TCCinDC and click “Apply”; tickets will then reflect the discounted price.

Conference Agenda

2025 International Churchill Conference

Join us for the 42nd International Churchill Conference. Washington, DC | October 9-11, 2025

2025 International Churchill Conference

Theme: “Churchill: Friends and Contemporaries”

Thursday, 27 October

Conference registration will begin at the Mayflower Hotel in the morning. In the evening there will be a banquet at the Mayflower to start the conference with welcoming remarks by Randolph Churchill.

Friday, 28 October

The first full day of the conference will start with opening remarks by The Churchill Centre’s Chairman, Laurence Geller, and Executive Director, Lee Pollock. This will be followed directly by the first panel:

“Churchill and the Presidents”
Dane Kennedy, moderator
Nigel Hamilton, “Franklin D. Roosevelt”
Alonzo Hamby, “Harry S. Truman”
William Hitchcock, “Dwight D. Eisenhower”

After a short break, Sir David Cannadine, will speak about “Churchill and the Monarchs” in which he will examine the four kings and two queens whom Churchill served and the nature of the relations in each case.

Lunch will feature a talk by Candice Millard, the author of a new book about Churchill in the Boer War, Hero of the Empire.

Afternoon presentations will begin with Lord Watson of Richmond speaking about “Churchill and the Europeans.” This will be followed by the final panel of the day:

“Winston’s Wizards”
Rob Havers, moderator
David Lough, “Churchill’s Financial Team”
Warren Dockter, “T. E. Lawrence”

In the evening coaches will take guests to and from the State Department for dinner in the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room.

Saturday, 29 October

The final day of the conference begins with another full panel:
“Great Contemporaries”
Ted Bromund, moderator
Kevin Ruane, “John Anderson”
Terry Reardon, “W. L. Mackenzie King”
John H. Mather, “Lord Moran”

After a short break Andrew Roberts will speak on “Winston Wept: The Extraordinary Lachrymosity and Romantic Imagination of Sir Winston Churchill.” This will be followed by Christopher H. Sterling speaking about “Churchill in Washington, D.C.”

Following lunch at the Mayflower, coaches will take guests to and from the Gelman Library on the campus of The George Washington University and home to the brand new National Churchill Library. The final presentations of the conference will take place in the Gelman Library and include Michael Makovsky speaking about “Chaim Weizmann.”

Registration is free for high school and college students, however, student tickets are not available online. Please contact Dan Myers at [email protected] for more information.