July 14, 2018

Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy (ret.) Supreme Court of the United States, who announced his retirement from the United States Supreme Court last month, will be the Keynote Speaker at the 2018 International Churchill Conference to be held in Virginia’s Colonial Williamsburg, November 9–11. This year’s theme will be “Churchill: Walking with Destiny.” Please click here to register for your place at the conference.

Justice Kennedy has been a federal judge for more than half his life. Born in 1936, he served on the Supreme Court for thirty years after previously serving for thirteen years on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. During his tenure on the Supreme Court, he was regarded as the court’s key vote in many high-profile decisions. Justice Kennedy’s address to the International Churchill Society will be among his first major speaking engagements following his retirement.

Visit this page for the most up-to-date information on the upcoming conference.

The Williamsburg Lodge will be conference headquarters for panel sessions while other events will take place in and around the historic community. The final day will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and will feature a memorial ceremony.

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One of the central features of the conference will be the launch of Andrew Roberts’s major new biography Churchill: Walking with Destiny. Based on original research in the Royal Archives, this is certain to be the new standard biography for our generation. Andrew will also serve as honorary conference co-chair along with Churchill granddaughter Emma Soames.

First-time conference speakers will include Felix Klos, author of Churchill’s Last Stand: The Struggle to Unite Europe; Giles Milton, author of Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, an account of “black ops” during the Second World War; Daniel Todman; and Edward Lengel. We are also pleased that Sir David Cannadine has agreed once again to bring his erudite observations to our conference. Further details will be released in the coming months.

Conference Schedule

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9: Opening Reception (starting at 6:00 p.m.) followed by a “Capitol by Candlelight” tour. Both events are included in the Blenheim registration package.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10: Panel sessions in the morning and afternoon with Churchill’s grandson Sir Nicholas Soames speaking at lunch in conversation with International Churchill Society Executive Director Michael F. Bishop. Gala banquet in the evening featuring Keynote Address by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who will be introduced by Jennie Churchill.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11: panel sessions continue followed by ceremony marking the centenary of the Armistice. An optional “Walking with Winston” tour rounds out the conference, which is included in the Blenheim Package.