Winston S. Churchill | A pair of typed letters signed ("Winston Churchill"), to Walter Layton, 1950

Winston S. Churchill

A pair of typed letters signed ("Winston Churchill"), to Walter Layton, Chairman of The News Chronicle, regarding journalistic integrity, dated 1950

Together 2 pages (each 7 1/4 x 9 1/2 in.; 184 x 241 mm), with first letter on Chartwell stationery, and dated 26 January 1950, and second letter on 28 Hyde Park Gate stationery, and dated 6 February 1950, with contemporary newspaper clipping, and a carbon copy of the recipient’s reply; holes punched to upper right corners, old folds, earlier letter unevenly toned as a product of a newspaper clipping having been preserved with it.

2 single page letters (each 7 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches.)

A PAIR OF RELATED LETTERS TO WALTER LAYTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE NEWS CHRONICLE

These letters were written by Churchill while he was out of office as Prime Minister, during the General Election of 1950. The earlier letter begins: "My dear Layton,I was surprised to see in the NEWS CHRONICLE ... the enclosed picture of a cheering crowd published without any caption, and placed immediately over the result of the first ‘Gallup Election Poll,’ and the headline ‘Tory lead dramatically narrowed.' Anyone would suppose that the picture was related to the headline... Enquiry however shows that the picture appeared in the GLASGOW HERALD in 1948 on the occasion of the announcement of the Paisley bye-election. ... As this is certainly not in accordance with the usual principles of British journalism I bring it to your notice, and shall be glad to hear from you before I make the matter public… " The letter is accompanied by the aforementioned newspaper clipping of the article, and a carbon of Layton’s letter to Churchill in reply ("I’m afraid you are reading far more into the picture...than was ever intended."). On 6 February 1950, Churchill followed Layton’s reply with: "My dear Layton, Thank you very much for your letter of February 1. I must say I derived the impression from the picture that it was meant to suggest a crowd cheering the announcement. However, I am obliged to you for the explanation you have been good enough to give." When Prime Minister Clement Atlee suddenly announced in January 1950 that a General Election would be held on February 23, Churchill abruptly returned to London from an extended winter holiday in Madeira Spain. He took an active part in preparation of the Conservative Party’s election manifesto and was clearly attuned to any perceived threats to the party’s chances. Walter Thomas Layton was Chairman of the News Chronicle from 1930-1950. A former editor of The Economist (1922-1938), he had been Churchill's statistical officer at the Ministry of Munitions during World War I and ran the Joint War Production staff from 1942-43.