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The Oval: Churchill's Bust

August 22, 2012
Wilson

Writer

Good afternoon.

When there is a change in leadership in this nation…

On January 20, one president moves out of here.

And a new president moves in.

In between, there are a few hours.

And during those few hours,

A crew comes into this office.

And they do the fastest room makeover you’ve ever seen.

Some things stay.

This desk, the Resolute.

It stays.

But everything else turns over.

They put in a new carpet.

The new president chooses the style.

Light blue or dark… or goldenrod yellow?

They paint the walls a new color.

Cream or eggshell or taupe?

The new president chooses that, too.

They put in whatever the new president wants.

New art.

New curtains.

New photos.

New furniture.

They also move out some things.

Whatever the new president DOESN’T want.

When Bush worked in this space, he liked western art.

Obama had his own preferences.

So when Obama came in, the western art… it was taken off the walls.

Look, that’s the way it goes.

New presidents have the right to choose their art. That’s fine.

But not everything in this office is art.

Some of what you see in the Oval Office…

Reflects more than the artistic tastes of the president.

Some of it reflects the world view of the president.

Take this piece right here. [Bust of Churchill]

A bust of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

One of America’s greatest friends ever.

Churchill was Great Britain’s leader during World War II.

He saw that war coming.

He warned against appeasement of Hitler.

And when war came, he appealed to America…

To support Great Britain in that great struggle.

In 1941, Great Britain was alone in the war.

America was still neutral…

While Germany’s planes routinely bombarded London at night.

Churchill wrote to President Roosevelt:

“Put your confidence in us.

Give us your faith and your blessing.

And under Providence, all will be well.

We shall not fail nor falter.

We shall not weaken or tire.

Neither sudden shock of battle

Nor the long drawn trials of vigilance

Will wear us down

Give us the tools and we will finish the job!”

Churchill was supremely confident in America.

More confident in America than America was in herself.

Churchill’s mother was an American.

He had visited it…

Gotten to know its people…

And he understood America.

He believed in America.

He knew that America would have to enter the war…

To preserve freedom.

Because he believed that America was a great nation…

…Ready to take its role in the world.

He was like our British uncle.

Caring. Familiar.

But stern.

And he was a lone voice against weakness.

Against timidity.

Against surrender.

After the war, after victory,

He warned us not to let down our guard.

He gave the “Iron Curtain” speech…

And described the Soviet domination over half of Europe…

…and the moral evil of Communism taking root everywhere.

And his voice…

Like a warning uncle…

Was the voice we needed.

In war… as in peace.

So, after 9/11,

Great Britain’s Ambassador to the United States,

Acting at the request of Prime Minister Tony Blair,

Gave this bust to President Bush…

Not as a gift. But as a loan.

A permanent loan, if we would have it.

A loan as long as we needed it…

A loan as long as was necessary…

To inspire the occupant of this office.

To give him strength.

To ward off weakness.

To remind him, that Britain was always an ally.

And a special friend.

But on January 20, 2009, President Bush left.

President Obama moved in.

And shortly thereafter, the British Ambassador was told:

“We don’t need your Churchill anymore.”

“We’re giving it back…. Here…. Take it.”

The British got the message.

Whatever the lessons of Churchill…

Whatever he said to inspire America…

In war…

In difficult times…

In courageous defiance of aggression.

All that was done.

In the past.

And over.

America, our new president, might say…

Was ready to move forward.

Not restricted by its past promises…

Nor even by its founding documents.

Or its longest alliances.

I wonder what Uncle Winston might have said…

About this.

About being kicked out of the Oval Office.

Perhaps he would have seen it as inevitable.

Churchill was a realist, after all.

He understood human nature.

America, like all free nations,

Goes through periods of vigilance…

Followed by periods of weakness.

Certainty of purpose…

Followed by periods of confusion.

I suppose he would recognize what kind of period we’re in now.

I suppose he would have been resigned to his fate.

“I am just artwork,” he might say.

“Just a chiseled piece of marble…

“And in stony silence, I can do nothing…

“Say nothing.

“My power depends on the living.

“And if they need me,

“If they want me,

“I’ll be there.

“But if they don’t…

“It matters not…

“Whether I sit on the shelves of the powerful.

“Or on a dusty box in an ambassador’s library.”

And I think Uncle Winston is correct.

It matters little who sits over here (gesture to the shelf).

What matters …

Is who sits over there (gesture to chair).

Our leaders have a right to find inspiration…

…Wherever they find it.

In history.

Or somewhere else.

But where they find that inspiration…

Tells us who they are.

What they like.

And what they believe.

A president who values the example of Winston Churchill…

Who values having him in this office…

Is someone who understands history.

Understands what Great Britain means for America.

And what American means for Great Britain.

Someone who looks to Uncle Winston…

Values above all…

Those immortal words of his:

We shall defend our island,

Whatever the cost may be.

We shall fight on the beaches,

We shall fight on the landing grounds,

We shall fight in the fields

And in the streets,

We shall fight in the hills.

We shall never surrender.

Of course, to be inspired by these words…

Means you must believe them true today.

Are we under attack?

Is our nation at risk?

Do enemies threaten us in our homes and our streets?

If you don’t think so,

Then the words of Churchill mean nothing to you.

Perhaps our current president thinks…

That the words of Churchill belong to history.

And are no longer relevant.

But just watch.

History has a way of waking us up.

America is like Great Britain in the 1930s.

Powerful.

But asleep.

And the threats are building.

So perhaps the current president thinks America is done with Winston Churchill.

But Winston Churchill is not done with America.

And we’ll need him again soon.

Thanks for watching.

May God bless you, and may God bless this republic.

He was not a man who suffered fools…

And he had a long memory for his enemies.

He had a tenacious loyalty to the truth…

And an unyielding faith in the tide of history.

He believed that freedom was the desire of all mankind.

But that freedom would have to be defended in every generation.

He committed to defend the freedom of the British Empire…

And against the threats of fascism…and communism.

Civics isn’t optional—America's survival depends on it

JEFF KOWALSKY / Contributor | Getty Images

Every vote, jury duty, and act of engagement is civics in action, not theory. The republic survives only when citizens embrace responsibility.

I slept through high school civics class. I memorized the three branches of government, promptly forgot them, and never thought of that word again. Civics seemed abstract, disconnected from real life. And yet, it is critical to maintaining our republic.

Civics is not a class. It is a responsibility. A set of habits, disciplines, and values that make a country possible. Without it, no country survives.

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Civics happens every time you speak freely, worship openly, question your government, serve on a jury, or cast a ballot. It’s not a theory or just another entry in a textbook. It’s action — the acts we perform every day to be a positive force in society.

Many of us recoil at “civic responsibility.” “I pay my taxes. I follow the law. I do my civic duty.” That’s not civics. That’s a scam, in my opinion.

Taking up the torch

The founders knew a republic could never run on autopilot. And yet, that’s exactly what we do now. We assume it will work, then complain when it doesn’t. Meanwhile, the people steering the country are driving it straight into a mountain — and they know it.

Our founders gave us tools: separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, elections. But they also warned us: It won’t work unless we are educated, engaged, and moral.

Are we educated, engaged, and moral? Most Americans cannot even define a republic, never mind “keep one,” as Benjamin Franklin urged us to do after the Constitutional Convention.

We fought and died for the republic. Gaining it was the easy part. Keeping it is hard. And keeping it is done through civics.

Start small and local

In our homes, civics means teaching our children the Constitution, our history, and that liberty is not license — it is the space to do what is right. In our communities, civics means volunteering, showing up, knowing your sheriff, attending school board meetings, and understanding the laws you live under. When necessary, it means challenging them.

How involved are you in your local community? Most people would admit: not really.

Civics is learned in practice. And it starts small. Be honest in your business dealings. Speak respectfully in disagreement. Vote in every election, not just the presidential ones. Model citizenship for your children. Liberty is passed down by teaching and example.

Samuel Corum / Stringer | Getty Images

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Start with yourself. Study the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and state laws. Study, act, serve, question, and teach. Only then can we hope to save the republic. The next election will not fix us. The nation will rise or fall based on how each of us lives civics every day.

Civics isn’t a class. It’s the way we protect freedom, empower our communities, and pass down liberty to the next generation.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.