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Andrew HeiskellAndrew Heiskell
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Session:         Page of 824

F.D.R., or other high-government people? Do you remember any--

Heiskell:

Yes, I know that he did do some self-censoring. But you didn't exactly discuss matters with Churchill very much.

Q:

Okay.

Heiskell:

You know that--did I tell you that Churchill had a grammarian? I was out there, later--out at Chartwell. I think I told you I had only been there once, but I am wrong. I was out there a second time, just as a guest among a large number of people. And I remember Churchill was talking to me. He mumbles terribly. Mumbling plus the British accent makes it quite difficult for an American to understand him. But at one point, he said something which I thought was very funny, I laughed and so on, and he stopped and he said, “Oh, you liked that?” And I said, “Oh, I thought that was very funny.” He said, “Fine, I'll use it in the House tomorrow.” He was rehearsing his speech for the next day in the House!

At the same party, I was introduced to a gentleman whose name completely escapes me, and I began talking about the memoirs, and he said, “Oh, yes, I know the memoirs word for word.” And I said, “Oh? How does that happen?” He said, “Well, didn't you know I'm Mr. Churchill's grammarian?” I said, “What? I beg your pardon? I thought his grammar was perfect!” He said, “Churchill makes sure about everything, including grammar, and I have been his grammarian for years and years.”





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