Sixty years ago today, former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill celebrated his 88th birthday. As part of his celebration, he received a congratulatory telegram from his old friend Bernard Baruch, the Lonely Lion of Wall Street, who, after he made his fortune on Wall Street, went on to advise six US Presidents–Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. On Churchill's 88th birthday in 1962, Baruch himself was 92.
We don't know what Baruch said in his telegram, but we do have Churchill's response, also sent as a telegram. It was: Dear Bernie. Thank you so much. I look forward with pleasure to our next meeting. Signed, Winston.
Both men would see a couple of more birthdays, and both would die in 1965, Churchill on January 24 and Baruch on July 20. Churchill was then 90 and Baruch 94. How much history they saw and participated in over their long lives!
The local tie here is that Baruch's telegram to Churchill was sent from the Western Union office here in Kingstree, and Churchill's response was received here as Mr. Baruch was spending the winter at his Little Hobcaw Plantation, near Nesmith. Churchill, of course, had visited Baruch at Little Hobcaw. The cottage he stayed in on those visits became known as the Churchill Cotttage.
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