Churchill’s Citadel: The Secret Meetings at Chartwell that Shaped History - Smithsonian Associate, Katherine Carter

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associatesseries on radio and podcast. I’m your host, Paul Vogelzang, and today’s episode takes us to the heart of one of history’s most critical periods—a time when the future of Europe, and the world, hung in the balance. 

But rather than battlefields or the halls of power, our story today begins in the quiet countryside of Kent, England, at a place called Chartwell—the beloved home of Winston Churchill.

In the 1930s, Churchill was not the wartime hero we know today. Churchill was a man out of government, politically isolated, and with few allies. Yet, it was at Chartwell, far from the center of British politics, that Churchill launched his most crucial campaign—sounding the alarm against Nazi Germany. It was here, behind closed doors, that he convened with great minds and trusted advisers—figures like Albert Einstein, T. E. Lawrence, and even American diplomat Joseph Kennedy—seeking intelligence, building alliances, and preparing for the storm he knew was coming.

But we have Katherine Carter today and we’ll talk about Churchill’s Chartwell.  Katherine Carter knows Chartwell better than anyone. She’s spent over a decade managing the house and its remarkable collections. Katherine joins us to discuss her latest book, available at Apple Books, Churchill’s Citadel: Chartwell and the Gatherings Before the Storm. In this fascinating work, Katherine Carterunveils the little-known meetings that took place there and the critical influence they had on Churchill’s eventual rise to power and the course of history.

Get ready to explore the untold stories of Churchill’s quiet yet powerful citadel. And now, let’s welcome Katherine Carter to The Not Old Better Show.

Stay tuned! You won’t want to miss this incredible look into a pivotal moment in history.

My thanks to Katherine Carter, her generosity today, and her wonderful new book Churchill’s Citadel.  Katherine Carter will be presenting at Smithsonian Associates and the title of her presentation is ‘Churchill At Chartwell,’  please check out our show notes today for details about Catherine Carter at Smithsonian Associates.  My thanks to Smithsonian for their ongoing support of the show and for all they do.  My thanks to Executive Producer Sam Heninger, his work on sound design and making the show the success it is.  My thanks to all of you online and via terrestrial radio.  Be well, be safe an let’s talk about better!  The Not Old Better Show.  Thanks everyone and we’ll see you next time. 

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