Just how special was the ‘special relationship’ in the Second World War? (Part 2, 1942–44)

Source 1

Letter from President Roosevelt to Winston Churchill, 19 October 1942

Reference

➜ CHAR 2/469A/61-62

Simplified Transcript

The White House
Washington

October 19th [1942]

Dear Winston

I know you and Mrs Churchill will look after my wife [Eleanor Roosevelt] – I know our wives will get on beautifully.

All well here though I am worried about the South West Pacific. Every day we are killing a number of Japanese ships & planes – but there is no use hiding the fact that we are greatly out-numbered.

My trip to the West Coast [of America] was well worthwhile and the people are alright – apart from the newspaper owners. You have that problem too.

Take care of yourself

As ever
FDR

Original Transcript

The White House
Washington

Oct 19th [1942]

Dear Winston

I confide my Missus to the care of you and Mrs Churchill – I know our Better Halves will hit it off beautifully –

All well here, though I am worried about the S.W. Pacific. Every day we are killing a number of Jap ships & planes – but there is no use blinking [at] the fact that we are greatly out-numbered.

My trip to the West Coast was well worth while and the people are all right – not the newspaper owners. You have that headache too -

Take care of yourself

As ever
FDR

What is this source?

This is a personal letter from President Roosevelt to Winston Churchill in October 1942. Most communication between the leaders was by telegram or typed official letters but they did occasionally take the time to write to each other by hand.

Background to this source

Churchill had worked hard to deepen the personal relationship between himself and President Roosevelt, including visiting the US capital, Washington DC, immediately after America had entered the war in December 1941. Churchill invited Roosevelt to visit Britain on several occasions, but in the end it was the President’s wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, who visited in October 1942.

How can we use this source in the investigation?

Remember we are hoping that this source can be useful to us in investigating what was special about the relationship between Britain and America in the later years of the Second World War. Sources usually help historians in two ways:

Surface level: details, facts and figures

1. Why is Roosevelt writing to Churchill? Do you think it was significant that he chose to write by hand?
2. What information does he reveal about the problems America and Britain face?
3. What problem does Roosevelt highlight at the end of the letter?
4. What do you think this letter reveals about the relationship between Britain and America?

Deeper level: inferences and using the source as evidence

Which of the inferences below can be made from this source?

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Need help interpreting the source?

• There are a number of things to look out for which can help historians interpret this source. First of all, it can be useful to focus on the tone of the letter. This can reveal much about the nature of the relationship between the two leaders and can also signify the extent to which they trust each other.
• There are also clues about which concerns are foremost in the minds of leaders and which types of challenges they feel they share. Roosevelt makes an interesting point about the newspapers and the media and seems to see this issue as a challenge he shares with Churchill.
• Roosevelt’s reference to events in the South West Pacific relates to his concern over an ongoing struggle with the Japanese over Guadalcanal.

Explore the guide to interpreting letters

➜ Source 2

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