A Ticket to Hear Winston Churchill’s Address to a Joint Session of Congress on the Progress of the War Against Germany and Japan

Taken from the personal scrapbook of Congressman A. Leonard Allen, who was there

The first ticket to this epochal event we have seen, it is now being offered for sale for the first time

In May 1943, Winston Churchill was in Washington for the Trident Conference, a strategic meeting of the Americans and British during which they discussed the invasion of Sicily, extent of military force, the date for invading Normandy (which would prove to be June 6, 1944, forever known as D-Day), and the progress of the war in the Pacific.

Churchill also made his second speech to Congress on May 19. Churchill reminded them that ""the main burden of the war on land"" was still being borne by the Soviet Army on the Eastern Front. He added that the final triumph, in spite of the recent victory in Tunisia, would come only after battles as difficult and costly as those that had followed the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War.

Churchill stated, “We have not travelled all this way simply to concern themselves about improving the health and happiness of the Mikado of Japan. I thought it would be good that all concerned in this theatre should meet together and thrash out in friendly candor, heart to heart, all the points that arise; and there are many…This process will continue ceaselessly with ever-increasing weight and intensity until the German and Italian peoples abandon or destroy the monstrous tyrannies which they have incubated and reared in their midst…”

The New York Times headlined the speech the next day: “Churchill Predicts Huge Allied Drive in 1943.”

A. Leonard Allen was a congressman from Louisiana who represented his district from 1937-1953. This is a ticket to hear Churchill’s speech that was issued to Allen. The front of the ticket reads: “House of Representatives, Admit bearer to the Gallery of the House of Representatives, May 19, 1943”, and contains the printed signature of the Doorkeeper, Ralph R. Roberts The verso shows that Allen or his guest sat in Gallery 2, row C, seat 5. This was a much-coveted seat to see this historic event.

This is the first time we have seen a ticket to view this great speech. It comes from Allen’s scrapbook and has never before been offered for sale.