Churchill’s Honorary Citizenship Passport
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) & London – 04/15/1963 Churchill’s Honorary Citizenship Passport
In 1963, Sir Winston Churchill was honored by President J.F.K. with honorary US citizenship. You can see how this special passport is handed over to Churchill’s son during the proclamation. The original (?) document is on display at the Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, England. (Thanks to my fellow collector who also provided the pictures)!
White House. Guests assembled for the Proclamation of Sir Winston Churchill an Honorary Citizen of the USA. American President John F. Kennedy, Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy, and Randolph Churchill, Sir Winston’s son on the right of the picture, walk to the microphones. President Kennedy speaking, starts to speak – natural sound. He talks about Churchill’s greatness and his living legend status.
He finishes speaking. Crowds watching from outside the White House. Randolph Churchill speaking – natural sound. He reads a letter from his father addressed to the American President in which Churchill discusses great honor, continues about comradeship of the two states, and accepts the citizenship with pride. Randolph Churchill finishes. Crowd watching.
US Secretary of State Dean Rusk starts to speak – natural sound. He is officially handing in his passport. He finishes speaking and hands the passport to President Kennedy who hands it to Randolph Churchill who thanks him for it. Churchill’s Honorary Citizenship Passport
Press outside Sir Winston’s home, No 28 Hyde Park Gate, London. Towards, the American Ambassador’s car arrives. Policeman. The number plate on the Ambassador’s car – USA 1.
The American Ambassador, David Bruce, goes into No 28 carrying the citation in a large case. Pressmen. Sir Winston Churchill standing in the doorway of his home. He shakes hands with the American Ambassador, followed by the Ambassador’s wife, he is smoking a cigar.
Churchill standing in the doorway smoking a large cigar. Source: www.britishpathe.com
“We all have a passport, but they don’t list our birthplace as Blenheim Palace and occupation as Prime Minister.” Churchill’s Honorary Citizenship Passport
But then there are also these pictures which indicate that the Blenheim Palace document might be a copy only!?
Churchill’s Honorary Citizenship/Passport
Tom Topol | Passport History Expert & Author.
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