A Signature of Winston Churchill, From the Personal Collection of Adm. Hyman Rickover
Given in return for the hope that the U.S. would continue to provide nuclear technology assistance to Britain.
In 1955 the U.S. Navy completed the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. During subsequent exercises with the Royal Navy, Nautilus demonstrated the advantages of the nuclear submarine against British anti-submarine forces, which were now outdated. The Admiralty appreciated the need for nuclear-powered vessels, and planned to build all-British nuclear submarines....
In 1955 the U.S. Navy completed the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. During subsequent exercises with the Royal Navy, Nautilus demonstrated the advantages of the nuclear submarine against British anti-submarine forces, which were now outdated. The Admiralty appreciated the need for nuclear-powered vessels, and planned to build all-British nuclear submarines. Much time would be saved if Britain could take advantage of U.S. nuclear technology. Admiral Hyman Rickover was in charge of the American naval nuclear power program. In 1956, Rickover visited Britain and agreed to sharing the technology, saying "England has been a real friend and ally of America for generations. We should help them." On behalf of the United States, he offered Britain technological assistance. Rickover became a popular man within the British leadership, who, because of the ongoing nature of the assistance, needed his continued cooperation.
In 1958, Rickover wrote to Lt. General Ronald Lord Weeks asking if he could obtain the autograph of Winston Churchill for his personal collection. Weeks was Churchill’s Chief of the Imperial General Staff in World War II, and became Chief of Staff of the British zone for the Allied Control Council in Germany in 1945. He was in a position to approach Churchill, and was also well aware of the crucial role Rickover had played, and was continuing to play, in providing U.S. assistance to Britain. At this point in his life, Churchill did not like to give autographs, but Weeks determined to try for Rickover nonetheless.
On May 1, 1958, Weeks wrote Rickover, saying, “I have been successful in getting Sir Winston to give his signature, and I enclose the result which I hope is what you want. He was very cagey about it as he always refuses; nevertheless thanks to the charm of his secretary I managed to get it. I hope things are going favorably as regards future policy.”
He enclosed a card addressed to Rickover, with Churchill’s franking signature.
An interesting trade – the hope for Rickover’s support of U.S. naval policy that favored Britain, placed against Churchill’s autograph in return!
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