Winston Churchill's First Speech as Prime Minister in 1940: "Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat"

by Ron Kurtus

Winston Churchill became United Kingdom Prime Minister on May 10, 1940, near the beginning of World War II. Three days later, he made his first speech to the House of Commons. In it, he made the oft-quoted statement, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."

This was the first of many inspirational speeches he made during the war.