pat kenna was i think a corporal and was brought in but for the most part they were young women. many of them went to bed in tears after taking letters from churchill all day. host: did anybody stand up to him? guest: those who did got his respect. one important kicase was the middle east commander in cairo who was brilliant and spoke russian, wrote poetry. sounds like he could have been a good companion at churchill's dinner table but churchill didn't think he was a fighter which was unfair because he was. he just didn't like to send his men out to be slaughtered. he would talk about the butcher's bill based on churchill's latest scheme. but he didn't stand up to winston. and churchill sacked him. and he brought in oshenlect to take his place and he stood up to him so there were fireworks there and later between chump and montgomery and churchill and who stood up to him. so the more the fireworks, that means the better the relationship really is between the general or the admiral and churchill. if it is quiet someone is going to get sack and it is not winston. host: this book is

campaigning for an easy bake oven for boys is getting her wish after meeting with 13-year-old mek kennast monday hasbro has made a gender neutral black and silver model next year. post started the campaign so she could buy one for her little brother. her on line petition received 44,000 signatures and support of bobby flay. >> good idea. >> that is your 5@5:30. >> it may be baby steps but democrats and republicans are both signaling progress and talks to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. doug luzader has more on this. >>> good morning guys. these two guys may be moving closer to one another on a deal nor massive tax hikes. he is telling fellow republicans he is not giving away too much in the process. we saw the speaker return to the capital after another negotiating session from the white house. he didn't look all that pleased. it was a tax hike on those making 200,000 a year. it is up from the 250,000 he was seeking. >>> parameters of the potential agreement are clear. it is also the case that we have not seen a proposal besides the president's that achieves the balance that the presi

chambers in maryland, kenna in pennsylvania, finding physical labor associated with that profession, limited refuge that made life and especially family life possible. finally, both were great writers. even if the writing is repetitious. and the idea was compelling against time and space and as reagan was suggesting it will do that in the future. each man produce classical works that will be red as far as we can see. one of which we celebrate here today. in his review in the new criterion, jim pearson who i think is in here on the way. jim pearson some up kennan in a single sentence, an accomplishment i never came close to achieving in my book. he wrote, quote, and independent thinker of the first order saw something clearly that others saw but for a haze and by an act of singular intellectual courage earned absolution. for any misjudgments he may have subsequently committed. i hope jim would not mind if i change only two words to let some up whittaker chambers, who threw an act of singular moral courage earned absolution for any misjudgments he may have made previously committed. th

. >> pat kenna was another of his private secretaries. we interviewed him in london in 1994. he tells a story about a time at the white house. we will run that and you can fill in the blanks. >> it was rather amusing. on one of our many visits -- i have the better next door. the prime minister had an idea. he wanted to dictate immediately. he was still dictating. >> say that again? he was in the bath? >> yes. he was like a walrus, going down and coming up. he would say a few more words, you know? i dried him, put a bath towel around him. i followed him, no book in hand, -- notebook in hand, and he was still dictating. and then there was a rap on the door. the door was opened. and here is the british prime minister, absolutely stark. he immediately said a " i have nothing to hide from you." >> anymore to the story that you know what? >> well, this is one of those stories that there are several sides to a. churchill did write a letter to the king. i believe he is the only british prime minister to have greeted the president naked. he said that he would not have said that they d