On the night of the tenth of May[1940], at the outset of this mighty battle,

"On the night of the tenth of May[1940], at the outset of this mighty
battle, I acquired the chief power in the State, which henceforth
I wielded in ever-growing measure for five years and three months
of world war, at the end of which time, all our enemies having surrendered
unconditionally or being about to do so, I was immediately dismissed
by the British electorate from all further conduct of their affairs."
-- Sir Winston Churchill, "The Gathering Storm"