"Irving Berlin's World War II musical This Is the Army toured Great Britain just as Prime Minister Winston Churchill was reading war dispatches by the brilliant Oxford don Isaiah Berlin [head of the Special Survey Section of the British Embassy in Washington].

"Churchill asked for a meeting. A communications snafu sent the luncheon invitation to the wrong 'I. Berlin,' and Irving showed up at Number 10. The PM addressed him as Professor and grilled him about the progress of the war.

"Bewildered, the composer answered in monosyllables, until a frustrated Churchill gave up and turned to the guest on his left. Later, he commented: 'Berlin's like most bureaucrats. Wonderful on paper, but disappointing when you meet them face to face.'"

Anecdotage.Com - Thousands of true funny stories about famous people. Anecdotes from Gates to Yeats

__________________