Thanks for getting back to me and providing more context.
I do agree that Churchill was probably surprised by Roosevelt’s use of the term because it was not in the official communiqué. Trying to figure out how certain historical decisions were influenced is very challenging.
The way you describe the events strikes me as very strong and requires a lot of things to be true other than the term being used accidentally:
Accidentally called for unconditional surrender of the Japanese, leading to the eventual need for the bomb to be dropped. (p.35)
Based on the available information and until we have better evidence for the claim, I would not want to use this as an example of a simple mistake having severe consequences. And because the Anecdote is incredibly catchy, I worry that policy researchers and practitioners will read it and subsequently use it in conversation.
Thanks for getting back to me and providing more context.
I do agree that Churchill was probably surprised by Roosevelt’s use of the term because it was not in the official communiqué. Trying to figure out how certain historical decisions were influenced is very challenging.
The way you describe the events strikes me as very strong and requires a lot of things to be true other than the term being used accidentally:
Based on the available information and until we have better evidence for the claim, I would not want to use this as an example of a simple mistake having severe consequences. And because the Anecdote is incredibly catchy, I worry that policy researchers and practitioners will read it and subsequently use it in conversation.