Paul Ryan explained to a crowd in New Hampshire this morning that he was a “big fan of Winston Churchill” during his opening remarks.

As a bell began tolling in the background, Ryan joked that he wasn’t going to dodge the tough issues, but instead elect new leadership “at the eleventh hour.”

“Cue the bells,” Ryan added with a chuckle as the crowd applauded.

“That reminds me, that one of my favorite figures in history – I’m a big fan of Winston Churchill – and I have a bust of Winston Churchill in my office,” Ryan said.

“Churchill said that ‘Americans can always be counted on doing the right thing, but only if they have exhausted all possibilities,’” he added.