"The first two Prime Ministers whom I served, Ted Heath and Margaret Thatcher drew strikingly different lessons from the Second World War"

Douglas Hurd's quote assesses the divergent analyses drawn by 2 influential British Prime Ministers, Ted Heath and Margaret Thatcher, from their experiences and understanding of the Second World War. Both leaders, having endured the war, used its lessons to their political ideologies and governance, however they focused on various elements that shaped their unique policies.

Ted Heath, working as Prime Minister from 1970 to 1974, is frequently remembered for his pro-European stance. The terrible effects of the war underscored for him the requirement of unity and cooperation among European nations to avoid future conflicts. This perspective is rooted in the belief that a tightly-knit Europe, bound by financial and political contracts, might ensure lasting peace and stability. Heath's policy efforts culminated in the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community in 1973. His experience of the war most likely instilled a belief in the importance of building bridges and fostering alliances to maintain peace, prevent seclusion, and ensure prosperity.

In contrast, Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, drew lessons from the war that highlighted strength, self-reliance, and a strong defense. Understood for her forthright and uncompromising management style, Thatcher saw the war as a testimony to the value of national strength and assertiveness. Her policies reflected a concentrate on reviving Britain's economic may through free-market reforms, decreasing the influence of trade unions, and making sure an effective defense posture. Thatcher's focus on private effort and limited government intervention can be traced back to a wartime spirit of standing firm versus adversities, most likely strengthened by Britain's wartime defiance and determination.

Therefore, Hurd's quote succinctly captures how individual history and wartime experiences can shape a leader's vision and affect their policy options, resulting in vastly different approaches to governance and global relations in spite of originating from a typical historical event.