10. Churchill may have suffered a mild heart attack while in the White House
On the evening of December 26, following his triumph before Congress and only 4 days after arriving at the White House, Winston Churchill felt ill. He had watched the film with Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister MacKenzie King. After returning to his rooms Churchill felt what he later described as “a dull pain over my heart” as he attempted to open a window. The following day he reported to his personal physician, who examined him but did not diagnose him at the time as having had a heart attack. The doctor, Sir Charles Wilson (later known as Lord Moran) mildly suggested his patient slow down his dizzying pace. He may have suggested fewer cigars and brandies, though he had long been Churchill’s physician and likely knew the futility of such a suggestion.
In his diary though, which became public following Churchill’s death, Wilson noted his diagnosis of Churchill suffering a mild heart attack. When Dr. Wilson returned to London he sought out the opinion of a specialist, Dr. John Parkinson. Dr. Parkinson reviewed Wilson’s notes and did not concur with his colleague, saying Churchill had not suffered a heart attack on December 26. During the trip to Ottawa (Churchill journeyed by train to and from Canada) Dr. Wilson accompanied him and later reported several instances when the Prime Minister reported shortness of breath. Churchill returned to Washington around noon on New Year’s Day, where he was whisked to Alexandria and George Washington’s pew at Christ Church. There he and Roosevelt joined in the singing of patriotic songs in celebration of the day. Roosevelt had previously designated New Year’s Day as a National Day of Prayer.