Office of the Historian

Roosevelt Papers: Telegram

President Roosevelt to Prime Minister Churchill1

secret
priority
[Washington,] 20 March 1944.

Number 506. Personal and secret. From the President for the Former Naval Person.

I am very angry with myself. The old attack of grippe having hung on and on, leaving me with an intermittent temperature, Ross2 decided about a week ago that it is necessary for me to take a complete rest [Page 4] of about two or three weeks in a suitable climate which I am definitely planning to do beginning at the end of this month. I see no way out and I am furious.

It will therefore be impossible for me to get to a staff meeting in early April. I believe that such a meeting on the Teheran scale in early April would be most useful and if you agree I will send my Chiefs of Staff to Bermuda for that purpose at any time that suits your convenience.

I am glad you feel hardened about Overlord. Its accomplishment may synchronize with a real Russian break-through.

Roosevelt
  1. Sent to the United States Naval Attaché, London, via Navy channels.↩
  2. Vice Admiral Ross T. McIntire, Roosevelt’s physician.↩