Another Traffic Accident That Almost Changed History

Submitted by Steven Bryant (United States), Feb 23, 2005 at 09:24

Dr. Pipes,

Your article reminded me of another traffic accident that probably changed history. Your readers may recall that on December 1931 Winston Churchill was in New York City on an American lecture tour. On December 13, he took a taxi from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to Bernard Baruch's home on 5th Avenue. Upon arriving at his destination, the future prime minister of Great Britain looked the wrong way and was run down by another New York taxicab. His injuries were so severe that he was taken immediately to Lenox Hill Hospital. He was not well enough to leave New York until December 31.

Imagine for yourself what the world would be like today if that accident had killed or permanently incapacitated the great man rather than merely injured him. It's almost too horrible to contemplate.

Your readers can find out more about this accident and Winston Churchill at the website for the Churchill Centre. Its address is http://www.winstonchurchill.org.

Steve Bryant

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".