Villa Mirador

I had an opportunity to visit the home of the American Consul General this past week for an event that featured Mr. H. Delano Roosevelt who is the grandson of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The residence has been occupied by the acting Consul General for the past 65 years and served as a key location for meetings between Winton Churchill, FDR, and Charles de Gaulle in the early part of 1943. Churchill lived at the residence in a neighborhood called Anfa here in Casablanca.

According to a handout at the residence, "In light of the Nazi conquest of North Africa, President Roosevelt, and Prime Minister Churchill worked together to launch Operation Torch in 1942, a campaign to liberate North Africa from its Nazi occupiers and thus open up space as a launching ground for a future invasion of southern Europe."

In January of 1943, Churchill lived at Villa Mirador and FDR lived in a manor down the street. They met often in the war room which was an office near the entrance to the home. As a visitor, you can go in the room and even sit at the same desk that Churchill worked at to plan the response to the Nazi invasion. The hotel across the street also housed many dignitaries at the time and was the location for meetings as well.

It was pretty awesome to be there, to meet Mr. Roosevelt and the Consul General, Ms. Marissa Scott, and to explore the home and grounds that have such historical significance.

Mike

This is the Consul General and Ms. H. Delano Roosevelt

This was some famous Moroccan singer - did not catch his name.

This was the Anfa Hotel where the dignitaries stayed during the conference in 1943.