We forget how often President's used to hold news conferences. During the JFK years is was almost every week. This Press Conference, from June 7, 1962 covers a wide range of topics. The budget, the recession, inflation, taxes and of course Medicare, which was foremost on JFK's agenda in 1962.

He opens the Press Conference with a statement:

President Kennedy: "Good afternoon. I have a brief preliminary statement. I would like to say a few words about our economic outlook and program.
I think most financial experts have realized for some time that an overpriced market could not hold up once investors recognized that inflation was ending. Price-earning ratios which averaged on Dow-Jones 23 to 1 could not be justified unless there was heavy inflation in prospect. And we have been working to prevent inflation, which gives a very misleading and spurious picture of economic health. We must not permit the effects of this adjustment, however, to hamper the growth rate of our economy, with which we have, as you know, not been fully satisfied. While our recovery from last year's recession has been a good one, production, profits, and employment are at alltime highs, and the prospects for continued economic expansion remain favorable. In view of corporate and consumer cash on hand, we should take every appropriate step to make certain that recovery is stronger and longer than before and is not cut short by a new recession.

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It should be remembered that the concept of affordable Healthcare for everyone isn't a new concept. It's history goes back as far as 1909 as an idea hatched by Teddy Roosevelt. It was re-introduced during the FDR years, first as a possible adjunct to Social Security, but shelved temporarily, and was in the midst of being introduced again, when World War 2 broke out in December of 1941. It was again introduced by Harry Truman as a continuation of the legacy of FDR. It was bandied about during the Eisenhower years and it was again introduced in 1962 by President Kennedy.

Here is an address made by JFK at a rally in Madison Square Garden on May 20, 1960. Promoted as Medical Care for the Aged, Kennedy hoped for a plan that would insure decent medical care to those over the age of 65 and those who couldn't afford it. The bill was introduced and shelved, but was re-introduced and finally passed during the Johnson Administration in 1964 as a legacy to President Kennedy.

Here is that complete address.

This week fifty years ago, President Kennedy assessed his first year in office, expressed concern over the drop in graduates in the Sciences in colleges around the country and disappointment that the Test Ban Treaty was a failure.

Other topics covered in this first Press Conference of 1962 were Berlin, the Indonesia/Dutch dispute, the issue of Trade, the Food For Peace Program, Civil Rights, The Common Market and proposed Medicare Legislation. A question was raised as to whether there were troops engaged in combat in Vietnam, and the answer was no.

A fascinating glimpse into the Kennedy Years from January 15, 1962.

It seems Social Security is always in some grave danger and Medicare isn't too far behind. So it was during this Face The Nation episode from August 21, 1983 featuring HHS Secretary Margaret Heckler where she explains her take on the Social Security/Medicare crisis of 1983.

Margaret Heckler: “I think the Social Security crisis was a subject of more doom and gloom in the political rhetoric than probably any other issue ever discussed. What we learned that, despite that doom and gloom, that Social Security did survive. And I would say that, at this point, Medicare is as important a fixture in our statute books as any program yet devised. I do think there are problems. There has to be a bi-partisan solution to the problem, but yes I would reassure people that the Medicare program will survive to meet the needs of the elderly in the future as it has the last twenty years, in the sense that the program is important, it will be restructured with a bi-partisan debate but it will survive.”

Considered part of that extinct breed of Republican known as a Moderate, and according to some reports, Heckler had a rather stormy relationship with the Reagan White House, one which eventually lead to her being "promoted" to Ambassador to Ireland in 1985.

But during her tenure Heckler was not only faced with yet another crisis with Social Security and Medicare, she was also faced with the onset of AIDS which, by her own admission, took HHS by surprise and would become something of a political football in the process.

Another chapter of the Reagan years.

(LBJ in 1965 - Great plans, great ideas - eclipsed by Vietnam)

(Until we get back to normal, Newstalgia is reposting a series of articles on the Health Care issue, in case you missed them the first time around.)

When Lyndon Johnson gave his first State Of The Nation address on January 4, 1965 after winning the 1964 election, it was filled with hope and optimism. Every good idea and plan for the American people was on the boards and ready to go. Many of the programs were implemented - Medicare, The Civil Rights Bill, the War on Poverty - a lot of programs still in effect today.

LBJ: “We must open opportunity to all our people. Most Americans enjoy a good life. But far too many are still trapped in poverty and idleness and fear. Let a just nation throw open to them the city of promise. To the elderly, by providing hospital care under Social Security and by raising benefit payments to those struggling to maintain the dignity of their later years.”

But there was that one element which would eventually turn the focus from all the good programs to what had become one very bad idea: Vietnam.

By the end of 1965 our involvement went from "training and advisers for the South Vietnamese Army" to increased draft calls and escalating weekly casualty figures of our own. We were in it and we were stuck in it. And by the end of 1965 there looked like no turning back.

The domestic programs were great. The Great Society was a wonderful idea. It's often been said that, had there been no Vietnam, LBJ would have gone down in history as a truly progressive President. Vietnam would become the thorn in his side and his eventual downfall.

It's one of those quirks of history - the ones that often repeat.

(Abraham Ribicoff - Secretary of Health, Education And Welfare in 1961 - also Hand Holder, Paranoia Assuager, Debunker)

(Another repost from the Newstalgia Archives)

In 1961, JFK introduced a bill that would provide medical assistance to the Aged. It later became known as Medicare and would later pass in 1965 during the Johnson Administration. As is always the case, the mere mention of anything connection with a government aid program where Healthcare is concerned is immediately tossed into the realm of Socialized Medicine. And in 1961 it was no different.

Newly appointed Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Abraham Ribioff was confronted by a dizzying array of skepticism from the Insurance and Pharmaceutical industries who instantly labeled any kind of Healthcare reform as Socialized Medicine. As is evidenced by this exchange between Ribicoff and Meet The Press co-founder Lawrence Spivak:

Lawrence Spivak: “ Mister Secretary, as you know the AMA and others have charged that the Medical Bill for the Aged under Social Security is an opening wedge to Socialized Medicine. Now if you thought there was a chance that the bill might be an opening wedge to Socialized Medicine, would you still be for it?”

Abraham Ribicoff: “ Well, it’s not an opening wedge to Socialized Medicine, I’m for the bill.

Spivak: “No, I’m asking if you thought that it was an opening wedge . . .

Ribicoff: “I would be against it . . .I would be against the bill if it were Socialized Medicine. . . “

Spivak: “If it opened the door to Socialized Medicine?”

Ribicoff: “It doesn’t open the door to Socialized Medicine”

Spivak: “Would you tell us what makes you so sure that it doesn’t?”

Ribicoff: “Because you and I and every other American, Mister Spivak has the right to choose his own doctor. There is nothing in this bill that has anything to do with doctors. This bill takes care of the health needs to the people of America, our aged over sixty-five, and basically takes care of their hospital bills, their nursing home bills and their visits to the home for home care. The bill specifically provides that each and every American has the right to choose his own doctor and his own hospital.”

The bill wound up being defeated, owing to a Congress recess and an overheated paranoia campaign (sound familiar?). But the Medicare Bill did finally pass in 1965.

The eerie sense of Deja-vu is everywhere.

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Looking at local news for this April 20th in 1964. From New York, nerves were on edge and appeals were being sought for the upcoming massive Civil Rights Protests, slated to go on opening day of the New York World's Fair, April 22nd.

The New York Supreme Court weighed in with a "no" to CORE and other Civil Rights groups for permission to stage the protest, but they were pledged to go on anyway, no matter what.

President Johnson narrowly missed a convergence of the Elderly during his brief visit to New York. The demonstration was in favor of pending Medicare legislation, which Johnson was championing. In light of other protests directed towards him, he may have wanted to stick around to hear the support.

In other news, mostly regarding the goings-on in New York - a new poll released showed support for the Presidential candidacy of Nelson Rockefeller in the upcoming 1964 election was slim at best. Not a good sign from home turf, to say the least.

McCarthy-era Attorney Roy Cohn was scheduled for a new date and a second Conspiracy and Perjury Trial as the first one was declared a mistrial the day before.

And it was disclosed a tentative $210 million dollar New York School budget for 1965-1966 was coming up for approval. Back when education was important.

And what is news from New York without news of Broadway? News of openings and closings and an interview with Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burton.

And that's how it, and a lot of other news, rolled in The Big Apple on this April 20th in 1964, from WNBC's 6:30 New York News Special.

Less of a cliffhanger day than the one we're currently in. July 29, 1965 nonetheless had it's fair share of historic moments. Reaction was swift and varied from President Johnson's address the night before. He called for a dramatic buildup in troops in South Vietnam, asking for 50,000.

Pres. Johnson: "This is a different kind of war."

And even as he was speaking, the 1st Brigade of the 101st airborne Division was readying to land in South Vietnam. The buildup also meant an increase in draft quotas and a call from House Minority Leader Gerald Ford to cut back on new Domestic spending in order to fund this excursion. Somewhat ironic, since the Medicare Bill passed the Senate with flying colors and was ready for LBJ to sign on the 30th. When in doubt, blame Medicare.

Overseas reaction was somewhat subdued with the Kremlin reaction noted as being "cool". Britain was hesitant to be all that committal, saying if the U.S. had observed the 1954 agreements regarding Vietnam, this buildup might not be happening. They suggested the UN Security Council engage in a peace settlement.

Elsewhere, Civil Rights demonstrations were starting up again in Greensboro Alabama after one peaceful demonstration turned violent. It also got violent in Americus Georgia overnight with one person killed in a driveby.

Aside from the Vietnam buildup occupying conversation on Capitol Hill, there was also talk about the appointment of Abe Fortas to the bench on the Supreme Court, taking over for Arthur Goldberg.

In hindsight, a momentous day which of course, we didn't know at the time. History is like that.

Here is the complete half-hour newscast from WCBS-FM in New York, including local New York City news and the World News Roundup for July 29, 1965.

At least it's a distraction.

Sadly, Medicare wasn't to happen in President Kennedy's lifetime. It was a piece of legislation whose time had come and had been resisted as far back as the FDR Administration when it was initially considered as an adjunct to Social Security.

Much like the current Healthcare legislation, it had a history and a well heeled lobby working against it. Now Medicare is faced with being gutted by pretty much the same wolves in different clothing. But the same wolves.

At a Medical Care For The Aged rally at Madison Square Garden on May 20, 1962, President Kennedy spelled it out in no uncertain terms:

President Kennedy: “The point of the matter is, that the AMA is doing very well in its efforts to stop this bill. And the doctors of New Jersey and of every other state may be opposed to it, but I know that not a single doctor, if this bill is passed, is going to refuse to treat any patient. No one would become a doctor just as a business enterprise, it’s a long laborious discipline. We need more of them. We want their help, and gradually we’re getting it. The problem however is more complicated because they do not comprehend what we’re trying to do. We do not cover doctors bills here, we do not affect the freedom of choice. You can go to any doctor you want. The doctor and you work out your arrangements with him – we talk about his hospital bill. And that’s an entirely different matter. And I hope that one by one the doctors of the United States will take the extraordinary step of not merely reading the journals and publications of the AMA because I do not recognize the bill when I hear those descriptions.”

Fortunately, the responsibility of getting Medicare signed into law would fall into the lap of Lyndon Johnson. It was billed as a legacy to a fallen President.

Something to consider while slashing is taking place.

Former Connecticut Governor Abraham Ribicoff was the first cabinet appointee of the Kennedy Administration. Ribicoff became Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare in 1961. One of his first goals was to finally usher in a comprehensive Government Health plan for the aged and disabled. Medicare was one of those forward looking pieces of legislation much associated with The New Frontier, even though it had its roots back to the Truman Administration. It proved to be an uphill battle for Ribicoff and Medicare wound up being stalled and not passed until 1965, when it became something of a memorial tribute to JFK during the Johnson administration.

But in 1962, Ribicoff was heavily promoting the plan on various Public Affairs panel shows, including this episode of Meet The Press from June 19, 1962.

Maryann Means (Hearst Newspapers): “Philosophically, this (Medicare) represents a new area in which government is going to be involved in the lives of individuals. Don’t you think that the doctors have some justification in being concerned with this trend?

Abraham Ribicoff: “No, I don’t agree with you Miss Means, because it is not a new trend. The government is already in the field of medicine in the so-called controversial Kerr-Mills bill. The government is in the field of medicine. The government is in the field of medicine in the Veterans Administration. The government is in the field of medicine in giving medical care for people on relief and people on old-age assistance. So the government today is very much in medicine. The government is in medicine under the Hill-Burton Program with grants to hospitals. The government is in medicine in a fantastically large research program. So the United States Government has been in medicine for a long time and very heavy Miss Means.”