Inside the Vault: Harry Truman on National Healthcare
During World War II, medical examinations for military service revealed that about thirty percent of Americans were unfit for service due to physical or mental disability. Immediately following the war, President Truman addressed Congress on the inaccessibility of medical care, framing the health crisis as a national security issue, and proposed a national healthcare plan. While the plan did not receive majority support in Congress, Truman continued to promote a federal health insurance plan and public funding for medical facilities throughout his presidency, including in a 1951 letter to Dr. Channing Frothingham of Boston.
Join us on December 5, 2024, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT) when our curators will discuss President Truman’s letter to Dr. Frothingham about Truman’s national healthcare plan with Professor Barbara Perry, Director of Presidential Studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center.
Submit your questions for Dr. Perry here.
Featured Documents
Related Resources
- News Post: The Health Care Debate in 1951
- Essay: “First Ladies’ Contributions to Political Issues and the National Welfare” by Betty Boyd Caroli, History Now 35 (Spring 2013)
- Essay: “The Korean War” by Allan R. Millett (University of New Orleans), History Now 31 (Spring 2012)
I cannot attend the live program. Will it be recorded?
Yes! The program is recorded and sent in an email the following day to everyone who registers.
Future Programs
Inside the Vault: The Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment
In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation declared the end of slavery in the rebellious states, but slavery was not abolished in the United States until after the Civil War ended in 1865. What did it take to get the Thirteenth Amendment ratified? Why was slavery abolished by a constitutional amendment rather than legislation? How have interpretations of the Thirteenth Amendment evolved over time?
Join us on January 2, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT) when our curators discuss the road to the Thirteenth Amendment with Dr. Touré Reed, Professor of History at Illinois State University.
About Inside the Vault
Inside the Vault: Highlights from the Gilder Lehrman Collection is an online program that highlights unique primary sources from the Gilder Lehrman Collection. From iconic historical treasures, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Emancipation Proclamation, to personal letters that reveal the contributions of ordinary American citizens, each session will investigate primary sources and discuss their background, impact, and potential use in the classroom.