Health care issues in presidential campaigns.

Abstract

Presidential campaigns are unique events in American political life. They provide the only opportunity for the public to express its views as one on a vast array of critical policy issues, including health care. For example, in his 1960 contest with Richard Nixon, John Kennedy emphasized his support for federally guaranteed health care for elderly Americans. His victory set the stage for the later enactment of Medicare and Medicaid legislation.1 However, health care issues have not figured prominently in any recent presidential election. Given the extraordinary problems of cost and equity that currently plague our health care system, many providers . . .