Body Politics: A History of Health Care

tony backstory producer — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:53:52 +0000

In 1912, Teddy Roosevelt became the first presidential candidate to stump for national health insurance. He lost that election, but a century later, the issue continues to divide Americans.

On this episode, the History Guys explore the origins of the health care debate, and try to explain how we wound up with a system so different from the European model. They hear from Jacob Hacker, author of the “public option” plan, about why lobbyists hold so much sway over health policy, and travel back to 1611 to visit colonial America’s first hospital. They also hear the story of how inoculation first came to the New World.

Full Transcript

Guests Include:

Jacob Hacker, political scientist and editor of Health at Risk: America’s ailing health system and how to heal it
John Pagano, Historical Interpretation Supervisor at Henricus Historical Park

Show Highlights

The Health of the Nation — Jacob Hacker explains how we wound up with a health care system so different from the European model.
Heathen Health — Nate DiMeo tells the story of how inoculation first came to the New World.
Health Care in the New World — Catherine Moore visits Virginia’s Mt. Malado, the first hospital in the New World.

Cited:

Photos of the recreated 17th century hospital at Mt. Malado: 1, 2, 3
“The Memory Palace,” Nate DiMeo’s podcast about American history

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BackStory with the American History Guys » public option

Body Politics: A History of Health Care

Guests Include:

Show Highlights

Cited:

Web Exclusive

Further Reading