COMMITTEE FOR THE NATION'S HEALTH, INC -'-
2212 M Street, N.W.

*I

Washington 7, D. C.

Tel.: EX 3-8156

CHAIRMAN

Channing Frothingham, M.D.

HONORARY VICE-CHAIRMEN

George Meany
Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam
Walter P. Reuther
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Gerard Swope

TREASURER

Henry Kaiser

SECRETARY

Waltan Hamilton

CHAIRMAN,
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Michael M. Davis

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Channing Frothingham, M.D.
Viola W. Bernard, M.D.
James A. Brownlow
Morris Llewellyn Cooke
Poul 8. Cornely, M.D.
Nelson H. Cruikshank
Joseph Curran
Michael M. Davis
John W. Edelman
Katherine P. Ellickson
Abe Fortas
Frank F. Furstenberg, M.D.
Arthur Goldberg
Harry Goldblatt, M.D.
Bernard Greenberg
John Gunther
Walton Hamilton
Henry Kaiser
Mary Dublin Keyserling
John A. Lapp
David J. McDonald
Joseph C. Meyer, M.D.
Newbold Morris
James G. Patton
Eric Peterson
Jacob Potofrky
Samuel 1. Rosenman
Theodore M. Sanders, M.D.
Max Seham, M.D.
Robert E. Sherwood
Boris Shishkin
Wayne Chatfield Taylor
Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
R. M. Walls, D.D.S.
Lester Washburn
Hubert Will
Wilson M. Wing, M.D.
Matthew Woll

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

John M. Brumm

* 94

Dear hry:

8

I phoned you the last time I was in New York, finding

from your secretary that you were just about to leave for
the Southwest; so I didn't pursue you.
you about the closing of the Committee for the Nation's
Health.  I have been convinced for about two years that
the Committee's activities should be terminated and that
the time for action would be shortly after the merger of
AI% and CIO had been consummated.
the Committee accomplished a good deal in national legis-
lation relating to hospitals, research, public health and
the care of persons on public assistance.
of national health insurance helped in reducing opposition
to these seconc?ary measures.
however has been to put the idea of health insurance
firrnly on the administrative and political map.  In this,
the A.M.B. helped because its attack on "socialized medi-
cine" had to be accompanied by advertisement of (voluntary)
healtk insurance.
on health matters -- a task no longer necessary.

I wanted to tell

TjJe all believe that

Our advocacy

The main acconlplishment

And we coordinated AFL and CIO policies

We did quite well financially in getting contribu-

tions fro2 international and local unions, but it became
evident that the Committee had become so identified with
a specific legislative program that it was seriously
handicapped in the necessary educational work with the
general public and with organizations outside of labor; handi-
ceps correspondingly in relation to legislation.

Lith the general acceptance of the health insurance

principle, the need for education shifts to the question:
Iihat do we get for our health insurance money?  It has
become evident that the educational work in behalf of
comprehensive medical services and group practice must
be separated from legislative-lobbying activities. Yie
worked over these policy questions at a two-day conference
last summer, bringing in several outside experts.

  The fresh start that is needed will involve both an
educational organization and a separate legislative one.

-2-

The legislative work may center in UL-CIO but must involve other organi-
zations in coordination.
to shape the lines of an organization to promote nationally the kind of
comprehensive service and group practice with which you are familiar in
1I.I.P.; though the framework would vary from H.I.P.'s, depending on the
size of community, the auspices, etc.

B few of us are now getting; OUT heads together

Personally, I do not intend to take active part in any more organi-

zations, as I want to givs myself primarily to writing.
book and several articles in prospect.
on the preliminary stages of a new organization for the purposes mentioned.

I have another

I have agreed to work with others

   Your helpfulness in planning, financing and getting underway the
Committee for the IIJation's Health was a great service to a cause and to
your humble servant. 1'11 never forget it. I hope to see you in New
York after you return.

Vith warm regards,

Tks. Albert D. Lasker
Chrysler E3uilding
Lexington Avenue E 42nd Street
Yew York, !Jew York

Sincerely yours,