Lasker developed a close political relationship with President Johnson, who credited modern medical science with saving his life after he suffered a heart attack in 1958. Lasker had Johnson and his wife Lady Bird Johnson for lunch at her New York townhouse, spent a night at the White House, and met with Johnson several times to discuss health matters, all in the first two months of his presidency. Johnson was moved to add medical research and health care delivery initiatives to his Great Society programs by "the insistence of that lovely Lady, Mrs. Mary Lasker" and the "grim facts" about the continuing toll of disease she presented to him.
Number of Image Pages:
1 (31,078 Bytes)
Date:
1958-11-09 (November 9, 1958)
Creator:
Johnson, Lyndon B.
United States Senate
Recipient:
Lasker, Mary
Source:
Original Repository: Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Mary Lasker Papers
Rights:
This item is in the public domain. It may be used without permission.
Subject:
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH):
Myocardial Infarction
Exhibit Category:
From Bench to Bedside: Mary Lasker and the Drive for "Payoff" from Medical Research
