The Heart of Power: Health and Politics in the Oval Office

The Obama administration is writing a new chapter right now and appears to have learned many of the vital lessons of prior presidencies as it dances with Congress to frame health reform. The Heart of Power is a masterpiece and a valuable primer for future presidents as they wrestle with the dragon of health reform.

Once again, the nation faces the urgent need for health reform, and Heart of Power is essential reading for anyone who cares about improving our health care system to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Kennedy "A fascinating story of personalities, politics, and pratfalls of the presidents in their shaping of American healthcare.

Written with deep insight and fluid prose, this unique contribution from a physician and an historian is a must read for all who wish to understand how we arrived at our current system and what is needed to advance it. This creative and compulsively readable book offers a genuinely new approach to the problem of leadership in large causes. Instructive in many ways, The Heart of Power is a moving testament to the power of the heart, in high places.

Bush, who drove the largest expansions of health care coverage.

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Third, the politics we witnessed during President Obama's push for health care reform were really nothing new; "tricks" used on both side of the aisle have been used before when dealing with health care reform by both parties. Fifth, President Obama either read this book or came to the same conclusions independently; he seems to have learned from history what it takes to get health care reform passed because he followed most of the lessons-learned in this book.

Feb 04, Nanette Bulebosh rated it really liked it. I loved this book! The authors examine how the last century's presidents, starting with FDR, dealt with the health care issue. FDR intended to initiate universal health care, as a kind of follow-up to Social Security, but he was dissuaded by his doctor friends. Nixon, surprisingly, looked at the issue with a great deal of compassion, having watched two brothers die of TB.

Johnson comes off as a great progressive hero, with his ability to twist elbows behind the scenes and his willingness to give I loved this book! Johnson comes off as a great progressive hero, with his ability to twist elbows behind the scenes and his willingness to give even political opponents credit for success in order to achieve his ends.. The real standout, though, is Truman, who considered a national health care plan his most important work. He was frustrated by his failure to pass meaningful legislation. This is why it was so moving when LBJ made sure to include the former president when he signed the Medicare bill in the s.

I also recommend listening to the several authors' interviews on the web. I heard co-author James Morone, a professor at Brown University, on public radio and he was fantastic. Google him, listen to him talking about this book, and you'll want to read this book too.

The Heart of Power: Health and Politics in the Oval Office by David Blumenthal

Sep 16, Jessica rated it really liked it Shelves: I am returning this book to the library because I've had it over a month and cannot renew again. I read about a third and it is a fascinating book about the presidencies from FDR to GWB and how each president coped with the health care issue. The authors include any personal or family health issues that might have shaped that president's view of health care.

The book is well-written and dense with useful information and some wonkish details about legislation and almost-legislation.

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The turmoil s I am returning this book to the library because I've had it over a month and cannot renew again. The turmoil surrounding the passage of Medicare makes me hopeful that we will one day have national health care. I hope to finish this someday but it is not a quick read and I have other books calling my name. Dec 23, Joel rated it it was amazing Shelves: I've always been interested in the Presidency and the things that shape presidents' policy and politics.

This book combines the personal, policy, politics, and historical accidents that shape one of the most difficult public policy issues any president has to face. Great history and great views of the people in the office.

Well written some parts read like a novel. And great advice for any president seriously working the issue and the politics: Sep 29, Holly Foley Procida rated it it was amazing Shelves: I read a fair amount of Non-fiction and have read some great biographies of 20th century presidents. Good books by Clark Clifford and Arthur Schlesinger come to mind to give perspective through several presidencies.

The Heart of Power: Health and Politics in the Oval Office

But this is the best book I have read on 20th century presidents yet! It gives great perspective of the health care issue, which is to say that NO ONE can understand and solve it. It gives very meaningful biographical information and great information on each pres. Definitely worth a read, especially if you feel that your history education never took you much into the 20th century.

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