Presidents, Pandemics, and Politics

ISBN-13: 9781349956982 / Angielski / Miękka / 2018 / 97 str.

Max J. Skidmore

Spis treści

I Introduction

Twentieth-Century Successes

A Disturbing Development

The Importance of National, and Presidential, Action

II Pandemic Influenza

Influenza is not to be Taken Lightly

Influenza at its Most Horrendous—So Far

III Misguided Responses to Public Health Emergencies

The Tragedies of Kalaupapa and Carville

The “Magic of the Marketplace,” and Public Health Emergencies

Militant Passivity from the Left Hand, Authoritarianism from the Right

Ideology, Incompetence, but Some Thoughtful Planning

IV Appropriate Responses to Public Health Emergencies

Presidential Action and the San Francisco Earthquake

Presidential Action and Hurricane Betsy

Presidential Action and the Alaskan Earthquake

V President R. Gerald Ford

Vigorous Action to Defend Against a Threatened Pandemic

Fair Game: The Politics of Piling On

VI President Ford’s National Influenza Immunization Program: A Special Case

The Background: Widespread Agreement

The Launching of Ford’s NIIP

Obstacles Emerge

No Pandemic plus Health Risk Must Mean Fiasco: A Confused Discourse

Turning From Talking Points to Analysis: NIIP as a Learning Experience

Assessment of the NIIP

VII Conclusions

Emergency Management

Lessons to Be Learned

Bibliography

Index

O autorze

Max J. Skidmore is Curators’ Professor of Political Science and Thomas Jefferson Fellow at University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA.

Blurb

This book is an examination of the manner in which American presidents respond to pandemics and other public health crises. Skidmore argues that presidential performance in dealing with emergencies and pandemics varies, but those who are informed, focused, and confident that government can work are most likely to be successful. As an example, Gerald Ford’s “Swine Flu program” is widely derided as incompetent and politically motivated. Closer examination, however, suggests the contrary, demonstrating the potential of government to act quickly and effectively against public health emergencies, even when facing formidable obstacles. The American government has a mixed record ranging from excellent to unacceptable, even counterproductive, in dealing with emergency threats to life and health. Despite ideological arguments to the contrary, however, governments are important to effective responses, and in the American setting, presidential action is essential.