Examines how presidents from Eisenhower to Obama handled the threat of contagious disease and what lessons can be learned from their responses
Covers not just spontaneous disease outbreaks, but also the challenges that follow natural disasters when sanitation infrastructure has been damaged
Presents an important study for those interested in the presidency, public health, and public administration
Max J. Skidmore is Curators´ Professor of Political Science and Thomas Jefferson Fellow at University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA.
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.
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
This book is an examination of the manner in which American presidents respond to pandemics and other public health crises. 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.
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.
I IntroductionTwentieth-Century SuccessesA Disturbing DevelopmentThe Importance of National, and Presidential, ActionII Pandemic Influenza
Influenza is not to be Taken Lightly
Influenza at its Most Horrendous-So Far
III Misguided Responses to Public Health EmergenciesThe Tragedies of Kalaupapa and CarvilleThe "Magic of the Marketplace," and Public Health EmergenciesMilitant Passivity from the Left Hand, Authoritarianism from the RightIdeology, Incompetence, but Some Thoughtful PlanningIV Appropriate Responses to Public Health EmergenciesPresidential Action and the San Francisco EarthquakePresidential Action and Hurricane BetsyPresidential Action and the Alaskan EarthquakeV President R. Gerald FordVigorous Action to Defend Against a Threatened PandemicFair Game: The Politics of Piling OnVI President Ford's National Influenza Immunization Program: A Special CaseThe Background: Widespread AgreementThe Launching of Ford's NIIPObstacles EmergeNo Pandemic plus Health Risk Must Mean Fiasco: A Confused DiscourseTurning From Talking Points to Analysis: NIIP as a Learning ExperienceAssessment of the NIIPVII ConclusionsEmergency ManagementLessons to Be LearnedBibliographyIndex
Max J. Skidmore is Curators' Professor of Political Science and Thomas Jefferson Fellow at University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA.
Über den Autor
Max J. Skidmore is Curators' Professor of Political Science and Thomas Jefferson Fellow at University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
I Introduction Twentieth-Century Successes A Disturbing Development The Importance of National, and Presidential, ActionII 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 PlanningIV Appropriate Responses to Public Health Emergencies Presidential Action and the San Francisco Earthquake Presidential Action and Hurricane Betsy Presidential Action and the Alaskan EarthquakeV President R. Gerald Ford Vigorous Action to Defend Against a Threatened Pandemic Fair Game: The Politics of Piling OnVI 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 NIIPVII Conclusions Emergency Management Lessons to Be LearnedBibliographyIndex
Klappentext
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.
Examines how presidents from Eisenhower to Obama handled the threat of contagious disease and what lessons can be learned from their responses
Covers not just spontaneous disease outbreaks, but also the challenges that follow natural disasters when sanitation infrastructure has been damaged
Presents an important study for those interested in the presidency, public health, and public administration
