Presidents, Pandemics, and Politics

by Max J. Skidmore

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781349956982
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication date:	06/23/2018
Series:	The Evolving American Presidency
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2016
Pages:	97
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x 0.01(d)

About the Author

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

Table of Contents

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