Sixty years ago, on July 30, 1965 at 2:55 pm at the Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the bill creating Medicare and Medicaid. Former President Truman, who is known for his role in ending World War II, was from Missouri and had tried and failed to pass similar legislation. President Truman and his wife Bess were presented with the first two Medicare cards ever issued.
Today, 147 million Americans are protected from sickness and poverty thanks to these programs.
Medicare and Medicaid help Americans live longer, healthier lives and achieve economic security. Together, they have helped protect the American dream that opportunity, prosperity, and economic mobility are within reach for everyone.
At the signing, President Johnson offered some thoughts on this historic legislation.
“Because of this document… there are men and women in pain who will now find ease. There are those, alone in suffering, who will now hear the sound of some approaching footsteps coming to help. There are those fearing the terrible darkness of despairing poverty–despite their long years of labor and expectation–who will now look up to see the light of hope and realization.”