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Mary LaskerMary Lasker
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Q:

I would think that by this one program alone, the American Heart Association became almost a household word.

Lasker:

Well, it could have been.

When it came to using the money they were very cautious about it, and instead of using it to organize dynamically at once with this money, all over, and make dynamic appeals for more money, they put some of it aside and, as of 1953, were still raising only 8 million 500 thousand dollars, five years later. This, of course, is pitifully low to combat the main cause of death in the United States; however, it's infinitely more than would otherwise have been raised except for the “Miss Hush Contest.”

The Heart Association has been controlled entirely, really, by doctors, although they've had a few laymen on their council. The real mechanics have been doctor-controlled, and it has never had as much public influence as a result as has the American Cancer Society. They never officially have sent representatives to testify for funds before the Congress. Some of their Presidents and some of the members of the Association have done it as individuals, but they never designated any people; they don't take a public position that the Association wants more funds for heart research or training from the Federal Government. It's always been a bunch of very conservative, rather small-minded cardiologists, who, as a core, have been too conservative to really want to make big progress fast.

Q:

Have you ever attempted to get them...





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