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“What a change has been brought about by penicillin! The stench of the hospitals in World War I was incredible. All that has been changed and tens of thousands have been saved as a result of the work of these men. Of course I'll write the recommendation to the Medal of Merit Board.” He did so, and they were given the Medal of Merit by Lou Douglas, the American Ambassador, in December of '47, I believe.

I remember one of the first talks I heard President Truman make on health was at the National Health Assembly in May of '48. The Assembly had been called by Oscar Ewing who was interested in health insurance and was trying to promote the idea. He was the head of the Federal Security Administration, appointed by Truman, and he made a real effort to try to get something done in health but the doctors of the AMA made it very hard for him.

But the climate was changing, wasn't it? As a result of this initial message, weren't you gratified at the public reaction?

Well, I'm never gratified until something is really done. We haven't even got medical care for the aged through yet, and that seems like something that's elementary. We haven't got it done yet; maybe they'll do it next year, but it's undone.

But a certain amount of groundwork, spadework has to be done.

Yes. Well, I'm just saying that we haven't got this