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Mary LaskerMary Lasker
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Part:         Session:         Page of 1143

Q:

And drew the threads together.

Lasker:

And drew the threads together, but I couldn't say that without a few of us working that anything would have happened just because of these recommendations. But the real thing that it did was to prevent the AMA from having a really good handle to say that all Democrats were for socialized medicine at a time of the highest anxiety about Reds and socialization socialism? and communism were practically equated at that time, and it was really politically dangerous.

Q:

The fact that Britain has...

Lasker:

And the fact that Britian had socialized medicine was--what people got was a doctor to come over here and describe in unglowing terms what happened and how unsuccessful it was and how much the doctors complained. They did the biggest propaganda job you ever heard of; the AMA paid for the biggest propaganda job you can imagine, and it was terribly effective as the Administration nor anybody else was organized to combat it with the same zeal or money.

Q:

It's such a highly specialized interest, that of the doctors...

Lasker:

Yes, such a specialized interest and nobody who is well ever thinks he is going to need health insurance, and there





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