The Heart of Power: Health and Politics in the Oval Office

Just received the book today, so I have not read the book.

The book is excellent. It's well-written, and on some topics it is the best available. It is the best of the comprehensive views of presidencies and health policies. I was surprised, though, with regard to the Clinton proposal, that it ignored the infamous memo from Bill Kristol to all congressional Republicans in both Houses; the memo that played a role in killing the plan, which so halted the momentum that the proposal didn't even get to a vote.

Wonderful and insightful review of the approach to national health insurance since the 1930's by different presidents, from Franklin D. Roosevelt through G.Bush. In the process, we are made to understand what makes each man tick,his flaws and strengths.We are also left to wonder some big what if's of national health policy as well as of possible second terms(particularly Lyndon Johnson's). As the authors mention in the introduction, our current president would be well served if he used this book as a road map for promoting his plan. Essential text to understand our current quandary.

From Roosevelt to H.Bush had active rolls in the development of National Health Insurance. How did their childhood and adulthood backgrounds influence their presidential decisions to maintain a 70 year development of Health Insurance?Blumenthal gives a concise biography of each president as well as the individual managerial style to navigate the governmental complexities of politics and policy development. Tune up your highlighter!

It is a good quality!

Easy-to-read, thorough account of health insurance legislation, from FDR to W. It provides much needed historical, leadership perspective to our current health care mess. A must if you're serious about national policy, & enjoy politics. I went through it in two nights. Very well written.

I ordered this book for a Health politics course and it is an interesting read. It really delves into the Hermeneutics of Health Care Policy.

This is an invaluable book for anyone interested in the making of health policy in the US government. Very well researched and written by two experts in the field. I recommend it most highly.

Un livre très intéressant pour tous ceux qui s'intéressent à l'histoire des États-Unis en général ; et d'autant plus intéressant pour ceux qui font de la recherche dans ce domaine , ce qui est mon cas, en particulier le système de santé. Je déplore juste la masse de détails donnés en marge du sujet central..bien que par moment elle s'avère être utile. Je recommande vivement ce livre à tous les anglophones et particulièrement les américanistes .