From the Archives: The Medicare Bill of 1965
July 30, 2012
12:28 PM EDT
On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Social Security Act Amendments, popularly known as the Medicare bill. It established Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, and Medicaid, a health insurance program for the poor.
Former President Truman participated in the signing ceremony with President Johnson. Harry S. Truman and Bess Truman received Medicare registration cards numbers one and two. At the time, Mr. Truman was 81 years old, and he described it as a “profound personal experience for me.”
The National Archives have put together a gallery featuring images and artifacts from the event in Independence, Missouri 47 years ago today. Check it out:
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This is the Medicare card believed to have been given to Bess Truman by President Lyndon Johnson.
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This is the Medicare card believed to have been given to Harry Truman by President Lyndon Johnson.
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President Lyndon Johnson hands President Harry S. Truman a pen as Lady Bird Johnson, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, and Bess Truman look on.
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President Lyndon Johnson signs the Medicare Bill. President Harry S. Truman is seated next to him.
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The first page of the press release issuing the remarks President Lyndon Johnson made upon signing the Social Security Amendments of 1965.
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The second page of the press release issuing the remarks President Lyndon Johnson made upon signing the Social Security Amendments of 1965.
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The third page of the press release issuing the remarks President Lyndon Johnson made upon signing the Social Security Amendment of 1965.
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The entry from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Daily Diary from when he signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965.
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Page 1 of the Social Security Act.
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Page 2 of the Social Security Act.
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Learn more about the Medicare bill: http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=99
