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In 1962, Washington politicians made one of their initial attempts to insert the federal government into the American health care profession. They proposed nationalizing health care for the elderly as a first step towards the total government takeover of health care. Legislation to accomplish this goal in 1962 was known as the King-Anderson bill. On May 20, 1962, President Kennedy delivered a public speech at Madison Square Garden (MSG) calling for the passage of King-Anderson.  

During this period in our nation's history, one man spoke most eloquently about the dangers this legislation would cause. His name was Dr. Edward R. Annis. Dr. Annis made a series of speeches on behalf of the American Medical Association (AMA) in opposition to the King-Anderson bill. Following President Kennedy's speech, the AMA requested equal time for Dr. Annis to deliver a rebuttal to the Kennedy speech. This request was denied by the television media. The AMA rented out MSG the day after the President delivered his speech and bought air time for Dr. Annis's rebuttal. Dr. Annis's speech was a success and the King-Anderson bill was defeated by Congress in 1962. (A month after his speech, Dr. Annis was elected President of the AMA and a few years later the bill he opposed would become law).

Here is the video of Dr. Annis 1962 speech at Madison Square Garden:

Note the specific charges that Dr. Annis leveled against the King-Anderson bill and the political arguments used by the supporters of the bill.  Many of the concerns raised by Dr. Annis have since come true about Medicare (the program created by the successor bill to King-Anderson), including: 

1. To listen to the proponents of the King-Anderson bill, one would think there was no other choice than for the government to intervene in the market (this same argument was employed nearly 50 years by the proponents of ObamaCare). The truth is that D4PC put forward a series of alternatives to ObamaCare that would protect the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship.
2. President Kennedy suggested that doctors who opposed King-Anderson had likely not read the bill (ironically, Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a similar suggestion when she suggested that Congress would have to pass the bill so the public could find out what's in it). In truth, Dr. Annis went on to detail many of the problems of the bill demonstrating he had a greater knowledge of the consequences of the bill than the politicians.  Today, D4PC members and millions of Americans have a greater understanding of the consequences of ObamaCare than the politicians. 
3. Contrary to the political promise, Medicare (like social security) is not insurance. It is a falsehood to suggest that it is insurance.
4. Medicare would be given to people who are not in need and capture people who do not want to be enrolled in Medicare. Under such an expansive program, the American taxpayer would bear the burden, as would their children. This charge is strikingly similar to the budgetary concerns over ObamaCare.
5. This government would give the power to define services, set standards, create committees, demand reports, decide who receives services and put the government in the middle of teaching medicine.
6. It "wastefully covers millions who do not need it" and "heartlessly ignores millions who do need coverage."
7. It offers "sharply limited benefits" while undercutting and destroying the growth of private voluntary programs which offer flexible benefits "in the full range of individuals needs."
8. It will stand between the patient and his doctor.
9. It will be the forerunner of a different system of medicine of all Americans. This bill is a dishonest attempt to sneak in a new system of medicine for all Americans. (ObamaCare is the new system of medicine that Dr. Annis spoke about).

Docs4PatientCare is committed to Dr. Annis's legacy of protecting the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship and ensuring that every American has access to quality care regardless of their ability to pay.