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Saturday, November 21, 2009

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The BackStory: A History of Health Care Reform

Sun., Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. and Sun., Nov. 22 at 6 a.m. on WAMU 88.5

"What Germany has done in the way of old-age pensions or insurance should be studied by us, and the system adapted to our uses."

Thus declared Teddy Roosevelt in 1912, making him the first U.S. presidential candidate to advocate for a nationalized health insurance system. But arguments about the government's responsibility for keeping Americans healthy go back a lot further than that. On this episode of BackStory, the History Guys look at the way these arguments have played out through almost four centuries of American life.

For more information or to listen to past programs, visit the BackStory website.