The White House Physician: A History From Washington To George W. Bush

From George Washington to George W. Bush, this volume examines 217 years of health care in the White House and the men and women who ministered to these presidential patients. Beginning with the first presidential physician's visit on June 13, 1789, it analyzes the relationships?sometimes fruitful and sometimes disastrous?of the presidents with their physicians. While biographical sketches detailing the background of each physician are included, the main focus of the work is the especially complex physician-patient relationship and the ways in which it has changed over time. The evolution of the presidential physician's responsibilities is also discussed, as are developments in American medicine during presidential terms.