Ronald Reagan's HIV/AIDS Crisis (pt. 2)
Show notes
The story of President Ronald Reagan's failure to adequately respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s. In the second part of this two-part story, we dive into Reagan's second term in office. We discuss Rock Hudson, the Koop Report, the Helms Amendment, the President's Commission on the HIV Epidemic, and more.
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Special thanks to Molly Bower for joining us on this Ronald Reagan journey!
There are many sources for today's episode, our top sources include:
- How to Survive a Plague: The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS. David France. 2016.
- Photo of Rock Hudson, Nancy Reagan, & Ronald Reagan. Wikimedia. 1984.
- And the Band Played On. Randy Shilts. 1987.
- Surgeon General's Report on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 1986.
- Safer Sex Comix #8. Gay Men's Health Crisis. 1987. (explicit)
- Setting the Record Straight. The Jesse Helms Center. 2024.
- Congressional Record—Senate—October 14, 1988. Congress.gov. 1988.
- President Reagan's Remarks to the American Foundation for AIDS Research May 31, 1987. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. 1987.
- Roper Center for Public Opinion Research. Election Results Breakdowns.
- Nancy Reagan’s Real Role in the AIDS Crisis. The Atlantic. 2021.
- On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service. Dr. Anthony Fauci. 2024.
This episode was researched, hosted, and edited by Dane Stewart with music by Matthew Rogers. Produced by Dane Stewart & Matthew Kariatsumari. Our outro track is Easy to Love by Clara Jones.
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