The politics of presidential medical care: The case of John F. Kennedy

Abstract

Political concerns often compromise the delivery of high quality medical care in ways that can be both problematic and dangerous for political leaders. President John F. Kennedy's medical care offers a particularly rich exposition of the many ways in which these dynamics can play out and how additional factors can complicate matters, such as when the patient is himself duplicitous, when family members try to intervene in care, and when public exposure risks political future. This article examines the politics and management of Kennedy's medical conditions by the various physicians involved in his care and explores how these considerations may have compromised not only the quality of his care but, in turn, exerted an influence on his behavior. This happened not only through the downstream effect of his treatment on his thoughts and behavior but also through the tremendous allocation of time and attention that his care required--attention a healthier man would have been able to direct toward problems of greater national concern.

Introduction to the issue and volume 42 in review

“…The editorial team is pleased to release the first issue of volume 43. It embodies a special issue on national security and infectious disease based on a call for papers issued in late 2022 entitled “COVID-19, International Relations, and Security Studies: Has the Pandemic Altered the Study and Practice of International Security.” The collection of articles includes theoretical arguments from Kosal (2024) and McDermott (2024) on the impacts of disease on international security. It also includes articles from Stevens et al (2024) and Topping et al (2024) regarding the role authoritarianism plays in response to crises of disease.…”