Existing comment:
“KEEP THE LOCAL HOSPITALS OPEN—I’M BLEEDING!”
In 1965, facing pressure from the White House to operate its regional hospital facilities more efficiently, the Veterans Administration closed several of its outmoded campuses and focused efforts on fewer but larger and newer hospitals. Many members of Congress protested the decision—calling it “cruel” and “heartless”—especially those whose districts would be impacted by closures. In this drawing, Herblock illustrates the conflict Congress faced when attempting to balance the federal budget demands with the needs of their local economies.
“Keep the Local Hospitals Open—I’m Bleeding!” 1965. Published in the Washington Post, January 31, 1965. |