The Cancer Letter

The leading source for information on the issues that shape oncology since 1973

In the Archives

A commitment to hope: Richard Nixon and the National Cancer Act

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email
Share on print
BYLINE
IN THIS ISSUE
DOWNLOAD PDFTABLE OF CONTENTS

Spotlight article 

On Dec.  23, 1971, in the East Room of the White House, describing it as something akin to  a Christmas gift to the American people,  President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act of 1971.

“We are here today for the purpose of signing the Cancer Act of 1971,” President Nixon said in his remarks before signing the act. “And I hope that in the years ahead, that we may look back on this day and this action as being the most significant action taken during this administration,” he added.

To honor and celebrate the milestone 50th anniversary of the signing of the National Cancer Act, the Richard Nixon Foundation has gathered Nobel Prize laureates and America’s top cancer doctors for the inaugural Nixon National Cancer Conference.

The conference opened at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California on Dec. 1, and included an in-depth and fascinating look back at the history of the National Cancer Act as well as the official opening of a new special exhibit at the Nixon Library entitled, “A Commitment to Hope: Richard Nixon and the National Cancer Act.”

Quote of the week

I hope that in the years ahead, that we may look back on this day and this action as being the most significant action taken during this administration.

Richard Nixon

Recent contributions

This column features the latest posts to the Cancer History Project by our growing list of contributors. 

The Cancer History Project is a free, web-based, collaborative resource intended to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act and designed to continue in perpetuity. The objective is to assemble a robust collection of historical documents and make them freely available. 

Access to the Cancer History Project is open to the public at CancerHistoryProject.com. You can also follow us on Twitter at @CancerHistProj.

Is your institution a contributor to the Cancer History Project? Eligible institutions include cancer centers, advocacy groups, professional societies, pharmaceutical companies, and key organizations in oncology. 

To apply to become a contributor, please contact admin@cancerhistoryproject.com.

Table of Contents

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

Clinical

Oncofertility coverage mandates expand to 21 states and DC as political momentum builds
Gaps persist as patients face harrowing decisions and huge copays

The nagging pain in Mia Sandino’s right knee set in in September 2018, and throughout her freshman year at the University of Washington, she tried to ignore it. “I was being a very naive and invincible-feeling 19-year-old,” Sandino told The Cancer Letter. “I didn’t put two and two together that this area of the knee that...

By Claire Marie Porter and Sara Willa Ernst
Guest Editorial

My introduction to, and lessons learned from, Rick Pazdur

Rick Pazdur, MD, the newly appointed director for the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA, has been described as “greyhound thin” as a result of his dedication to cycling and lifting weights in the gym each day and, for a long time, a vegetarian diet. I first met him when he was the director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products (ODP) within CDER, in 2009.
By Mikkael A. Sekeres
Table of Contents

Never miss an issue!

Get alerts for our award-winning coverage in your inbox.

Login

Site license subscribers:
Log in with your IP | Register a sponsored account