President Lyndon Johnson signs Medicare Bill into law as former President Harry Truman watches.

On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare,
a health insurance program for elderly Americans, into law. At the
bill-signing ceremony, which took place at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, former President Harry Truman was
enrolled as Medicare’s first beneficiary and received the first
Medicare card.

Johnson wanted to recognize Truman, who, in 1945, had become
the first president to propose national health insurance, an initiative
that was opposed at the time by Congress.

President Lyndon B. Johnson (left) signed Medicare, a health insurance
program for elderly Americans, into law. At the bill-signing ceremony,
which took place at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri,
former President Harry Truman (seated right) was enrolled as Medicare’s
first beneficiary receiving the first Medicare card.         

Johnson wanted to recognize Truman, who, in 1945, had become the first
president to propose national health insurance, an initiative that was
opposed at the time by Congress.

President Lyndon Johnson (left) and President Harry S. Truman
shake hands at the Medicare Bill Signing.

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