One of the US Senate office buildings is named for Philip Hart (Michigan). His daughter Ann contracted polio and was in iron lung just before the Salk vaccine came out. The entire Hart family and the public, including kids in school, immediately got vaccine.
After treatment Ann was able to live an almost normal life—she got around physically, was a singer, got married, moved to France etc. Late in life she was affected by post-polio syndrome. I met her in 1968 during the Gene McCarthy for President campaign, traveled with her and was her friend until she died a year ago.
Mitch McConnell (a polio survivor) questioned whether one of people Robert F Kennedy Jr has selected for the Health and Human Services Department, an attorney who has been attacking polio vaccine requirements, should be confirmed.
The irony: As soon as McCarthy got a huge vote in New Hampshire against President Lyndon Johnson (Ann had worked there for Gene) it triggered both Johnson’s withdrawal AND Robert Kennedy Sr. entering the presidential race.
Now Trump wants RFK Jr to lead HHS and Jr wants anti polio vaxxer as his HHS attorney.
Scary.
