A firm believer in practical liberalism, President Richard Nixon led the way for the establishment of several integral government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Believing intelligent and well-intentioned use of the government could benefit all, he streamlined the government to be an effective provider of services to as many as possible.
This did include some attempts at reforming health care. While nothing comprehensive was ever passed, it very well could have. On February 6th, 1974, he outlined his Comprehensive Health Insurance Act that mandated employers to purchase health insurance for employees. It also would have built a federal health plan very similar to Medicaid that would have allowed any American access on a sliding scale based on income.
Almost exactly six months later, Nixon resigned the presidency amid the Watergate scandal. Reform never got off the ground.
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