Oral history transcript, Florence Mahoney, interview 1 (I), 6/13/1989, by Michael L. Gillette

Mahoney's early interest in health care issues; Thomas Francis "Mike" Gorman's articles about mental health care in Oklahoma and his influence on Mahoney; how Mahoney began working with Albert and Mary Lasker on mental health issues and cancer; research funding from Congress; support for health issues from Senators Claude Pepper, Lister Hill, and Edward Thye; support for health issues from Congressman John Fogarty; Mike Gorman's work for the Committee Against Mental Illness; Mahoney's work with Oveta Culp Hobby pertaining to the polio vaccine; JFK's support for health programs; LBJ's interest in health issues; the Commission on Heart, Cancer and Stroke and Mahoney's role in it; how the hazards of smoking were first publicized; Mahoney working with JFK on birth control issues; Senator Richard Russell's opposition to regional centers for heart, cancer and stroke research; efforts to pass Medicare legislation and other health programs; working with Frank Pace to get more funding for mental health care; how Mrs. Johnson got interested in children's education.