Yok 2

DRAFT

A REALLY TERRIFIC SERMON

 

BY

C, EVERETT KOOP, MD
DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH
AND SURGEON GENERAL
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
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(GREETINGS TO HOSTS, GUESTS, ETC.)

I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW PLEASED I AM TO BE HERE THIS
EVENING, IN THE WARMTH OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP, WHICH HAS BEEN
-- AND I'M SURE WILL CONTINUE TO BE -- A SOURCE OF GREAT
COMFORT TO ME AND MY FAMILY IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD.

IT’S NOT SECRET THAT I SPENS) A VERY DIFFICULT FIRST YEAR IN
WASHINGTON. BUT I HAD SUPPORT DURING THOSE HARD WEEKS AND
MONTHS, THE PRESIDENT AND HIS STAFF STOOD BY ME. SECRETARY
SCHWEIKER STOOD BY ME. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, DR.

ED BRANDT, ALSO STOOD BY ME. AND I SOMETIMES WONDERED WHY,
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH EASIER FOR ANY OF THEM -- AT ARY
TIME -- TO HAVE SAID THE OBVIOUS THING, THE EASY THING:

"WE TRIED, CHICK, BUT IT’S NOT GOING TC WORK. THANKS
VERY MUCH....AND THE NEXT TIME WE’RE IN PHILADELPHIA, WE‘LL
CERTAINLY GIVE YOU A CALL.” .

BUT THEY DIDN‘T SAY THAT. AND SENATOR ORRIN HATCH, WHO
HEADS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMITTEES Jil THE CONGRESS,
AND THE MAN WHO HAD TO SHEPHERD MY NOMINATION THROUGH THE
BRAMBLES AND POTHOLES OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, SENATOR
HATCH WAS A SOURCE OF GREAT STRENGTH AND COMFORT, ALSO.
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BUT THOSE ARE JUST THE PEOPLE HERE IN MY NEW “HOME TOWN.”
LET ME SAY THAT I WOULD HAVE MADE THE CHOICE MANY MONTHS AGO,
TO RE-PACK MY SUITCASES AND RETURN WITH MY WIFE, BETTY, TO OUR
HOME IN PHILADELPHIA, HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THOUSANDS UPON
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, LIKE THE GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS AUDIENCE
THIS EVENING....PEOPLE IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE....PEQPLE If ALL
THE STATES....PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS... .BUT
DECENT PEOPLE, STRONG PEOPLE, THE KIND OF PEOPLE YOU SEND YOUR
MESSAGES TO EVERY WEEK....THE PEOPLE WHOM I WAS ASKED TO SERVE....
THEY WROTE ME AND PHONED ME AND DROPPED BY TO VISIT ME... .AND
THEY GAVE ME A TREMENDOUS FEELING OF COMMITMENT TO SERVE.

] HEARD THOSE MESSAGES OF GOOD WILL AND I READ THE LETTERS
AND THE POST-CARDS AND I KNEW THAT I WOULD BE HERE FOR THE LONG
HAUL.

YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ON MATTERS OF THE SPIRIT BEFORE. I
HAD THE PLEASURE OF ADDRESSING YOUR 1980 CONVENTION IN MINNEAPOLIS.
WE KNOW EACH OTHER AND, I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE, WE HAVE BEEN
GOOD FRIENDS. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I NEEDED YOUR
FRIENDSHIP DURING THE PAST YEAR AND -- HAVING RECEIVED IT --
HOW MUCH I HAVE VALUED IT AND WILL CONTINUE TO VALUE IT,
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SO I PRESENT MYSELF BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING AS A FRIEND,
AS A SUPPORTER OF YOUR OWN GOOD WORKS, AND AS THE SURGEON
GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE. AND, AS
FRIENDS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY, I HOPE WE
CAN COUNSEL TOGETHER THIS EVENING ON A VERY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY
THAT IS OURS,

THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES....TIMES OF TURMOIL AND
FRUSTRATION....TIMES OF QUESTIONING AND THE RAISING OF DOUBTS
ABOUT ONE’S OWN WORTH, ABOUT OUR SOCIETY’S WORTH. THE PRESIDENT
CAME INTO OFFICE LAST YEAR AND ASKED EVERY AMERICAN TO ASK THOSE
TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE IN AMERICA:

* HOW MUCH OF WHAT WE ARE SHOULD WE OWE TO OURSELVES AND
HOW MUCH SHOULD WE OWE TO THE GOVERNMENT?

* HOW MUCH OF WHAT WE HAVE IS A RESULT OF THE SOARING
OF OUR SPIRIT -- OR THE RESULT OF A DENIGRATION OF THE SPIRIT?

* HOW MUCH OF WHAT WE DO IS DESIGNED TO TAKE CARE OF
ONLY OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES -- OR DO WE STILL ACT IN THE
WAME OF MANKIND....DO WE KNOW OF THE HIGHER SERVICE?
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LET ME SAY THAT NOBODY LIKES TO ASK THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS
-- BUT THIS [IS PROBABLY THE ONLY COUNTRY LEFT ON EARTH WHERE
THEY ARE ASKED NEVERTHELESS. I KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU FEEL ABOUT
THE MORAL AND ETHICAL FIBER OF THIS COUNTRY. 1 KNOW YOUR FEELINGS
HAVE MUCH EVIDENCE TO BACK THEM UP. |

BUT I AM A HOPEFUL MAN. AND WE ARE A HOPEFUL ADMINISTRATION,
AND THE RAISING OF HARD, SOUL-SEARCHING QUESTIONS IS THE FIRST
STEP TOWARD REALIZING YOUR HIGHEST HOPES. AND WE‘VE GOT TO DO THAT.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, THE QUESTIONS ARE VERY HARD, INDEED,
Il} ALMOST EVERY AREA OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR IN WHICH GOVERNMENT HAS
HAD SOME INTEREST. IN THE AREA OF HUMAN HEALTH -- PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL WELL-BEING -- WE HAVE HAD TO STAND BACK AND LOOK LOHG AND
HARD AT WHAT SOCIETY HAD ASSUMED AS SOCIETY’S JOB AND AT WHAT
EACH INDIVIDUAL MUST ASSUME AS ‘HIS OR HER OWN RESPONSIBILTY.

I CAN TELL YOU, THAT’S ALMOST REVOLUTIONARY. FCR MAHY,
MANY YEARS WE HAVE TRANSLATED THIS COUNTRY’S ESSENTIAL COMPASSION
AND DECENCY INTO DOLLARS AND PROGRAMS THAT SOMEBODY ELSE -- SOME
OTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE, SOME ORGANIZATION OR OTHER -- WOULD
SPEND AND ORGANIZE. IN THE AREA OF HUMAN HEALTH, THIS BASIC,
DECENT INCLINATION HAS COME TO COST OVER $70 BILLION OF FEDERAL
MONEY, OUR FRIENDS IN STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE SPENT OVER $35
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MILLION A YEAR, IN OTHER WORDS, OVER $100 MILLION A YEAR HAS
BEEN SPENT BY FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS ON THE PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL HEALTH OF AMERICANS, AND THE QUESTION IS, “HOW MUCH OF
THIS IS APPROPRIATE?....HOW MUCH OF THIS OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN
TAKEN CARE OF BY THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES, OR BY THE NON-GOVERNMENT
SECTOR, THE PRIVATE SECTOR?”

THIS ISSUE, WHICH WAS RAISED BY THE PRESIDENT DURING HIS
CAMPAIGN FOR OFFICE AND HAS BEEN RETURNED TO AGAIN AND AGAIN,
IS NOT FUNDAMENTALLY A MONEY ISSUE. 1 DON'T WANT TO GIVE THAT
IMPRESSION. YES, THE COSTS ARE HIGH -- BUT THE FURDAMENTAL
ISSUE WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH IS FIRST PERCEIVED IN DOLLARS, BUT
THEN IS CORRECTLY PERCEIVED IN TERMS OF AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY,
AND THOSE ARE THE TERMS TO WHICH I WANT TO DIRECT MY REMARKS --
AND YOUR ATTENTION -- FOR THE NEXT FEW MCMENTS.

INCIDENTALLY, I KNOW THAT, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, 1’M BRINGING
COALS TO NEWCASTLE. YOU KNOW A GREAT DEAL ABOUT PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILTY. THAT IS A DOMINANT THEME IN MUCH OF YOUR PROGRAMMING,
REGARDLESS OF THE PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS TRADITION OR DENOMINATION
YOU SERVE. AND IT HAS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE FOR MANY YEARS AS

WELL.
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MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT, FOR SOME 20 YEARS, I WAS PRESIDENT CF
THE EVANGELICAL FOUNDATION, NOI KNOWN AS THE EVANGELICAL MINISTRIES.
IN THAT POSITION, AND THROUGH ‘KNOWING THE GOOD WORK OF ORGANIZATIONS
SUCH AS THIS, DEVOTED TO RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING I LEARNED A GREAT
DEAL ABOUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND
COMMUNITIES COULD ASSUME PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THEIR OWN
WELFARE AND THEIR OWN DESTINIES. PEOPLE LIKE DONALD GEORGE GREP
BARNHOUSE AND BEN HAYDEN, REGINALD THOMAS AND JAMES MONTGOMERY |
BOYCE -- THESE MEN INFLUENCED MY THINKING AND MY ACTIONS DURING
THE YEARS OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE FOUNDATION. AND THEY BROUGHT 10
MY ATTENTION COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF PERSONAL STRENGTH OR COMMUNITY
SUPPORT IN TIME OF NEED,

SO YOU KNOW AND I KNOW THAT THE AMERICAK PEOPLE- HAVE A
STRONG AND INDPENDENT BASE UPON WHICH TO BUILD. I THINK WE BOTH
WOULD AGREE THAT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS --
WHILE A RESPONSE TO GENUINE NEEDS IN THE HEALTH AREA -- MAY
HAVE GROWN FAR BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF WHAT A HEALTHY DEMOCRATIC
SOCIETY CAN SUPPORT FOR THE LONG TERM,

IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE? IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK
AT PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS? I BELIEVE THERE IS. I BELIEVE,
AS THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES, THAT WE HAVE TO RETURN TO A FAMILIAR,
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TIME-TESTED, AMERICAN WAY OF GETTING AT MANY OF OUR PROBLEMS IH
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

AT THE PRESIDENT’S FIRST MEETING WITH HIS TASK FORCE ofl
PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES, HE SAID WE NEED TO “REDISCOVER
ANERICA....THE AMERICA BEYOHD THE POTOMAC RIVER, THE AMERICA
WHOSE INITIATIVE, INGENUITY, AND INDUSTRY MADE OUR COUNTRY THE
ENVY OF THE WORLD, THE AMERICA WHOSE RICH TRADITION OF GENEROSITY
BEGAN WITH SIMPLE ACTS OF NEIGHBOR CARING FOR NEIGHBOR.”

I LIKE HIS USE OF THE PHRASE “REDISCOVER AMERICA,...
REDISCOVER....” IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S HERE, ALL AROUND US,
THE SOLUTION WE’RE LOOKING FOR, THE ANSWER TO WEANING THE
COUNTRY AWAY FROM THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC TREASURY, GETTING
THE COUNTRY BACK TO A HIGHER DEGREE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND
SELF-RELIANCE. IT’S THERE. IT’S ALWAYS BEEN THERE. WE NEED
TO FIND IT AGAIN. IT WAS DISCOVERED IN THIS RICH AND BEAUTIFUL
COUNTRY THREE CENTURIES AGO. NOW WE NEED TO REDISCOVER THAT
SPIRIT OF SELF-HELP, OF COMMUNITY, OF FAMILY STRENGTH, THAT SPIRIT
OF INDEPENDENCE THAT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE HUMAN SPIRIT IN AMERICA,

THE TERM MOST COMMONLY USED TO EMBRACE THIS CONCEPT IS
"VOLUNTARISM.” I DON’T LIKE MOST "ISMS.” BUT I LIKE THAT ONE.
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I GREW UP WITH THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTARISM PREACHED TO ME BY
MY OWN FAMILY AND BY MY CLERGY. AND I‘M NOT THE EXCEPTION. I
THINK MY EXPERIENCE IS THE RULE IN THIS COUNTRY, THE PRESIDENT
HAS STRUCK A DEEP AND RESONANT CHORD IN THE AMERICAN CONSCIENCE
BY HIS EMPHASIS ON VOLUNTARISM. IT RESONATES IN MY OWN
CONSCIENCE, IN THE CONSCIENCE OF MY CHILDREN, IN MY COLLEAGUES
BACK IN THE PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS MY NEW-
FOUND COLLEAGUES HERE IN WASHINGTON,

I THINK THE PRESIDENT’S CALL FOR GREATER EFFORTS BY THE
VOLUNTARY SECTOR OF AMERICAN SOCIETY IS IN THE MAINSTREAM OF
AMERICAN TRADITION, GOING BACK TO THE PREREVOLUTIONARY DAYS OF
THE FOUNDING COLONIES AND CONTINUING RIGHT UP TO TODAY. IT IS
NOT AN OLD IDEA -- IT IS A NEW AND RE-NEWED IDEA THAT OUR
SOCIETY NOURISHES DOWN THROUGH THE GENERATIONS;

* AMERICANS CONTRIBUTE SOME $47 BILLIOfl TO CHARITABLE -
AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS EVERY YEAR.

* OUR CITIZENS PERFORM WORK OF A CHARITABLE NATURE THAT
WOULD BE WORTH $100 BILLION, IF YOU HAD TO HIRE PEOPLE 10 DO IT.

* IN THE HEALTH FIELD, 19 VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS
RECEIVED A HALF-BILLION DOLLARS IN CONTRIBUTIONS IN 1980 --
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GROUPS LIKE THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AND THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION,
THE EASTER SEAL SOCIETY, THE MARCH OF DINES-BIRTH DEFECTS
FOUNDATION, AND THE COMMITTEE TO COMBAT HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE.

AS GOOD AS THAT IS, MY MESSAGE THIS EVENING AND FOR MANY
MONTHS TO COME IS -- WE’VE GOT TO DO BETTER. IN ALL HUMILITY |
BRING THAT MESSAGE TO YOU IN THE HOPE THAT YOU WILL SEND THAT
MESSAGE OUT TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO
LISTEN TO AND WATCH YOUR PROGRAMMING.

THERE IS MUCH WORK TO BE DONE IN HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL
SERVICE IN THIS COUNTRY. GOVERNMENT ISN’T GOING TO DO IT ALL
ANYMORE. IT DID FOR A WHILE, BUT THAT AGE HAS PASSED AND WE
NEED TO SHARE THAT UNDERSTANDING WITH ALL OUR CITIZENS. I DEEPLY
BELIEVE THEY WANT TO KNOW, THEY WANT TO LEARN HOW THEY CAN
CONTRIBUTE, THEY WANT TO HAVE THAT SHINING FRAGMENT OF THE HERITAGE
OF AMERICA PUT BACK IN PLACE IN THE GREAT ARCH OF DEMOCRACY
WE BUILT ON THIS CONTINENT, PARTICIPATION IN THE GOOD WORK OF
AMERICA IS PARTICIPATION IN THE RICH HISTORY THAT HAS BEEN AMERICA,
THAT’S A BEAUTIFUL, AS WELL AS A TIMELY, MESSAGE TO SEND THROUGHOUT
QUR LAND.

~ SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT THIS EMPHASIS ON VOLUNTARISM IS
REALLY A BUDGET ISSUE. 1 GAVE YOU SOME NUMBERS EARLIER, BUT
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THIS IS NOT A MONEY ISSUE, THIS IS A CARING ISSUE, THIS IS A
COMPASSION ISSUE, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT ILLUMINATES THE ESSENTIAL

DECENCY AND HUMANITY OF OUR SOCIETY.

NOT LONG AGO, THE CONGRESS HAD TO PASS A LAW THAT ALLOWED
THIS COUNTRY TO HAVE A DEBT IN EXCESS OF ONE TRILLION DOLLARS.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, EVEN TO PEOPLE WHO CAN CONCEIVE OF SUCH
A NUMBER. I CAN’T, AND SO I’VE BEEN TOLD Of GOOD AUTHORITY THAT
ONE TRILLION DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY. |

BUT IT IS A FEW DOLLARS: SHORT OF THE VALUE OF A VISIT BY
SOME YOUNG PEOPLE EACH WEEK TO THE APARTMENT OF AN ELDERLY
PERSON SHUT IN BY ILLNESS. ONE TRILLION DOLLARS IS NOT QUITE
THE PRICE YOU OUGHT TO PAY FOR AN OLDER MAN TO SPEND A FEW HOURS
EACH WEEK WITH A YOUNG BOY WHO MAY BE FATHERLESS, OUT OF SCHOOL,
AND OUT OF WORK, |

A TRILLION DOLLARS IS LESS THAN HALF THE VALUE OF A NEIGHBOR
KEEPING TABS ON HOW WELL A YOUNG WOMAN IS DOING DURING HER
PREGHANCY, OFFERING TO DO CHORES FOR A PERSON RECOVERING FROM All
AUTO ACCIDENT, PREPARING MEALS FOR A PERSON AT HOME AND DISABLED

BY A DETERIORATING DISEASE.

THESE ARE THE GOOD WORKS OF THE SPIRIT. THEY ARE PRICELESS,
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THERE IS NO COUNTY, STATE, OR FEDERAL BUDGET THAT WILL EVER BE
BIG ENOUGH TO BUY THE ACTS OF GOODNESS THAT AMERICANS VOLUNTARILY
PERFORM,

BUT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A PERIOD RECENTLY WHEN WE TRIED
VERY HARD TO BUILD THOSE KINDS OF BUDGETS. AND WE DISCOVERED
~- I HOPE NOT TOO LATE -- THAT IT COULD NOT BE DONE. SO WE
HAVE RETURNED TO “REDISCOVER AMERICA”.,..T0 RENEW OUR SOCIETY....
TO REVITALIZE OUR COMMUNITIES,...TO REAWAKEN OUR BELIEF IN
OURSELVES....TO REKINDLE THE LOVE OF ONE HUMAN BEING FOR ANOTHER
--- WITHOUT ANY PRICE-TAG ON EITHER ONE.

(To BE CONTINUED)