When we could get along
Once upon a time, before America became radically partisan, I sought the help of the president of the United States, a U.S. senator, a U.S. representative and the director of a major federal program. The president, senator and director were Republicans; the representative, a Democrat -- and Mormon.
I wrote to the president, and I met with the senator and representative (both ran for president) in Arizona, the director in Washington.
The president enabled an introduction to a General Motors Corporation executive. The senator and representative advocated for the related demonstration grant I sought; the director supported me. The proposal was funded; GMC provided a van.
The principals: the Republican President Richard Nixon, the Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater, the Democratic Rep. Morris Udall and the Republican Donald Rumsfeld, then director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. The demonstration received a two-page acclaim in the Congressional Record.
The desert demonstration -- about telemedicine -- was an Associated Press Top 10 News Story; the White House was briefed. Today, Arizona has the nation's leading telemedicine program.
Once upon a time, 42 years ago.
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