Ronald Reagan's HIV/AIDS Crisis (pt. 2)

The story of President Ronald Reagan's failure to adequately respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s. In the second part of this two-part story, we dive into Reagan's second term in office. We discuss Rock Hudson, the Koop Report, the Helms Amendment, the President's Commission on the HIV Epidemic, and more.

The presenting sponsor of this season is Freddie, Canada's #1 PrEP provider. To learn more about PrEP and to book your free consultation with Freddie, visit gofreddie.com/dane.

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Special thanks to Molly Bower for joining us on this Ronald Reagan journey!

There are many sources for today's episode, our top sources include:

• How to Survive a Plague: The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS. David France. 2016.
• Photo of Rock Hudson, Nancy Reagan, & Ronald Reagan. Wikimedia. 1984.
• And the Band Played On. Randy Shilts. 1987.
• Surgeon General's Report on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 1986.
• Safer Sex Comix #8. Gay Men's Health Crisis. 1987. (explicit)
• Setting the Record Straight. The Jesse Helms Center. 2024.
• Congressional Record—Senate—October 14, 1988. Congress.gov. 1988.
• President Reagan's Remarks to the American Foundation for AIDS Research May 31, 1987. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. 1987.
• Roper Center for Public Opinion Research. Election Results Breakdowns.
• Nancy Reagan’s Real Role in the AIDS Crisis. The Atlantic. 2021.
• On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service. Dr. Anthony Fauci. 2024.

This episode was researched, hosted, and edited by Dane Stewart with music by Matthew Rogers. Produced by Dane Stewart & Matthew Kariatsumari. Our outro track is Easy to Love by Clara Jones.

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