| 1913 To 1994 |
National Cancer Act of 1971:
In 1970, the American people made clear their
desire for a cure for the second-leading cause of
death in the United States. President Nixon
responded during his January 1971 State of the
Union address: "I will also ask for an appropriation
of an extra $100 million to launch an intensive
campaign to find a cure for cancer, and I will ask
later for whatever additional funds can effectively be
used. The time has come in America when the
same kind of concentrated effort that split the atom
and took man to the moon should be turned toward
conquering this dread disease. Let us make a total
national commitment to achieve this goal."
As part of this national effort, in October 1971, the
Army's Fort Detrick, Maryland, biological warfare
facility was converted to a cancer research center,
eventually becoming the Frederick Cancer
Research and Development Center, an
internationally recognized center for cancer and
AIDS research.
On December 23, 1971, President Nixon followed
through on his promise as he signed the National
Cancer Act into law, declaring, "I hope in the years
ahead we will look back on this action today as the
most significant action taken during my
Administration."
In 1970, the American people made clear their
desire for a cure for the second-leading cause of
death in the United States. President Nixon
responded during his January 1971 State of the
Union address: "I will also ask for an appropriation
of an extra $100 million to launch an intensive
campaign to find a cure for cancer, and I will ask
later for whatever additional funds can effectively be
used. The time has come in America when the
same kind of concentrated effort that split the atom
and took man to the moon should be turned toward
conquering this dread disease. Let us make a total
national commitment to achieve this goal."
As part of this national effort, in October 1971, the
Army's Fort Detrick, Maryland, biological warfare
facility was converted to a cancer research center,
eventually becoming the Frederick Cancer
Research and Development Center, an
internationally recognized center for cancer and
AIDS research.
On December 23, 1971, President Nixon followed
through on his promise as he signed the National
Cancer Act into law, declaring, "I hope in the years
ahead we will look back on this action today as the
most significant action taken during my
Administration."
President Richard Milhouse Nixon