Roger O. Egeberg - Nixon Administration

Nixon Administration

From 1969 to 1971, Egeberg was the Assistant Secretary for health and scientific affairs in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. In this role, he was an advocate for expanding public health care and argued for the financing of medical programs (through the Office of Health Care Financing). During this time, Egeberg visited the USSR and developed a professional relationship with Boris Vasilevich Petrovsky, the Soviet minister of health. In the spring of 1970, while requesting $100 million to train more doctors and nurses, Egeberg alleged the Health, Education and Welfare Secretary, Robert H. Finch, and the department's Under Secretary, John C. Veneman, were not considering his advice on health matters and that Nixon's advisers were ignoring him. He said,

"The White House just doesn't appreciate, doesn't know, what is going on in the health field."

also,

"I just can't get through to Ehrlichman," (referring to John D. Ehrlichman, the president's chief aide for domestic matters.)

and,

"I may be fired because of my words and actions, but I won't quit."

Officials of the department, including Finch, expressed dissatisfaction with Egeberg's managerial skills. From 1971 to 1977, Egeberg was the health secretary's special assistant for health policy and special consultant to the president in health affairs. In 1976 and 1977, he was also special assistant for health education.