Medical or a PR exercise? Why presidents get annual check-ups
Summary
U.S. presidents have regular physical check-ups that serve both health and political purposes. These exams show the president’s fitness to lead and help reassure the public, though the full medical records are private.Key Facts
- Every modern U.S. president visits Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for an annual physical exam.
- These health reports are partly used to send a message about the president’s strength and ability to lead.
- President Donald Trump, nearly 80 years old, was declared in excellent health by his doctor after his latest check-up.
- Presidents are not required to release full medical records, which are protected by privacy laws.
- Before TV, presidents could hide serious health problems more easily, as with Woodrow Wilson’s stroke in 1919.
- Public release of presidential health reports began in the 1960s under Lyndon B. Johnson.
- Some presidents, like Gerald Ford, voluntarily made medical details public to assure the nation of their fitness.
- Experts warn that White House medical reports can selectively show positive information, leaving out concerns.
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