Agenda - 09-17-1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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HISTORY OF CHILD HEALTH DAY Under a Joint Resolution of the Congress, Child Health Day has been Proclaimed by the President of the United States ever since 1928. It was originally celebrated on May Day, May first, each year until 1960, when the date was moved to the first Monday in October. Calvin Coolidge, the first President to issue a Child Health Day proclamation, acted in response to pleas from the American Federation of Labor and the General Federation of Women's Clubs on April 26th to Proclaim the day while the resolution was still pending in Congress. Although the Senate had passed the resolution unanimously, House action had not yet been completed and the measure had no chance of passage before May first. In those days the bureaucracy moved swiftly. On April 27, the White House referred the requests from AFL President William Green and Mrs. Walter McNab Miller, Chairman of the Department of Public Welfare of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, to the Secretary of the Treasury for his recommendations. His response was immediate: "The promotion of child health is a highly commendable object. The issuance of a proclamation designating a `Child Health Day' would undoubtedly have influence in focusing public attention on this matter. Unless consideration of public policy would render it inadvisable to anticipate action in a matter which Congress is now considering, I would be inclined to recommend compliance with the request contained in the communications mentioned." On April 28, President Coolidge issued the following proclamation "WHEREAS the protection and development of the health of the children of today are fundamental necessities to the future Progress and welfare of the Nation; "AND WHEREAS, the conservation and promotion of child health places upon us a grave responsibility, "AND WHEREAS, it is appropriate that a day should be set apart each year for the direction of our thoughts towards the health and well being of our children; "NOW, therefore, I, Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States of America, do hereby set apart May 1, of this year, as Child Health Day and do invite the people of the United States and all agencies and organizations interested in child welfare to unite upon that day in the observance of such exercises as will acquaint the people of the Nation with the fundamental necessity of a year -round program for the protection and development of the health of the Nation's children. "IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed"