Joseph A. Califano, Jr.
Encyclopedia : J : JO : JOS : Joseph A. Califano, Jr.
Joseph Anthony Califano, Jr. (born May 15, 1931) is as of 2005 the Chairman of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. He has held many posts in the United States Government including United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare from 1977 until 1979. He is now one of only two living former secretaries of Health, Education, and Welfare.
Califano graduated from College of the Holy Cross in 1952 and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1955.
Califano held various legal positions in the United States Department of Defense, eventually becoming the general counsel of the United States Army. Califano was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.
In 1964, Califano became a special assistant to the United States Secretary of Defense, and deputy secretary. He was appointed to several committees by President of the United States Lyndon Johnson. In July 1965, he became a special assistant to the president, and served as President Johnson's senior domestic policy aide. He was called "The Deputy President for Domestic Affairs" by The New York Times. He served in that post for the remainder of Johnson's term.
In January 1977, Califano was appointed Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by newly elected president Jimmy Carter. His major initiatives included prevention programs to support childhood immunizations and against smoking. The department began efforts to collect defaulted student loans. He was fired by President Carter during a major cabinet reshuffle in 1979. Califano's lack of popularity by White House staff and his identification with Senator Edward Kennedy were cited as contributing factors to his dismissal.
Since 1992, he has been the chairman of the National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. Califano has written several books, including:
- Governing America: An Insider's Report from the White House and the Cabinet
- The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson: The White House Years
- Radical Surgery: What's Next for America's Health Care
- America's Health Care Revolution: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Pays
External links
- [Biography at protectthetruth.org]
- [National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA)]
- [NNDB biographical article]
- ["Joe Califano and Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse"] by David J. Hanson, critical of Mr. Califano.
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