NIH History

Presidential NIH Visits: John F. Kennedy, 1962

Like many visiting scientists of the time, Dr. Joe Hin Tjio and his wife Inga were invited to live on the NIH campus in Building 20. In 1959, the Tjios moved in, largely because "I wanted to remain within walking distance of my lab," he said. Inga added mischievously, "It was because my husband never drove a car!"

President John F Kennedy presents Joe Hin Tjio with International Prize Award in 1962

Presidential NIH Visits: Lyndon Johnson, 1967

"The cheers of the crowd rose above the roar of the rotors and followed him into the CC. And all the while he was in there, touring the laboratories and addressing the medical community, the crowd waited," reported The NIH Record in 1967.

Lyndon Johnson exits helicopter at NIH, 1967

Presidential NIH Visits: Richard Nixon, 1972

Sometimes you have to go to the president. John S. Millis, chairman of the President's Panel on Heart Disease, and National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Director Theodore Cooper met on June 27, 1972 with President Richard Nixon to review the Heart Research Agreement between the U.S. and U.S.S.R.

President Richard Nixon with Theodore Cooper at White House

Presidential NIH Visits: Gerald Ford, 1975

"Over the years, as I was in the Congress, I watched NIH grow into the world's foremost medical research institution," Ford said. "I followed your achievements — the breakthroughs that you have achieved here and in laboratories which you support around the world."

President Gerald Ford greeting people at NIH

Presidential NIH Visits: Jimmy Carter, 1979

In December 1979, the IRP's Dr. Earl Stadtman, chief of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI) Laboratory of Biochemistry, received the National Medal of Science from President Jimmy Carter.

President Jimmy Carter presents Earl Stadtman the National Medal of Science

Presidential NIH Visits: Ronald Reagan, 1987

“When President Reagan came to NIH and visited our ward, Phil took him on rounds and was holding a baby who had HIV. He said, ‘Here, Mr. President, why don’t you hold him."

President Ronald Reagan at NIH with AIDS patient

Presidential NIH Visits: Bill Clinton, 1999

The NIH is "one of America's great citadels of hope, not only for our people, but also for the world," said President Bill Clinton at the dedication of the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC) on June 9, 1999.

President Bill Clinton with Senator Dale Bumpers at NIH VRC

Presidential NIH Visits: George W. Bush, 2003

Presidents usually visit for happy occasions, but February 3, 2003, President George W. Bush described Project BioShield, a plan for research and production of drugs to combat bioterrorism.

President George W Bush, NIH 2003