President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Social Security Amendments of 1965 into law on July 30, 1965, establishing Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation created major new healthcare programs that expanded access to medical coverage for millions of elderly and low-income Americans. The creation of Medicare and Medicaid was the result of decades of debate over healthcare access in the United States. Since the 1930s, lawmakers had proposed national health insurance plans, but opposition from medical groups, insurers, and political opponents prevented major reforms from becoming law. During his presidency, Lyndon B. Johnson made healthcare reform a major part of his Great Society agenda. After years of negotiations in Congress, the Social Security Amendments of 1965 passed with bipartisan support, and Johnson signed the bill at the Truman Library in Missouri with former President Harry Truman, who had long advocated for national health coverage, in attendance. The programs quickly transformed American healthcare. Medicare provided government health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older, while Medicaid helped provide coverage for low-income individuals and families. Together, they became two of the most significant social programs in U.S. history, reshaping access to medical care for generations.(Historic Vids)