In an effort to control the HIV-AIDS epidemic and its debilitating health and socioeconomic effects, U.S. president Bill Clinton appointed Kristine Gebbie as the first National AIDS Policy coordinator, or AIDS czar. Gebbie’s mandate was to implement policies and programs that would offer viable solutions to the epidemic.
When Bill Clinton ran for the U.S. presidency in 1992, he promised to address HIV-AIDS concerns. Part of his campaign platform included increased funding for AIDS research; a concentrated effort to prevent the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS; and the appointment of a national AIDS czar.
Once in office, however, Clinton was frequently criticized for not acting on his campaign promise to launch a decisive attack on AIDS. In response to the accusations, Clinton announced at a press conference held at the White House on June 25, 1993, that Kristine Gebbie would be the first National AIDS Policy coordinator, or AIDS czar.
Having served as a state public health administrator, a member of the first presidential commission on AIDS, and a member of various national AIDS committees, as well having served in many other health-related positions, Gebbie was well qualified to direct government programs to promote and centralize the funding, research, treatment, and prevention of HIV-AIDS. During her first four months in office, Gebbie spent most of her time meeting with AIDS policy experts and lawmakers, particularly Donna Shalala,
While addressing the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals about teenage pregnancy and the prevention of AIDS in October, 1993, Gebbie publicly stated her perceptions about traditional morality, suggesting that Americans should alter their views about sex and should no longer repress frank discussions about sex and sexuality, including homosexuality. Her statements stirred significant controversy, and she immediately came under the scrutiny of Christian and pro-family coalitions, including the American Family Association
In February, 1994, Gebbie pointed out that about 30 percent of all AIDS cases originated from drug abuse through the use of HIV-contaminated needles. She advocated distributing clean needles to drug addicts and joined President Clinton and the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Lee Brown, in supporting a strategy to stop the illegal use of drugs. Carrying out her duties with a rather low profile, Gebbie received continued criticism from AIDS activists. By June, 1994, many activists were clamoring for her resignation. On July 8, 1994, she announced her resignation, effective August 2. Shortly thereafter, Clinton appointed Patsy S. Fleming,
Because of the dramatic increase in AIDS cases during the 1980’s and 1990’s, Clinton appointed Kristine Gebbie to the position of AIDS czar to address and find solutions to the raging epidemic. Gebbie’s goals had included increasing public awareness and understanding of the disease and obtaining substantial funding for research efforts and preventive measures to control its spread. During her tenure of a little more than one year, Gebbie had some success: She opened lines of effective communication about the AIDS epidemic through discussions with key government and public personnel. She emphasized that AIDS is a nondiscriminatory disease, affecting not only homosexuals and drug addicts but also heterosexuals.
Gebbie successfully identified and helped implement some reasonable AIDS policies and programs. Through her guidance and the leadership of Clinton, the budget for HIV-AIDS research and prevention was increased by more than 30 percent, HIV-AIDS education was provided for federal employees and the public, new HIV-AIDS drugs were researched and developed, and funding was boosted for the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act,
Although some positive steps were taken by Gebbie in addressing HIV-AIDS and some of the associated issues, a majority of AIDS activists felt that she was too inexperienced, relied mostly on rhetoric, and kept too low of a profile. Even as the controversy and criticism increased, and Gebbie resigned, a very important pattern had been established in the fight against HIV-AIDS—the selection of an individual who was mandated with federal government power to focus on ways to control and eventually defeat the insidious disease.
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June 5 and July 3, 1981: Reports of Rare Diseases Mark Beginning of AIDS Epidemic
July, 1982: Gay-Related Immunodeficiency Is Renamed AIDS
Spring, 1984: AIDS Virus Is Discovered
July 25, 1985: Actor Hudson Announces He Has AIDS
September, 1986: AZT Treats People with AIDS
March, 1987: Radical AIDS Activist Group ACT UP Is Founded
June 27, 1988: Report of the Presidential AIDS Commission
December 1, 1988: First World AIDS Day