Nomination of Otis R. Bowen To Be Secretary of Health and Human Services

The President today announced his intention to nominate Otis R. Bowen to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. He would succeed Margaret M. Heckler.

Dr. Bowen is presently serving as the Lester D. Bibler professor of family medicine and director of undergraduate family practice education at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He was Governor of Indiana in 1973-1981. He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives in 1957, 1958, and 1961-1972, serving as minority leader in 1965-1966 and speaker from 1967 to 1972. Dr. Bowen has served on a number of Federal advisory commissions, including the Advisory Council on Social Security (Chairman, 1982-1984); the Presidential Advisory Committee on Federalism (member, 1981-1982); the Education Commission of the States (member, 1973-1981; Chairman, 1978-1979); the Republican Governors Association (member, 1973-1981; Chairman, 1978-1979); the President's Committee on Science and Technology (member, 1976-1977); and as a member of the Advisory Council of the United Student Aid Fund. Dr. Bowen is the recipient of many awards for his contributions to the field of public health. He has written extensively on health issues.

He graduated from Indiana University (A.B., 1939) and Indiana University School of Medicine (M.D., 1942). He is married and has four children. He was born February 26, 1918, in Richland Center, IN.