One large-scale proposal combined employer-mandates with a subsidy program for the poor. The response on the hill was mixed; Republicans felt the proposal was too expansive and the Democrats felt it was not expansive enough. Furthermore, the administration pointed out that health reform seemed to conflict with their political philosophy and that it alienated conservative politicians. (Wainess:1999) Nixon began to realize that it would be hard to pass any legislation, as Congress was dominated by Democrats and he could rarely find unity among his own party. Democrats began responding to Nixon's partisan politics by showing a surprising degree of party unity (Conlan 1984: 255).

Sure its not as simple as the above paragraphs reads, H Truman and D Eisenhower presented like plans.