Harry and Louise
Encyclopedia
"Harry and Louise" was a $14 to $20 million year-long television advertising
campaign funded by the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA)—a predecessor of the current America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)—a health insurance
industry lobby group, that ran intermittently from September 8, 1993 to September 1994 in opposition to President Bill Clinton
's proposed health care plan
in 1993–1994 and Congressional
health care reform proposals in 1994. Fourteen television ads and radio and print advertising depicted a fictional suburban fortysomething middle-class married couple, portrayed by actors Harry Johnson and Louise Caire Clark
, despairing over bureaucratic and other aspects of health care reform plans and urged viewers to contact their representatives in Congress. The commercials were ordered by HIAA president Bill Gradison
and HIAA executive vice president Chip Kahn
, and created by California public relations consultants Ben Goddard
and Rick Claussen of Goddard Claussen.
The couple returned in several newer advertisements pushing health care reform during the 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns. In 2000, Harry and Louise appeared in a TV commercial sponsored by HIAA promoting its "InsureUSA" campaign advocating the need to provide health coverage to uninsured Americans.
Later, they returned in an unrelated 2002 ad, produced by Goddard Claussen Porter Novelli (Goddard Claussen was purchased by Porter Novelli
in 1999), advocating human cloning
for therapeutic purposes on behalf of CuresNow.org. The second ad was the subject of a lawsuit by the HIAA who claimed that they owned the characters; however, a court ruled that the rights to the characters were held by Goddard Claussen, and it aired during a showing of The West Wing
on NBC
. This ad was one of several prominent political attack ad
s parodied in the 78th Academy Awards
(March 2006). An older couple sitting at the kitchen table bemoans the "foreign-sounding names" of the best actress nominees, then praises Reese Witherspoon
for having an all-American name.
Harry and Louise appeared again in an ad that premiered on August 25, 2008, during the 2008 Democratic National Convention
, urging that health care reform
be made a top priority. The ad aired again during the Republican National Convention
. The 2008 ad was sponsored by several organizations that have, in the past, advocated diverse views on health care, including The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
, the American Hospital Association
, the Catholic Health Association
, Families USA
, and the National Federation of Independent Business
.
In July 2009, the couple appeared in a new television advertisement in support of the health-care plan promoted by President Barack Obama
. The ad was sponsored by a pharmaceutical industry trade group and Families USA.
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
campaign funded by the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA)—a predecessor of the current America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)—a health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
industry lobby group, that ran intermittently from September 8, 1993 to September 1994 in opposition to President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's proposed health care plan
Clinton health care plan
The Clinton health care plan was a 1993 healthcare reform package proposed by the administration of President Bill Clinton and closely associated with the chair of the task force devising the plan, First Lady of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton....
in 1993–1994 and Congressional
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
health care reform proposals in 1994. Fourteen television ads and radio and print advertising depicted a fictional suburban fortysomething middle-class married couple, portrayed by actors Harry Johnson and Louise Caire Clark
Louise Caire Clark
Louise Caire Clark is an American actress.-Life and career:Clark was born in Santa Monica, California in 1949 and moved back to her mother's home in New Orleans in 1950. Her mother, Audrey Caire, was a National AAU Champion and an actress and model. Her father, William Doran Clark, a decorated...
, despairing over bureaucratic and other aspects of health care reform plans and urged viewers to contact their representatives in Congress. The commercials were ordered by HIAA president Bill Gradison
Bill Gradison
Willis David "Bill" Gradison Jr. is an American politician, who served for almost two decades in the U.S. House of Representatives.-Early life and education:...
and HIAA executive vice president Chip Kahn
Charles N. Kahn III
Charles N. Kahn III is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of American Hospitals , whose member companies own nearly 20 percent of all American hospital beds...
, and created by California public relations consultants Ben Goddard
Ben Goddard
Ben Goddard is a founding partner of the public affairs firm Goddard Claussen. He is widely regarded as the godfather of issue advocacy advertising and is credited with creating the genre of national issue advocacy advertising with the Harry & Louise campaign in the early 1990s.-Career and...
and Rick Claussen of Goddard Claussen.
The couple returned in several newer advertisements pushing health care reform during the 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns. In 2000, Harry and Louise appeared in a TV commercial sponsored by HIAA promoting its "InsureUSA" campaign advocating the need to provide health coverage to uninsured Americans.
Later, they returned in an unrelated 2002 ad, produced by Goddard Claussen Porter Novelli (Goddard Claussen was purchased by Porter Novelli
Porter Novelli
Porter Novelli is a public relations firm that is part of Omnicom Group. Its original clients were primarily social causes and nonprofit organizations. Today, the company works in crisis management, health care, technology, corporate affairs, consumer marketing, and more. The company has...
in 1999), advocating human cloning
Human cloning
Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a human. It does not usually refer to monozygotic multiple births nor the reproduction of human cells or tissue. The ethics of cloning is an extremely controversial issue...
for therapeutic purposes on behalf of CuresNow.org. The second ad was the subject of a lawsuit by the HIAA who claimed that they owned the characters; however, a court ruled that the rights to the characters were held by Goddard Claussen, and it aired during a showing of The West Wing
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. This ad was one of several prominent political attack ad
Attack ad
In political campaigns, an attack ad is an advertisement whose message is meant as a personal attack against another candidate or political party...
s parodied in the 78th Academy Awards
78th Academy Awards
The 78th Academy Awards honored the best films of 2005 and were held on March 5, 2006, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. They were hosted by The Daily Show host Jon Stewart, with Tom Kane making his first appearance as the show's announcer...
(March 2006). An older couple sitting at the kitchen table bemoans the "foreign-sounding names" of the best actress nominees, then praises Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon , better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and film producer. Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991; later that year she made her television acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower...
for having an all-American name.
Harry and Louise appeared again in an ad that premiered on August 25, 2008, during the 2008 Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
, urging that health care reform
Health care reform
Health care reform is a general rubric used for discussing major health policy creation or changes—for the most part, governmental policy that affects health care delivery in a given place...
be made a top priority. The ad aired again during the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
. The 2008 ad was sponsored by several organizations that have, in the past, advocated diverse views on health care, including The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is a nonprofit, nonpartisan sister organization to the American Cancer Society...
, the American Hospital Association
American Hospital Association
The American Hospital Association is an organization that promotes the quality provision of health care by hospitals and health care networks through such efforts as promoting effective public policy and providing information related to health care and health administration to health care...
, the Catholic Health Association
Catholic Health Association of the United States
The Catholic Health Association of the United States was founded in 1915 as the Catholic Hospital Association of the United States and Canada. The association has offices in Washington, D.C. and St. Louis, Missouri....
, Families USA
Families USA
Families USA is an American non-profit consumer health-care advocacy organization. It was co-founded by attorney Ronald Pollack, its current executive director, and Philippe Villers, the organization's current President....
, and the National Federation of Independent Business
National Federation of Independent Business
The National Federation of Independent Business is a lobbying organization with its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee and offices in Washington, D.C. USA, and in all 50 state capitals...
.
In July 2009, the couple appeared in a new television advertisement in support of the health-care plan promoted by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. The ad was sponsored by a pharmaceutical industry trade group and Families USA.