The United States very nearly had universal child care. In 1971, both houses of Congress passed the Comprehensive Child Development Act, which would have provided child care at a sliding scale to every child that needed it, the first step toward a universal system. All it needed was President Nixon’s signature.Nixon had been in support of child care, and in fact said that “so critical is the matter of early growth that we must make a national commitment to providing all American children an opportunity for healthful and stimulating development during the first five years of life.” A task force on women’s rights that he convened found that the lack of child care was the primary obstacle for women, and recommended creating “a system of well-run child care centers available to all pre-school children.”But his signature, and the creation of universal child care, was not to be. On the advice of Pat Buchanan, his special assistant, he issued a scathing veto.

I'm glad affordable child care is coming back.