William Foege, physician and epidemiologist who helped lead the successful campaign to eradicate smallpox, left, receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images | Bloomberg via Getty Images This story was originally published in The Highlight, Vox’s member-exclusive magazine. To get access to member-exclusive stories every month, join the Vox Membership program today. Had William Foege been a military general or a CEO or a politicia...

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