Steven A. Levine
Coordinator for Educational Programs
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Postmaster-General
James A. Farley,
and Senator Robert F. Wagner, circa
1936.
Seventy seven years ago today, President Franklin D.
Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. New York’s Senator Robert F. Wagner was the law’s
lead sponsor in the Senate and he had been a fierce advocate of this
legislation to protect the elderly, unemployed and children.* In May of 1935, he gave a speech
on WEVD, a mostly Yiddish language radio station, to rally support. In the midst of the Great Depression and mass
unemployment, he set forth a vision of the United States based on economic
security for all, particularly the most vulnerable.
The time has come when our
government, backed by overwhelming sentiment of the American people, is prepared
to raise men from a level below that of machines and place them on a higher
level. It is our objective to lighten
the burdens of unemployment, of uncared for childhood, and of neglected old
age, thus making life more enjoyable and secure for the vast majority of
Americans. (Senator Wagner’s complete
speech can be read here.)
As the presidential candidates today debate the future of
the programs begun by the Social Security Act in 1935 and our nation and the
world confront a new economic crisis, Senator Wagner’s words and vision are
well worth remembering.
*While the law increased security for many Americans, it
also excluded many women, African-Americans and other minorities by not initially
covering agricultural workers, domestics, teachers, nurses, and social
workers. Southern Democrats in Congress
used their political power to prevent the inclusion of most African-Americans.
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