American Decades
"On Social Security"
Message
By: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Date: January 17, 1935
Source: Roosevelt, Franklin D. "On Social Security." Message to Congress, January 17, 1935. Printed in Vital Speeches of the Day 1, no. 9, January 28, 1935, 258–259.
About the Author: Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) was elected president in 1932, the worst year of the Great Depression. While Roosevelt did not have a consistent strategy for dealing with the Depression, he was willing to experiment with various programs. This willingness to "try something" combined with his infectious enthusiasm and optimism, performed wonders in restoring the faith of the American people in themselves and their government. Roosevelt died while still in office.
Introduction
The first modern social security legislation was passed in Germany in 1883. Over the next several years the German government created a...
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1930's Government and Politics Primary Sources
- "The Importance of the Preservation of Self-help and of the Responsibility of Individual Generosity as Opposed to Deteriorating Effects of Governmental Appropriations"
- The Proceedings and Transactions of a Conference of the Mayors of the State of Michigan
- Press Statements and Related Correspondence on the Use of Troops to Control the So-called Bonus Marchers
- Campaign Speech at Madison Square Garden, New York City
- "On the Purposes and Foundations of the Recovery Program"
- Letter to Major General Stuart Heintzelman
- "American Fascism in Embryo"
- "Carry Out the Command of the Lord"
- Harry Hopkins Press Conference, February 16, 1934
- "Federal Emergency Relief"
- Old Age Revolving Pensions
- "On Social Security"
- "What's the Matter with Congress?"
- "I Have Seen War.…I Hate War"
- "Hemingway Reports Spain"
- The Debate over Isolation
- Copyright Page
- Acknowledgments
