Letter from A.E. Bosley in support of a social security program, March 5, 1935
As Congress worked to create a viable plan for Social Security, people around the country sent letters offering their opinions and advice. This one, from A.E. Bosley of Akron, Ohio, to Congressman Dow Harter, recommends the use of permanent registered identification numbers to track workers’ lifetime earnings and contributions.
Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, National Archives and Records Administration
Congress passed the Social Security Act to provide for the elderly, the unemployed, dependent children, and the disabled through taxes on workers and employers. The legislation, created during the Great Depression, addressed the concerns of popular grassroots movements that advocated for federal old-age pensions and relief for those without jobs.