President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act on this day in 1935. It's probably the most significant piece of legislation signed in the 20th century, along with the Civil Rights Act. It kept millions of elderly from falling into poverty at the end of their lives. Today, Social Security is seen as an unbreakable insurance contract by all but far right teatards, who want to "privatize" all or part of Social Security (see Sharron Angle, Rand Paul, Sarah Palin, etc.). Happy birthday, and many more to come.
Bonus: Here's the President's Weekly Address on the Social Security anniversary:
