Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, as thirty-second President

Autograph notes in pencil, with identification postscript in the hand of Frances Perkins, signed ("F. Perkins"), 1 page (8 1/2 x 6 1/4 in.; 215 x 158 mm), [Washington, D.C.], 22 January 1935; formerly folded, small tear in upper margin without loss, small fold-tear. [With:] Frances Perkins, autograph memo explaining the note in more detail, 2 pages (5 1/4 x 4 in.; 134 x 102 mm), no place or date but contemporary with the last. Blue half-morocco clamshell box.

formerly folded, small tear in upper margin without loss, small fold-tear
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Roosevelt misunderstands old-age insurance, "Madame Secretary" means to set him straight, vivid testimony of the formation of the Social Security Act.

Frances Perkins (1880-1965) served as President Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor from 1933-1945, the first female cabinet member. After starting her career in Chicago, working at Hull House, she came to the attention of Roosevelt, then Governor of New York, who appointed her to that state's Labor Department, where she was instrumental in passage of an old-age pension in 1930. As president, Roosevelt in 1934 made her chairwoman of the President's Committee on Economic Security which formulated the details of what became the Social Security Act. The Report of the Committee was issued 17 January 1935, and the Act was signed in August.

The Committee Report proposed funding the pension plan with a combination of general revenue, payroll tax, and interest from the reserve fund. Roosevelt's note appears to be considering the use of general revenue and the payroll tax (referred to here as "pay as we go"): "1/2 up to $15 to Indigent & pay as we go. Start self supporting & pay this to all who come to 65. Also pay them the difference between income and indigent pay (or pay as you go tax etc.). Work out figures for this on pay as we go principles."

Secretary Perkins writes below: "Memo by F.D.R. to F.P. on Jan. 22 - 1935 (midnight) in re new assumption possibility for old age scheme in income present[?] taxes. F. Perkins." Her additional memo points out: "FDR never has understood diff. between insurance & assistance to the indigent. He sees no sense in having income available to aged unless they are indigent & assumes all working people will be poor & need assistance. Forgets insurance principle. Also doesn't understand that pay as you go policy on old age assistance is an impossibility. They have no employer to tax. They are already old. It would surely mean high annual appropriations by Congress to support the indigent. Comment on diff between income & indigent pay is ridiculous & no actuary could figure. Must talk him off this."