CQ Press: Book: Social Security: A Documentary History, Daniel Béland , Edward D. Berkowitz , Larry W. DeWitt

Social Security: A Documentary History
Larry W. DeWitt, Social Security Administration
Daniel Béland, University of Saskatchewan
Edward D. Berkowitz, George Washington University

Social Security: A Documentary History details the development of U.S. Social Security from its antecedents and founding in 1935 to the controversies of the present day. Filled with primary source documents, this unique reference weaves together the colorful history of Social Security in an easy-to-follow chronological fashion that highlights the major moments and events in the program’s development. Headnotes introduce and provide comments for the documents, which include congressional testimonies, government reports, presidential speeches, and rare archival evidence. This new work will serve as a valuable resource for librarians and researchers in academic and public libraries.

Table of Contents

Introduction: An Overview of the Social Security Program, 1935–2006
1. The Creation of Social Security in America
2. The First Controversy Over Financing and the Creation of Family Benefits, 1935–1939
3. Political Struggles over Social Security in the 1940's and the Expansion of the Program, 1950
4. Extending Coverage and Benefits, 1951–1965
5. Enlarging the Program and Indexing Benefits to the Rate of Inflation, 1966–1972
6. The Second Controversy over Financing and the 1977 Social Security Amendments, 1973–1977
7. The Third Controversy over Financing and the Social Security Amendments of 1983
8. Disability Benefits in the 1980's
9. The Fourth Controversy over Financing and the Battle over Privatization, 1983–2006
Appendix A: Legislation Affecting Social Security and Medicare Programs
Appendix B: Vote Totals by Party for Selected Social Security Legislation
Appendix C: Key Indicators from the Annual Trustees Reports, 1941–2006
Appendix D: Social Security Trust Fund Finances, 1937–2005
Appendix E: Social Security Beneficiaries, 1937–2005
Glossary
Annotated Bibliography
Index

Reviews

"Thorough and almost daunting in scope….Essential. All collections." - Choice

"This thorough history will be a goldmine for students doing reports and looking for original documents, and may well be the most useful one-volume reference on Social Security for adult readers, too. A valuable resource."

- School Library Journal

"Illuminating and studded with surprising details, this is highly recommended for all academic collections." - Library Journal

"The inclusion of primary source documents, many of which are not easily accessible, makes this resource especially valuable to researchers..... Anyone who has an interest in the development of the Social Security program will find this to be an interesting and valuable resource."

- American Reference Books Annual

"This could be a single source for many a research paper, and the annotations are accessible to everyone from high school on up." - Reference and Research Book News

"The careful arrangement and explanatory notes in both African Americans in Congress: A Documentary History and Social Security: A Documentary
History add value that should not be underestimated in purchase decisions. Recommended for college and large public libraries." - Booklist

Awards

2008 Choice Outstanding Academic Title

Honorable Mention: 2009 PSP Award for Best Single-Volume Reference in Humanities and Social Sciences

Bio(s)

Larry W. DeWitt, Social Security Administration

Larry W. DeWitt is the public historian for the Social Security Administration.

Daniel Béland, University of Saskatchewan

Daniel Béland is Professor of Public Policy and Sociology at the University of Saskatchewan.

Edward D. Berkowitz, George Washington University

Edward D. Berkowitz is professor of history and of public policy and public administration at George Washington University.

Samples Pages