Frances Perkins

Frances Perkins, political confidante of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and first woman cabinet member as Secretary of Labor served as chairman of the Committee on Economic Security. "The Roots of Social Security" is her account of how the Social Security Act came to be--from the beginning of an idea to the passage of the law.

On October 23,, 1962, and at the age of 80, she spoke to the headquarters employees of the Social Security Administration at a general staff meeting. Employees who heard her, recall it as a memorable experience and consider this presentation as her legacy to them and to all social security employees.

Text of 25th Anniversary Speech (1960)

The Roots of Social Security Speech (1962)