Wilbur J. Cohen

Wilbur J. Cohen has been active in many areas of public welfare throughout his entire career. He moved to Washington after graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1934, and became Research Assistant to Executive Director Witte of President Roosevelt's cabinet-level Committee on Economic Security. This Committee drafted the original Social Security Act. In 1935 he was a member of the Committee on Public Administration of the Social Science Research Council. During the period 1936 -53 he served as Technical Advisor to the Social Security Board; and from 1953 to 1956 he headed its Office of Research and Statistics. From 1956 to 1961 he was Professor of Public Welfare Administration, School of Social Work, University of Michigan. In 1960 President Kennedy appointed him chairman of a task force which recommended Medicare. In 1961 he became Assistant Secretary for Legislation of the Department of HEW; Under-Secretary of HEW of the Department of HEW; Under-Secretary of HEW in 1965; and Secretary from 1968 to 1969. Since 1969 he has been Dean of the School of Education of the University of Michigan.

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