President Johnson at SSA Headquarters

On October 12, 1966 President Lyndon Johnson came to Baltimore to speak at SSA's annual Awards Ceremony. This was the first (and to date, only) visit to Social Security headquarters by a sitting President. President Johnson used this speech to recount the early history of Social Security (to which he was an eye-witness), to praise SSA employees, and to announce his legislative agenda for future Social Security legislation. Among the announcements he made, the President proposed: a 10% COLA, the institution of a minimum benefit provision, liberalization of the Retirement Earnings Test, and extended Medicare to the disabled. Eventually, much of this agenda would be realized.

President Johnson's speech
(29 min./1.3 meg. RealAudio file)

President Johnson waves to the crowd assembled for the 1966 Awards Ceremony. OASIS Photo.