A look at the economic status of the aged then and now.

With this issue, the Social Security Bulletin commences its 45th year of publication. Writing in volume 1, numbers l-3 in the March 1938 issue, Social Security Board Chairman Arthur J. Altmeyer-one of the chief technical architects of the Social Security Act-expressed his hope that the Bulletin would promote general understanding of the contribution of the Social Security programs in the United States.’ The 1935 Social Security Act committed the Federal Government to provide a level of economic security for the underprivileged. In addition to administering those programs initiated by the Act-Old-Age Insurance (title II), Unemployment Insurance (title III), and a FederalState matching fund program for assistance to the aged, the blind, and the fatherless (titles I and X)-the Social Security Board was responsible for studying and making recommendations as to “methods of providing economic security through social insurance, and as to legislation and matters of administrative policy concerning old-age pensions, unemployment compensation . . . and related subjects.” 2 The Bulletin was intended to record developments in the programs administered by the Social Security Board, as well as in health and welfare services programs administered by other Federal agencies. In addition, Chairman Altmeyer continued, “It is with the aim of fulfilling its own responsibilities for study and administration and of facilitating the efforts of other agencies concerned with the social services that the Board has started publication of the Social Security Bulletin.” 3 A comparison of the topics discussed in that first issue of the Bulletin with those of concern today presents some striking contrasts and similarities. The featured article in that first issue was devoted to an assessment of the economic status of the aged. Its findings-and the