. Letter to Congressional Leaders About the Social Security System --July 18, 1981
The highest priority of my Administration is restoring the integrity of the Social Security System. Those 35 million Americans who depend on Social Security expect and are entitled to prompt bipartisan action to resolve the current financial problem.
At the same time, I deplore the opportunistic political maneuvering, cynically designed to play on the fears of many Americans, that some in the Congress are initiating at this time. These efforts appear designed to exploit an issue rather than find a solution to the urgent Social Security problem. They would also have the unfortunate effect of disrupting the budget conference and reversing the actions of a majority of both Houses of the Congress. Such a result would jeopardize our economic recovery program so vital to the well-being of the Nation.
In order to tell the American people the facts, and to let them know that I shall fight to preserve the Social Security System and protect their benefits, I will ask for time on television to address the Nation as soon as possible.
During this address, I will call on the Congress to lay aside partisan politics, and join me in a constructive effort to put Social Security on a permanently sound financial basis as soon as the 97th Congress returns in September.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan
I hear often in today's debate about entitlements and then in the next breath from those wishing to destroy the trust between Social Security and this nation how much they are like Ronald Reagan. I would suggest that at least some of them take a real look at the man before advocating reforms to the point where that trust is broken. In fact when asked if he collected Social Security, President Reagan's response was, " of course I do, I paid into it". This is NOT to be taken as a critical opinion on Reagan , on the contrary, I was and still do see the man as a good President for this nation, because his love of this nation was so intense it knew no party it only knew Americans.
I am asking the Congress to restore the minimum benefit for current beneficiaries with low incomes. It was never our intention to take this support away from those who truly need it. There is, however, a sizable percentage of recipients who are adequately provided for by pensions or other income and should not be added to the financial burden of social security.
The same situation prevails with regard to disability payments. No one will deny our obligation to those with legitimate claims, but there's widespread abuse of the system which should not be allowed to continue.
Social Security Online
The highest priority of my Administration is restoring the integrity of the Social Security System. Those 35 million Americans who depend on Social Security expect and are entitled to prompt bipartisan action to resolve the current financial problem.
At the same time, I deplore the opportunistic political maneuvering, cynically designed to play on the fears of many Americans, that some in the Congress are initiating at this time. These efforts appear designed to exploit an issue rather than find a solution to the urgent Social Security problem. They would also have the unfortunate effect of disrupting the budget conference and reversing the actions of a majority of both Houses of the Congress. Such a result would jeopardize our economic recovery program so vital to the well-being of the Nation.
In order to tell the American people the facts, and to let them know that I shall fight to preserve the Social Security System and protect their benefits, I will ask for time on television to address the Nation as soon as possible.
During this address, I will call on the Congress to lay aside partisan politics, and join me in a constructive effort to put Social Security on a permanently sound financial basis as soon as the 97th Congress returns in September.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan
I hear often in today's debate about entitlements and then in the next breath from those wishing to destroy the trust between Social Security and this nation how much they are like Ronald Reagan. I would suggest that at least some of them take a real look at the man before advocating reforms to the point where that trust is broken. In fact when asked if he collected Social Security, President Reagan's response was, " of course I do, I paid into it". This is NOT to be taken as a critical opinion on Reagan , on the contrary, I was and still do see the man as a good President for this nation, because his love of this nation was so intense it knew no party it only knew Americans.
I am asking the Congress to restore the minimum benefit for current beneficiaries with low incomes. It was never our intention to take this support away from those who truly need it. There is, however, a sizable percentage of recipients who are adequately provided for by pensions or other income and should not be added to the financial burden of social security.
The same situation prevails with regard to disability payments. No one will deny our obligation to those with legitimate claims, but there's widespread abuse of the system which should not be allowed to continue.
Social Security Online