Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal" brought many reforms including "workmen's" compensation.

1934 Democratic President FDR appoints a Committee on Economic Security to study problems of old age and unemployment.

Most of its proposals are included in the Social Security Act.

August 14, 1935

Congress passes the Social Security Act. It contains two titles which lead to the adoption of state UI (Unemployment Benefits) laws and the expansion of state employment services. Title IX calls for employers to pay an excise tax on their workers. Title III provides federal grants to states to cover their expense in administering state UI laws, if benefits are paid solely through the public employment offices in the state.

July 2, 1964 : Democratic President Lyndon Johnson signs Civil Rights Act As the strength of the civil rights movement grew, Democratic President John F. Kennedy made passage of a new civil rights bill one of the platforms of his successful 1960 presidential campaign. As Kennedy's vice president, Johnson served as chairman of the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunities. After Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963, Johnson vowed

to carry out his proposals for civil rights
reform. The Civil Rights Act fought tough opposition in the House and a lengthy, heated debate in the Senate before being approved in July 1964

The Medicare and Medicaid programs

were signed into law on July 30, 1965 By Democratic President Lyndon Johnson. Pictured at the signing ceremony in Independence, Missouri at the Truman Library. Former Democratic President Truman is seated beside him. LBJ held the ceremony there to honor President Truman's leadership on health insurance, which he first proposed in 1945.

. Veterans Benefits

Republican President Hoover authorized the clearing of the Bonus Army camp of World War 1 Veterans and their families by the military. The Veterans had not been paid their promised bonus. Troops under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, including a machine-gun squadron and a number of tanks, followed the orders of the Republican President and the shantytown was destroyed and the marchers and families dispersed with tear gas.

In 1944, Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the "Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944," better known as the "GI Bill of Rights." This bill has been called by some historians the most important piece of legislation since the Homestead Act. Drafted by the American Legion, the bill provided for tuition, books and living expenses for up to four years of college or vocational schools. It made low-interest mortgages available to for homeowners, and farm and small business loans at low interest as well. There was also a twenty dollar a week allowance for returning vets looking for employment. The bill also established veterans' hospitals and provided for vocational rehabilitation for disabled veterans.