Arthur J. Altmeyer 1604027 218616916 2008-06-11T12:51:43Z Awbeal 267685 '''Arthur J. Altmeyer''' (born [[May 8]], [[1891]] in [[DePere, Wisconsin]] – died [[October 16]], [[1972]]) was the United States [[Commissioner of Social Security]] from 1946 to 1953, and chairman of the [[Social Security]] Board from 1937 to 1946. ==Education== He graduated from the [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]] with a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in [[1914]]. In [[1918]], he re-entered the University as a graduate student, working with [[John R. Commons]]. They and others at Wisconsin were proponents of the progressive, liberal social policy of a positive and vigorous role for government. Altmeyer became interested in social and labor policies when he learned about Commons' role as the principal author of Wisconsin's workmen's compensation program, which was then the only one in the [[United States]]. Altmeyer was also working for the [[Wisconsin State Tax Commission]] and the [[Wisconsin Industrial Commission]] under [[Edwin E. Witte]] while working on his M.A. which was granted in [[1921]], and his [[PhD]], which was granted in [[1931]]. ==Government Career== In [[1933]] he became an officer of the [[National Recovery Administration]] (Chief of the compliance division) and he served as an assistant [[Secretary of Labor]] and the Chairman of the Technical Board of the [[Committee on Economic Security]] (where the social security act was developed) in [[1934]] and [[1935]]. In 1935 he became a member of the executive committee of the [[National Youth Administration]], and the [[Social Security Board]], rising to chairman in [[1937]]. Altmeyer hired [[Wilbur J. Cohen]] as an aide, and [[Frank Bane]] as first executive director of the Social Security Board. Altmeyer was criticized for his policy that the [[Social Security Administration]] would help people get benefits they were entitled to. His critics found a law from [[1835]] saying that no officer of the Federal Government "shall encourage a claim against the federal government". Even while emphasizing the efficient and non-partisan administration of the Social Security Administration, Altmeyer continued to speak out for policies that he believed in. This sentence from a speech in [[1943]] summarizes his view: :''I believe that we should be thinking in terms of developing for this country a unified comprehensive system of contributory social insurance which would cover all of the major economic hazards to which the workers of this country are subjected, namely, old age, disability, death, and unemployment.'' After the Social Security Administration was created, Altmeyer was the commissioner for social security. In [[1953]], after [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] became [[President of the United States|president]], the office of commissioner ''for'' social security was abolished, in favor of a new office, the commissioner ''of'' social security. After public outcry because Altmeyer's job was eliminated a few days before he could retire with benefits, Eisenhower's administration offered him a one month appointment to a position, but he refused to accept being paid for a non-job. ==Later Life== Altmeyer later served in a variety of [[United Nations]] posts, advising other countries on social security and labor issues. He died on [[October 16]], [[1972]]. ==References== *[http://www.ssa.gov/history/ajaoral.html Social Security History] *[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1012 Wisconsin Historical Society] {{DEFAULTSORT:Altmeyer, Arthur J.}} [[Category:Social Security (United States)]] [[Category:People from Wisconsin]] [[Category:1891 births]] [[Category:1972 deaths]]