I was shaking, seeing the start of this great program that began when my parents were young.
When FDR took office, America was a wreck, and Roosevelt set about improving every aspect of American life - infrastructure, education, sanitation systems, transportation, workplace safety, rural electrification, and so much more.

Then he got to Social Security which has to rank among the greatest things any president delivered the American people.

I was a broken man when I dragged myself across the threshold to receive Social Security.
45 years on construction jobsites building homes for Americans will do that to someone. It's dangerous work that wears a body down.
After all those winters and blazing hot summers, the arthritis, bad back, bad knees, bad ankles, carpal tunnel syndrome added up and I just couldn't do it anymore.

Social Security saved my life.
I don't know what I would do without it, other than starve, if there was no homeless shelter to take me.
I don't get much, but I can just scrape by.
I would have been destroyed without it.
I think of all the other lives literally saved by Social Security - millions of them!
Without Social Security, millions of American lives would have been destroyed and unbearable strains put on families who took in their elderly relatives.

And so here, in this video, is the historic beginning of a magnificent program that has been a tremendous blessing on our people.
The totality of what resulted from the signature of President Franklin D. Roosevelt that day is stunning.

I feel much gratitude to those today paying into Social Security for my support, as my payments helped others.
Americans helping Americans is a beautiful thing.

Thank you, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
You saved my life.

This is better than reading, our history is neglected and needs more exsposure. No good history channels or material available to choose from. Even Netflicks could assemble documentaries on presidential speeches and acts on film, I would watch them, and I am betting alot of other people would too.

Just fascinating! The epitome of the golden era of presidents. No president( maybe except kennedy) had as much love and support as FDR. In fact, the only president to serve more than 2 terms in office.( later limited to 2)This speech really brings on the nostalgia pretty heavy. I am so glad it was able to be captured in the form of video and audio. Imagine the opportunity of hearing Lincoln or other prolific presidents give their speeches... it is too bad the technology was not existent at the time.

I owe a lot to FDR for signing this bill as I am on social security today and dont know what i would do withouy it.

In this film clip, Franklin Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act and gives a speech about how it will benefit Americans. This has no surprises, but it does have historical value.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: *. Weirdness: *. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ***.