Abraham Epstein was a major figure in American social reform during the first half of the twentieth century. This work offers an account of his life, telling the story of his role in the conception and enactment of Social Security. It also sheds light on the inner workings of the Roosevelt administration.

In the face of today's privatization controversy, Abraham Epstein's theories have much to tell us about the current debate while Pierre Epstein's insightful narrative shows us the underlying importance of one man's indelible legacy.