Wilbur Joseph Cohen
| Wilbur J. Cohen | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 7th United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare | |
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In office May 16, 1968 – January 20, 1969 |
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| President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | John W. Gardner |
| Succeeded by | Robert H. Finch |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Wilbur Joseph Cohen June 10, 1913 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
| Died | May 17, 1987 (aged 73) Seoul, South Korea |
| Resting place | Garden of Memories Cemetery Kerrville, Texas, United States |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Eloise Bittel Cohen (m. 1938 - 1987, his death) |
| Children | Christopher Bruce Stuart |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| Profession | Government |
| Religion | Jewish |
Wilbur Joseph Cohen (June 10, 1913 – May 17, 1987) was an American social scientist and federal civil servant. He was one of the key architects in the creation and expansion of the American welfare state and was involved in the creation of both the New Deal and Great Society programs.
Cohen was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Bessie (née Rubenstein) and Aaron Cohen. He was known to by several nicknames. He was once dubbed "The Man Who Built Medicare" and John F. Kennedy tagged him "Mr. Social Security", although it was Frances Perkins, the first woman Secretary of Labor (under FDR), who was the architect of social security. The New York Times called him "one of the country's foremost technicians in public welfare." Time portrayed him as a man of "boundless energy, infectious enthusiasm, and a drive for action." He was a leading expert on Social Security and a member of Americans for Democratic Action.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1934, Cohen moved to Washington, D.C. where he was a research assistant for the committee which drafted the Social Security Act.
On April 8, 1938, Cohen married Eloise Bittel. They had three sons: Christopher, Bruce and Stuart.
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