Schneider: It’s time to retire Social Security numbers

On Dec. 1, 1936, government administrator Joe Fay walked over to a stack of cards in his Baltimore office, plucked the first piece of paper off the top, and made a historic announcement. Written on the card was the name of John David Sweeney, a 23-year old shipping clerk from New Rochelle, N.Y. By having his name announced, Sweeney was the first record entered into a new government program called "Social Security."

Time to retire Social Security numbers

On Dec. 1, 1936, government administrator Joe Fay walked over to a stack of cards in his Baltimore office, plucked the first piece of paper off the top, and made a historic announcement. Written on the card was the name of John David Sweeney, a 23-year old shipping clerk from New Rochelle, N.Y. By having his name announced, Sweeney was the first record entered into a new government program called "Social Security."

Commentary: Time to retire Social Security numbers

On Dec. 1, 1936, government administrator Joe Fay walked over to a stack of cards in his Baltimore office, plucked the first piece of paper off the top, and made a historic announcement. Written on the card was the name of John David Sweeney, a 23-year old shipping clerk from New Rochelle, N.Y. By having his name announced, Sweeney was the first record entered into a new government program called "Social Security."