In JFK's day most men died shortly after turning 65, which is why social security was working then.
demog.berkeley.edu...
www.elderweb.com...
www.usatoday.com...
Life expectancy in the USA, 1900-2014 for men
1900 - 46.3 ........ 1948 - 64.6
1960 - 66.6 ....... 1970 - 67.1
1980 - 70.4 ........1990 - 71.8
2000 - 75 ......... 2014 - 76.4
Now however, all people in general are living much longer,
my grandfather lived to be 93
and he died from falling off a ladder while painting a house,
he was the youngest of 18 children
and lived the shortest life of the bunch who survived childhood;
my mother is 82 now and even I find her difficult to keep up
with she is so active,
my friends will say "where is your Mom?"
and I'll reply, who knows, she's out somewhere.
My grandfather grew up quite poor
and made it to the lower middle class before he died,
no wealth or connections there.
He started life as the last son of a dirt farmer
and made it up to construction worker.
My mother grew up poor (depression)
and made it to the middle middle class,
no wealth or connections there either.
She began life the daughter of
a construction worker in the depression
and made it to Army officer's wife and elementary teacher.
I grew up middle middle class and have stayed there,
so no real wealth either or connections
other than because of my father's and husband's jobs
I know a great number of people who worked
for Presidents, in Area 51, for Senators, etc.
It has absolutely nothing to do with class or wealth
Trust me, my family has zero connections to any life extending anything.
We definitely had and have no wealth, so money was not a factor at all.
It is the times, the improved nutrition for all US citizens,
the rise in good medical care in the US
for everyone
and a lot of good genetics.
edit on 10Mon, 29 Jun 2015 10:21:50 -0500am62906amk291 by grandmakdw because: addition format