View a complete list of the Government's 50 Greatest Endeavors

Henry Aaron
Quick Take 1—Expansions to the Social Security Act
Quick Take 2—Maintaining success of social security

Henry Aaron, an expert on Medicare and Social Security, explains why the endeavors (Promote Financial Security in Retirement and Increase Older American's Access to Health Care) related to expansions to the Social Security Act were considered so successful and describes what needs to be done in the future to maintain past success.

Ivo Daalder
Quick Take 1—NATO's role in containing communism
Quick Take 2—NATO's accomplishments since the end of the Cold War

Ivo Daalder, former Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council (1995-96), discusses NATO's role in containing communism and NATO's accomplishments since the end of the Cold War.

William Frenzel
Quick Take 1—Low placement of reforming taxes
Quick Take 2—Federal role in reforming taxes

Former Congressman Bill Frenzel (R-MN, 1971-1991), an expert on taxes and budget policy, discusses why reforming taxes was rated so low on the list of achievements and priorities for the future.

Joyce Ladner
Quick Take 1—Reflection on 1960's civil rights laws
Quick Take 2—Advancing civil rights

Joyce Ladner, an expert on race, diversity, higher education, and urban leadership, explains why expanding the right to vote and reducing workplace discrimination were rated among the top 10 in the survey of past success and future priority.

Michael O'Hanlon
Quick Take 1—Strengthening the national defense
Quick Take 2—Controlling arms

Michael O'Hanlon, an expert on U.S. defense strategy, discusses how the federal government strengthened the national defense over the past 50 years and how the United States should pursue this endeavor in the future. O'Hanlon also talks about why increasing arms control and disarmament was rated as the top priority of the future.

Alice Rivlin
Quick Take 1—Reducing the budget deficit
Quick Take 2—Maintaining a balanced budget

Alice Rivlin, former Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (1994-96), discusses reducing the federal budget deficit and why this endeavor was rated as such a great achievement.

Isabel Sawhill
Quick Take 1—Reforming welfare
Quick Take 2—Reducing welfare dependency