Nixon’s Family Assistance Plan: Its Shortcomings and Impact on Social Policy

Author: Simon Doff

Field of Study: Social Sciences

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Will Glovinsky

Easel: 63

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: Richard Nixon’s Family Assistance Plan (FAP) was a welfare reform proposal that aimed to completely replace the New Deal-era Aid to Families with Dependent Children with a guaranteed income for low-income families. While pre-existing research primarily focuses on legislative battles and economic implications, less attention has been given to race, sex, and media framing in influencing opposition to the plan. This research is primarily drawn from congressional records, newspaper archives, and policy analyses to explore how each of these factors contributed to the FAP’s downfall, as well as how the FAP’s failure influenced further dialogue on social policy. This research will argue that resistance to the plan was not just policy-based but deeply rooted in societal fears about government assistance, particularly regarding race relations and dependency. Researching this history will help explain enduring opposition to welfare programs and potentially offer insight into modern debates on universal basic income and direct cash assistance.