This paper addresses the following questions: (1) what changes in the level of income and of publicly provided goods and services have occurred since Kennedy took office, (2) what differences are apparent in the income of rich and poor, old and young, black and white, and North and South, (3) to what extent were these differences caused by the social programs of the Johnson and Kennedy administrations, and (4) do the benefits of the changing pattern outweigh the costs of achieving it? Between 1960 and 1974, the U.S. population increased by 31 million. The larger labor force produced 64% more goods and services. This extraordinary addition to yearly output was matched by income increases. Certain historic trends continued throughout this 14 year period. For example, the population became more urbanized, and the production of services continued to occupy a larger share of all workers. These trends are consistent with an observed narrowing of some traditional income differences. For instance, black family incomes rose from 52 to 62% of white family incomes and the median income of families of Spanish origin probably also rose in relation to the national median. One income difference that has not been reduced is that between males and females. The composition of the poverty population has changed significantly since 1965. For example, the aged have declined in numbers, while unrelated individuals and female heads have increased. It is suggested that the production increases from 1960-1974 would not have been as great as they were without the aggressive fiscal policy practiced by the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Moreover, it is also noted that the wide sharing of income would not have occurred without the social policy initiatives of the New Frontier and the Great Society. (Author/AM)