Halstead, Dirck. “US Pres. Ronald W. Reagan Holding up block of cheese given him after speech on tax reform.” 1985. The Chronicle Collection, Getty Images.
Government Cheese
Since 1977, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regularly purchased surplus dairy products to protect the milk industry and dairy prices. Fresh milk, powdered milk, butter, and cheese were stockpiled in enormous quantities. By 1981, only a little more than one-quarter of U.S.-made cheese was purchased and USDA had no plan for the excess food. President Reagan seized the opportunity, giving a speech about so-called “government cheese” and announcing that those who lost their food stamps would be eligible to receive it through local charity organizations.
Where is it located in the Museum?
Museum Map
LOBBY
THE
WISHING
TREE
WISHING
TREE
THE SNAP CAFÉ
AUDITORIUM
TERRACE RESTAURANT
The Hunger Museum
We Can Solve Hunger —
The Proof is in Our History
The Proof is in Our History
- 1.Welcome
- 2.Museum Lobby
- 3.The Age of Mass Migration - Landing
- 4.The Age of Mass Migration - Main
- 5.Immigration from Europe
- 6.On the Breadline
- 7.Beginnings
- 8.An Unequal Recovery
- 9.How did the Food Stamp Program work?
- 10.Hunger, Justice, and Civil Rights - Landing
- 11.Hunger, Justice, and Civil Rights - Main
- 12.Walk for Decent Welfare (Columbus, OH)
- 13.Televising the War on Hunger - Landing
- 14.Televising the War on Hunger - Main
- 15.CBS’s “Hunger in America”
- 16.President Lyndon B. Johnson
- 17.Senator George McGovern and Senator Robert Dole
- 18.Dr. Jean Mayer and the White House Conference
- 19.1975-1996: The Unmaking of the Great Society
- 20.Government Cheese
- 21.The Welfare Queen
- 22.The Return of the Welfare Queen
- 23.Crises of New Proportions - Landing
- 24.Crises of New Proportions - Main
- 25.COVID-19
- 26.Welcome to the SNAP Café
- 27.SNAP Cafe – Create a meal
- 28.Wishing Tree
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger