NATION : ‘Fairer’ Social Security Promised

Gwendolyn S. King took office today as commissioner of the Social Security Administration with a promise to provide better service for the millions of Americans who receive monthly benefits.

King, a former congressional, state and White House aide, pledged “that SSA will serve only one special interest--the public interest. . . . My goal is a fairer, more efficient and humane Social Security system.”

During the Ronald Reagan years, the agency pared its work force by about 20% to 65,000 employees to streamline and modernize operations. Critics, however, complain that the remaining employees are overworked, morale is low and the quality of service has declined.

King promised agency employees that she will provide “leadership which respects and trusts its employees; leadership that will lead, but will also listen.”

She succeeds Dorcas Hardy, who announced her resignation in June.