In 1974, the Dutch Minister of Social Affairs, Dries van Agt, took office. The world was a different place then. There were no computers, no mobile phones and no internet. This was a time when people wrote letters and went to the library to do research. The Minister of Social Affairs was responsible for the welfare of the people. He had to make sure that they had enough food and shelter and that they were not being exploited. The job was not easy, but van Agt was up for the challenge.