Ethical, the only question I posed was about having to apear in person at a Social Security office to obtain a SS# in 1977. I think you may have wrong information about having to apply in person for a SOCIAL SECURITY card in 1955. I applied for mine in 1960 by mail. It may be be, as I noted above, that you might be confusing the 1955 requirements for a SOCIAL SECURITY card with a SELECTIVE SERVICE card. I can’t vouch for 1955, only 1960. However, I DO think there’s confusion there between the two “SS” cards.
My intent was to offer a suggestion from a friendly source rather than to be challenged by the WH press corps. Apparently it’s been taken as some sort of Obama defense, which couldn’t be farther from the truth, but I am quite thru with this thread. Good luck with your quest.