Boosting paychecks in America -- The political origins of federal taxes on individual income -- The political origins of the federal minimum wage -- Reagan, Bush, and a new era in the politics of boosting paychecks -- Clinton and the fight over tax relief for the working poor or the middle class -- George W. Bush and the return of across-the-board tax relief -- Toward a new bargain? -- The past and future politics of boosting paychecks.