Was minimum wage intended to be a living wage?

by thabonch

I'm talking about in the United States in particular. If it helps, I've tried breaking my question down into two more specific questions:

  1. Do we have any quotes from the politicians who passed the first national minimum wage that support either the idea that the minimum wage was or was not supposed to be livable?
  2. How easy/difficult would it have been to live off of the minimum wage when it was first introduced?

Sources, as always, are greatly appreciated.

cavehobbit

This is an interesting question considering recent statements on various sides of the current arguments in the U.S. over raising the minimum wage.

I look forward to quotes and sources anyone can post, it would shed light on the original intent and how that has evolved.