There were about 40 million people in poverty in the 50s before welfare, now there are about 45 million?

Your equating Welfare and poverty rates to be directly proportional they are not. Many poor people in the 50's refused to take welfare as it came with a stigma and much ridicule. People were much more self sufficient and prideful about how their neighbors viewed them. To be poor, but independent and self sufficient was viewed as they are hard working and struggling people but self sufficient, and not leaching off of their fellow neighbors. Today, you can be on welfare anonymous, and there is no shame ociated with it, and completely acceptable to most people.