Frances Perkins took her post as U.S. Secretary of Labor
on this date in 1933. She was the first woman to serve on an
American president’s cabinet. She had become involved in politics after
witnessing the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City in
1911. It was one of the deadliest industrial disasters in American history:
nearly 150 garment workers died. Perkins made workplace safety her first political
cause and helped draft many fire regulations that are still followed today.
Franklin Roosevelt, who at that time was serving as governor of New York, named
her to his Industrial Commission and he relied heavily on her advice throughout
his career. Before he began his first term as president he offered her the
cabinet post; she told him she would accept if he would agree to let her
address several labor problems that she felt needed fixing. Roosevelt agreed.
Oswald Garrison Villard, the editor of The Nation, praised FDR for his
choice, predicting that Perkins would prove to be “an angel at the Cabinet in
contrast with the sordidness and inhumanity of her predecessors.” But many
people, including labor union bosses, opposed the nomination of a woman to the
post. Perkins believed men were more amenable to women who reminded them of
their mothers, so she dressed modestly and rarely wore makeup. She kept quiet
in meetings. She later recalled:
“I tried to have as much of a mask as possible. I wanted to give
the impression of being a quiet, orderly woman who didn’t buzz-buzz all the
time. [...] I knew that a lady interposing an idea into men’s conversation is
very unwelcome. I just proceeded on the theory that this was a gentleman’s
conversation on the porch of a golf club perhaps. You didn’t butt in with
bright ideas.”
Her policies did away with child labor in the United States.
They also led the way to the 40-hour workweek, the Federal Labor Standards Act,
and Social Security — and they formed a large part of the New Deal. From today's Writer's Almanac
What can I add except that I'm profoundly grateful for my situation!
Takk for alt,
Al
Today's random: The house in which I was raised.
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