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Woman Behind the New Deal : The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR's Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience by Kirstin Downey (2009, Hardcover)
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About this product
Product Identifiers
PublisherKnopf Doubleday Publishing Group
ISBN-100385513658
ISBN-139780385513654
eBay Product ID (ePID)69655397
Product Key Features
Book TitleWoman Behind the New Deal : The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR's Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience
Number of Pages480 Pages
LanguageEnglish
TopicPolitical, Social Activists
Publication Year2009
IllustratorYes
GenreBiography & Autobiography
AuthorKirstin Downey
FormatHardcover
Dimensions
Item Height1.3 in
Item Weight29.1 Oz
Item Length9.6 in
Item Width6.6 in
Additional Product Features
Intended AudienceTrade
LCCN2008-023208
Dewey Edition22
TitleLeadingThe
Reviews"Kirstin Downey has given us a rich, nuanced portrait of one of the most significant figures of the Age of Roosevelt. Frances Perkins has fallen out of the popular imagination; this fine book should do much to rectify that, and bring the first female member of a president's Cabinet to vivid life once more." -Jon Meacham, author ofAmerican Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House "The New Deal was a big deal for America-and, as Kirstin Downey shows in this illuminating and sparkling book, Frances Perkins, my predecessor as Labor Secretary, was the moving force behind much of it. Her legacy included Social Security, unemployment insurance, and other initiatives that have improved the lives of generations of Americans. With wit and insight, Downey recounts this singular woman and invites us to celebrate her life." -Robert B. Reich, Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Former U.S. Secretary of Labor "For his presidency to succeed, FDR needed a strong labor secretary to restore jobs and confidence. Perkins was that loyal lieutenant, as well as his unrelenting prod and social conscience." -Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "The story of Ms. Perkins turns out to be, in the sympathetic hands of Ms. Downey, a remarkably good read, surprisingly full of dramatic twists despite that motherly hat and low-profile manner." -The Washington Times "The current economic woes have, among other things, focused attention once again on the New Deal. Books about the economics, the politics and the personalities of the time have surfaced. Still, as a new book by award-winning business journalist Kirstin Downey suggests, one of the most influential figures in shaping the New Deal turns out to be a name few know today-and turns out to be a woman. Eight years of research, new documents and interviews with family members were among the many sources Downey drew on for her new and compelling portrait ofThe Woman Behind the New Deal." -NPR "Excellent… It's a provocative title, but Downey convinced me that Fannie Perkins, of Beacon Hill, Worcester, and Mount Holyoke College, was the woman behind the New Deal. She was certainly the Cabinet member most directly involved in creating the Social Security Act, and a key champion of the National Recovery Act and the Civilian Conservation Corps… Her book could not be more timely." -The Boston Globe "There's a fair amount of disagreement among historians about who in the New Deal was responsible for which successes. Downey makes a persuasive case that Frances Perkins, more than any other single individual, was the driving influence behind the creation and design of both the Social Security Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act." -AFL-CIO Blog "...Reading the biography of FDR's Labor Secretary Frances Perkins brings to mind the old saying about how Ginger Rogers had to do everything Fred Astaire did, except backward and in high heels. Perkins, the first female Cabinet member, not only had to do more than her male counterparts to prove herself, she had to do it while dealing with rough-and-tumble labor leaders, a husband in and out of mental institutions, condescending bureaucrats and some Congress members hellbent on impeaching her. Perkins would have notched a place in history simply by taking the job. But she earned it through a jaw-dropping number of accomplishments. Perkins took a major role in shepherding through Social Security, unemployment insurance, child labor laws and the minimum wage." -Associated Press "No individual-not even Eleanor Roosevelt-exerted more influence over the formulation of FDR's New Deal or d, "No individual--not even Eleanor Roosevelt--exerted more influence over the formulation of FDR's New Deal or did more to implement the programs than Frances Perkins (1880-1965). As formerWashington Poststaff writer Downey makes plain in this deeply researched biography, the first female Cabinet member was the primary shaper of such new concepts as unemployment insurance, the 40-hour work week and--last but not least--Social Security. At a time when the United States stands at the brink of another economic meltdown calling for sweeping federal interventions, Downey provides not only a superb rendering of history but also a large dose of inspiration drawn from Perkins's clearheaded, decisive work with FDR to solve urgent problems diligently and to succeed in the face of what seemed insurmountable odds. Confronting family issues-a frequently institutionalized husband with severe psychiatric problems; a deeply secret lesbian relationship with Mary Harriman Rumsey (sister of Averell Harriman); a daughter from whom she was often estranged-Perkins nevertheless exhibited tireless grace under pressure again and again, always rising to the occasion in the name of every and any progressive cause." -Publishers Weekly, starred review "Kirstin Downey has given us a rich, nuanced portrait of one of the most significant figures of the Age of Roosevelt. Frances Perkins has fallen out of the popular imagination; this fine book should do much to rectify that, and bring the first female member of a president's Cabinet to vivid life once more." -Jon Meacham, author ofAmerican Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House "The New Deal was a big deal for America -- and, as Kirstin Downey shows in this illuminating and sparkling book, Frances Perkins, my predecessor as Labor Secretary, was the moving force behind much of it. Her legacy included Social Security, unemployment insurance, and other initiatives that have improved the lives of generations of Americans. With wit and insight, Downey recounts this singular woman and invites us to celebrate her life." Robert B. Reich, Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Former U.S. Secretary of Labor "Kirstin Downey gives Frances Perkins the biography she deserves, the story of a fierce advocate who put people first, a public servant who was actually worthy of the name, and a bracing reminder of what inspired government can do. Perkins ignored the glass ceiling and change America. This book is a joy!" Nick Taylor, author ofAmerican-Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA: When FDR Put the Nation to Work "For all of her apparent modesty and fierce sense of privacy, Frances Perkins wanted to be known by posterity for her contributions to FDR and his New Deal, particularly Social Security. An investigative reporter, Kirstin Downey has uncovered Frances Perkins's extraordinary strengths in shaping and securing the central domestic accomplishments of the New Dealers. Despite continuing impediments, Perkins, a social worker, successfully broke into a man's world and was a major player for all 12 years of FDR's administration. Downey deftly links the Progressive movement of the early 1900's with the reforms Perkins helped FDR achieve, particularly in his first two terms. In Downey's skilled hands, Frances Perkins at last emerges as a pivotal figure in the most transformative twelve years of 20th century American history." Christopher N. Breiseth, President and CEO of The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
Dewey Decimal331.092
SynopsisWritten with a wit that echoes Frances Perkins's own, award-winning journalist Downey offers a riveting exploration of the woman who was named Secretary of Labor by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933, and how and why Perkins slipped into historical oblivion., Frances Perkins is no longer a household name, yet she was one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. Based on eight years of research, extensive archival materials, new documents, and exclusive access to Perkins's family members and friends, this biography is the first complete portrait of a devoted public servant with a passionate personal life, a mother who changed the landscape of American business and society. Frances Perkins was named Secretary of Labor by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. As the first female cabinet secretary, she spearheaded the fight to improve the lives of America's working people while juggling her own complex family responsibilities. Perkins's ideas became the cornerstones of the most important social welfare and legislation in the nation's history, including unemployment compensation, child labor laws, and the forty-hour work week. Arriving in Washington at the height of the Great Depression, Perkins pushed for massive public works projects that created millions of jobs for unemployed workers. She breathed life back into the nation's labor movement, boosting living standards across the country. As head of the Immigration Service, she fought to bring European refugees to safety in the United States. Her greatest triumph was creating Social Security. Written with a wit that echoes Frances Perkins's own, award-winning journalist Kirstin Downey gives us a riveting exploration of how and why Perkins slipped into historical oblivion, and restores Perkins to her proper place in history.
LC Classification NumberHD8073.P38D69 2009
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Ratings and reviews
Most relevant reviews
- 22 Sep, 2020
Another woman who didn’t get credit for making a man look good!
Very readable biography of a wise and persistent woman, without whom working people wouldn’t have many of the protections we do today.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- 23 May, 2018
Interesting and quite informative
Great read regarding the history of a powerful and thoughtful woman who was instrumental in instituting social security as well as many other social programs during and after the great depression.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- 30 Oct, 2018
Francis Perkins
I enjoyed learning about Frances Perkins. The book was well written. The pictures took you back in time.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- 06 Dec, 2021
Great book
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- 11 May, 2024
Whish I’d know it was a a library book but other that that fine
Whish I’d know it was a a library book but other that that fineVerified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- 03 Mar, 2021
Stupid
No awesome sauceVerified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
