The Woman Behind the New Deal

The Life and Legacy of Frances Perkins, Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, and the Minimum Wage

Author: Kirstin Downey
ISBN: 9781400078561

“Kirstin Downey’s lively, substantive and—dare I say—inspiring new biography of Perkins . . . not only illuminates Perkins’ career but also deepens the known contradictions of Roosevelt’s character.” —Maureen Corrigan,NPR Fresh Air   One of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s closest friends and the first female secretary of labor, Perkins capitalized on the president’s political savvy and popularity to enact most of the Depression-era programs that are today considered essential parts of the country’s social safety network. 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 Perkin

Publisher: Anchor Books
Publish Date: 2010

Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Political, Biography & Autobiography / Historical, Biography & Autobiography / Women

This book is available in the following Community Centers: Women's Center (Location: Employment)