Richard Roeper
American writer and film critic
Frances Perkins was a pioneering American worker’s rights advocate who served as the first woman in the U.S. presidential cabinet as Secretary of Labor under Franklin D. Roosevelt. She played a crucial role in developing the Social Security system and labor policies during the New Deal era and World War II.
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About the Frances Perkins
Frances Perkinswas an American workers-rights advocate who served as the fourth United States Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, the longest serving in that position. A member of the Democratic Party, Perkins was the first woman ever to serve in a presidential cabinet. As a loyal supporter of her longtime friend, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, she helped make labor issues important in the emerging New Deal coalition. She was one of two Roosevelt cabinet members to remain in office for his entire presidency (the other being Interior Secretary Harold L. Ickes).
Perkins’ most important role came in developing a policy for social security in 1935. She also helped form government policy for working with labor unions, although some union leaders distrusted her. Perkins’ Labor Department helped to mediate strikes by way of the United States Conciliation Service. She dealt with numerous labor issues during World War II, when skilled labor was vital to the economy and women were moving into jobs formerly held by men.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frances Perkins was an American workers-rights advocate who served as the fourth United States Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, the longest serving in that position. She was the first woman to ever serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet.
Frances Perkins’ most important role was developing the policy for social security in 1935 as part of the New Deal reforms.
Perkins helped form government policy for working with labor unions, although some union leaders distrusted her. Her Labor Department also mediated strikes through the United States Conciliation Service.
During World War II, Frances Perkins dealt with numerous labor issues as Secretary of Labor, as skilled labor was vital to the economy and women were moving into jobs formerly held by men.
Frances Perkins served as the United States Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, making her the longest serving Secretary of Labor in that position.
As a member of the Democratic Party, Frances Perkins was the first woman ever to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet, as the Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
As a loyal supporter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Frances Perkins helped make labor issues important in the emerging New Deal coalition during her time as Secretary of Labor.
7 Quotes by Frances Perkins
- 1.
To one who believes that really good industrial conditions are the hope for a machine civilization, nothing is more heartening than to watch conference methods and education replacing police methods.
Frances PerkinsWorkers-rights advocate and United States Secretary of Labor 1933-1945
- 2.
Most of man’s problems upon this planet, in the long history of the race, have been met and solved either partially or as a whole by experiment based on common sense and carried out with courage.
Frances PerkinsWorkers-rights advocate and United States Secretary of Labor 1933-1945
- 3.
Being a woman has only bothered me in climbing trees.
Frances PerkinsWorkers-rights advocate and United States Secretary of Labor 1933-1945
- 4.
The door might not be opened to a woman again for a long, long time, and I had a kind of duty to other women to walk in and sit down on the chair that was offered, and so establish the right of others long hence and far distant in geography to sit in the high seats.
Frances PerkinsWorkers-rights advocate and United States Secretary of Labor 1933-1945
- 5.
The quality of his being one with the people, of having no artificial or natural barriers between him and them, made it possible for him to be a leader without ever being or thinking of being a dictator.
Frances PerkinsWorkers-rights advocate and United States Secretary of Labor 1933-1945
- 6.
In America, public opinion is the leader.
Frances PerkinsWorkers-rights advocate and United States Secretary of Labor 1933-1945
- 7.
But with the slow menace of a glacier, depression came on. No one had any measure of its progress; no one had any plan for stopping it. Everyone tried to get out of its way.
Frances PerkinsWorkers-rights advocate and United States Secretary of Labor 1933-1945