The Woman Behind the New Deal

The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR'S Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience

By: Kirstin Downey

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Frances Perkins is no longer a household name, yet she was one of the most influential women of the 20th century. Based on extensive archival materials, new documents, and exclusive access to Perkins' 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' 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 40-hour workweek. Her greatest triumph was creating Social Security.

Written with a wit that echoes Frances Perkins' 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.

©2009 Kirstin Downey (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"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." ( Publishers Weekly)

A woman worth knowing

An excellent biography of Frances Perkins, a very smart talented woman who,despite male antipathy toward a woman in power, hugely impacted our country’s movement towards a compassionate progressive agenda from before the New Deal through WW II and beyond. She overcame personal tragedies focusing on the tasks at hand in her positions. A view of the FDR administration from inside. Very detailed and well researched. Interesting read!

Fantastic book, informative, inspiring

I had never heard of Frances Perkins and chose this biography because of the good reviews. I am so glad I did. She was a driving force behind New Deal laws that improved the lives of average people in this country: Child labor laws, minimum wage, 8 hour work day, unemployment insurance and social security. She also proposed publicly funded national health care but faced too much opposition from medical associations. One wonders where we would be today if she had succeeded with the latter.

She accomplished this while facing the sexist attitudes of her time and caring for a mentally ill husband.

This is a great book and inspiring reading. And a reminder of how important it is that we do not let Republicans undermine her accomplishments.

A forgotten heroine

I was so glad to learn about Frances Perkins and all that she did for the country in the FDR era. This biography is very well written and shares rich details about the influences that shaped her life and the values that guided her. The book brings the FDR era (pre, during and post) alive through stories about Frances' achievements, her colleagues and her foes.

There are also messages that are very relevant given current political and social strife in the U.S.

Fantastic chronicle of history

A very informative and engaging read about the life and works of one of the most influential women of the FDR days.

Nothing in particular, just a very good biography.

The reader mispronounces several names, Harlan Stone’s comes to mind. Otherwise I would have also given five stars for the performance.