Ideologies / Social Democrat / Frances Perkins
§ The minds · 1880–1965 · United States · Secretary of Labor
Frances Perkins
Engineered Social Security
The New Deal's quiet, decisive social architect.
Economic−42
SocialistMarket
Governance−22
LibertarianAuthoritarian
Social+16
TraditionalProgressive
The first woman in a U.S. cabinet, who built the spine of the American welfare state.
social
Reform-minded but personally restrained and devout.
economic
Designed Social Security, the minimum wage and unemployment insurance.
governance
Worked within New Deal democratic institutions.
Notable for
- Authored the Social Security Act
- First female U.S. cabinet member
- Minimum wage and the 40-hour week
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