The Woman Behind the New Deal:

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

"Kirstin Downey has given us a rich, nuanced portrait of one of the most significant figures of the Age of Roosevelt." —JON MEACHAM, author of American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House 

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Frances Perkins is no longer a household name, yet she was one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. Based on nine years of research, and exclusive access to Perkins’s family members and friends, this biography is the first complete portrait of Frances Perkins, who was named Secretary of Labor by FDR in 1933. 

Kirstin Downey

Kirstin Downey is an award-winning journalist who was a business writer at the Washington Post from 1988 to 2008.  Downey's work has focused on illuminating the human implications of important financial trends, particularly boom and bust cycles in the modern economy.   More about Kirstin

Author Appearances

Sunday, May 14, 6 p.m.

Book Passage, Ferry Bldg, San Francisco 

In the News

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MAY 3, 2009: Voice of America, Global Town Hall on Obama's First 100 Days

economics panelist with Jonathan Alter of Newsweek

April, 2009: AFL-CIO, Point of View

"Frances Perkins Rides to The Rescue - Again" Downey writes guest column for AFL-CIO about the importance of unemployment insurance as the Department of Labor reports that the unemployment rate skyrocketed to 8.5% in March 2009. 

April 11, 2009:  CSPAN-2, BookTV

VIDEO: Downey gives a talk at the Library of Congress on March 23.

April 6, 2009: WHYY Radio, Radio Times

AUDIO: Host, Marty Moss-Coane plays a recording of Frances Perkins talking about social security, and then interviews Downey about Perkins's legacy as FDR's secretary of labor.

March 31, 2009:  Democracy Now!, War and Peace Report

VIDEO:  Amy Goodman interviews Kirstin Downey about the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911, Frances Perkins and her tremendous influence on FDR and the New Deal. 

March 28, 2009: NPR, All Things Considered

AUDIO: "Biographer Chronicles Perkins, 'New Deal' Pioneer" - Jacki Lyden interviews Kirstin Downey on NPR

March 25, 2009:  IAMAW MACHINISTS NEWS NETWORK, Downey Speaks AT AFL-CIo

VIDEO: Downey gives a book talk to labor leaders on the anniversary of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist fire, the event that galvanized Frances Perkins to action, and Annie Valliere sings labor songs. - Deirdre Kaniewski reports

March 25, 2009:  NWHM, Women's History Month celebrates Frances Perkins

Downey and Rep. Carolyn Maloney spoke at an event in the U.S. Capitol hosted by the National Women's History Museum 

March 13, 2009:  The Cornell Daily Sun, Downey makes appearance at CornelL  

"Journalist Lectures on FDR's Labor Sec. Frances Perkins" - Cameron Breen reports

Photo: Downey speaks at the AFL-CIO on the anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. (Photo Credit: Joe Kekeris/AFL-CIO) 

Latest Reviews

Book Review: NPR's Fresh Air - April 16,2009

"Kirstin Downey's lively, substantive and — dare I say — inspiring new biography of Perkins, called The Woman Behind the New Deal, not only illuminates Perkins' career but also deepens the known contradictions of Roosevelt's character" -Maureen Corrigan

Book Review: USA Today - April 20, 2009

"Kirstin Downey's excellent new biography of Perkins, The Woman Behind the New Deal, is timed perfectly as the U.S. faces the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression." - Dierdre Donahue

BOOK REVIEW: LOS ANGELES TIMES - April 12, 2009

"a shrewd, appreciative biography...." - Wendy Smith   

Book Review:  The American Prospect - April 2009

"Team of Rivals Redux:  How four men and one woman, with very different backgrounds and views, shaped the New Deal." -Lizabeth Cohen

Book Review:  The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - April 5, 2009

"Frances Perkins biography reveals untold story of woman who developed significant policy under FDR" -Mary Leonard

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