Peter J. Brennan

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Peter J. Brennan

Peter Joseph Brennan (born May 24, 1918 in New York City , † October 2, 1996 in Massapequa , Long Island , New York City) was an American trade union official and politician .

biography

Brennan served during the Second World War as a chief petty officer on a submarine of the United States Navy in the Pacific War . After his return from the war he became increasingly active in trade unions .

In 1957 he was elected President of the New York City Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York , an umbrella organization with more than 250,000 members at the time. At the same time, he was also President of the State Construction Union and Vice President of the Confederation of Trade Unions ( AFL-CIO ) in New York State.

He achieved national fame when he organized a mass demonstration of 100,000 construction workers in support of US President Richard Nixon's Vietnam War policy in 1970 . A counter-demonstration by opponents of the Vietnam War led to a clash with workers, in which numerous opponents of the war were injured. Nixon then invited Brennan to the White House , where the President presented him with a white hard hat with the US flag and the words " Commander in Chief " on it as a thank you for his support . The connections to the traditionally more democratic trade unions contributed to Nixon's national success in the 1972 presidential election .

Shortly after the re-election Brennan was on February 2, 1973 by Nixon as Secretary of Labor ( Secretary of Labor ins) Cabinet appointed. During his tenure as Minister of Labor he campaigned for the strengthening of pension insurance and occupational health and safety . However, there were violent arguments with the President of the AFL-CIO, George Meany , over his minimum wage policy . He kept the office of Minister of Labor until his dismissal by President Gerald Ford on March 15, 1975. Brennan turned down the position of US ambassador to Ireland offered by Ford .

Instead, he returned to New York, where he was re-elected President of the Construction Workers' Union; he held this post until 1992 when he retired. Brennan died of lymph gland cancer four years later .

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personal data
SURNAME Brennan, Peter J.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Brennan, Peter Joseph
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH May 24, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City
DATE OF DEATH October 2, 1996
Place of death Massapequa , New York