Frances Perkins Goes To Washington

In the depths of the Great Depression, Frances Perkins shattered a monumental barrier by becoming the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor. From her post in the Roosevelt administration, she fought to reshape American society by pushing through foundational labor protections. This episode of Throughline tells the story of how Perkins helped create a minimum wage, Social Security, and unemployment insurance, arguing that government had a responsibility to provide economic security for its citizens. Her legacy profoundly changed the relationship between the American people and their government.