Alexis Herman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexis Herman
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Official portrait, 1998
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| 23rd United States Secretary of Labor | |
| In office May 1, 1997 – January 20, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Deputy | Kathryn O. Higgins |
| Preceded by | Robert Reich |
| Succeeded by | Elaine Chao |
| 12th Director of the Office of Public Liaison | |
| In office January 20, 1993 – February 7, 1997 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Cecile B. Kremer |
| Succeeded by | Maria Echaveste |
| 8th Director of the Women's Bureau | |
| In office April 4, 1977 – January 20, 1981 |
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| President | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Carmen Maymi |
| Succeeded by | Lenora Alexander |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Alexis Margaret Herman
July 16, 1947 Mobile, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | April 25, 2025 (aged 77) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Charles Franklin
(m. 2000; died 2014) |
| Relatives | Alex Herman (father) |
| Education | Edgewood College Spring Hill College Xavier University of Louisiana (BA) |
Alexis Margaret Herman (July 16, 1947 – April 25, 2025) was an important person in American politics. She served as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Labor for President Bill Clinton. This means she was in charge of the U.S. Department of Labor. She was the first African American to hold this high position. Before that, she worked in the White House helping the President connect with different groups of people.
Alexis Herman grew up in Mobile, Alabama. After finishing college, she worked hard to create better job chances for black workers and women. She then joined President Jimmy Carter's team. She became the director of the Women's Bureau in the Labor Department. She was very active in the Democratic Party. She worked on political campaigns and later joined President Bill Clinton's team in 1997.
After leaving government, Herman continued to be involved in politics. She also worked with big companies like Coca-Cola and Toyota.
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Early Life and Education
Alexis Herman was born on July 16, 1947, in Mobile, Alabama. Her father, Alex Herman, was a politician. Her mother, Gloria Caponis, was a schoolteacher. She grew up in a Catholic family. Her father was the first black ward leader in Alabama.
When Alexis was a child, schools in Mobile were separated by race. Her parents chose to send her to a parochial school (a private religious school). This was partly because the teachers included white nuns and priests. This gave her a chance to learn with more diverse people.
Alexis went to Heart of Mary High School. When she was a sophomore, she was suspended. This happened because she questioned why black students were not allowed in religious events. After a week of protests from other parents, she was allowed back into school.
After high school, Herman attended Edgewood College and Spring Hill College. She then moved to Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. There, she joined the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1969.
Alexis Herman's Career Journey
After college, Herman returned to Mobile. She helped to desegregate the religious schools there. This included the school she had attended. She then worked as a social worker in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She helped to get job training for black workers at the city's shipyard.
Later, Herman moved to Atlanta, Georgia. She directed a program that helped minority women get management or technical jobs. She also worked for a consulting firm in New York. There, she created programs to help women get apprenticeships in jobs not usually done by women.
Leading the Women's Bureau
In 1977, when Jimmy Carter became president, he asked Herman to lead the United States Women's Bureau. She was only 29 years old, making her the youngest person to hold this job. Her role was to improve business opportunities for women. She encouraged companies like Coca-Cola and General Motors to hire more diverse employees.
Working in Politics and Consulting
In 1981, after the Carter administration ended, Herman started her own consulting company. Her company, A.M. Herman & Associates, helped businesses with training and marketing. She also managed the convention teams for Jesse Jackson's presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988. This led her to become chief of staff for the Democratic National Committee. She also served as vice chair of the 1992 Democratic National Convention.
Director of Public Liaison
After Bill Clinton won the 1992 Presidential election, Herman joined his team. She became the director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. In this role, she connected the White House with different interest groups. She often organized dinners to help the President's plans. She gained support from groups like the NAACP. She also worked with businesses to gain support for trade deals.
Becoming Secretary of Labor
In 1996, President Clinton chose Herman to be the next United States Secretary of Labor. This job is a very important role in the President's cabinet. Her approval by the Senate was delayed a couple of times. Finally, on April 30, 1997, the Senate voted to confirm her. She was sworn in on May 9, 1997. She became the first African-American woman to hold this position.
As Secretary of Labor, Herman was in charge of the United States Department of Labor. This department helps enforce workplace laws and rules. During her time, unemployment in America was very low.
Key Achievements as Secretary
Herman was praised for how she handled the 1997 United Parcel Service (UPS) workers strike. This was a very large strike. She met with leaders from both sides and helped them reach an agreement. The strike ended after 15 days.
She also supported increases to the minimum wage. This helped workers earn more money. She also worked to enforce child labor laws. For example, the Department of Labor fined a toy store chain for breaking rules about how many hours teenagers could work.
Herman supported the United States joining an international treaty. This treaty, from the International Labour Organization, protects children under 18 from forced labor and other abuses.
After Government Service
After leaving her role as Secretary of Labor, Herman remained active in politics. She helped with John Kerry's presidential campaign in 2004. She also helped resolve a dispute during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. In 2016, she supported Hillary Clinton for president.
From 2001 to 2006, Herman led a special team at The Coca-Cola Company. She also served on the boards of other big companies. These included Cummins, MGM Resorts International, and Toyota.
In 2010, Herman joined the board of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. This group helped Haiti after a big earthquake. She was also involved with other community groups. She received more than 20 honorary degrees from universities.
Personal Life and Death
Alexis Herman was named "Queen of Carnival" for the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association in 1974. Her father had also been "King of Carnival" when he was younger.
She married physician Charles Franklin Jr. in February 2000. He had three children from earlier marriages. Charles Franklin Jr. passed away in 2014.
Alexis Herman died on April 25, 2025, at the age of 77. Her death was announced by Bill and Hillary Clinton.
See Also
In Spanish: Alexis Herman para niños
- List of African-American firsts
- List of African-American United States Cabinet members
- List of female United States Cabinet members
