Lane Kirkland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lane Kirkland
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| Born |
Joseph Lane Kirkland
March 12, 1922 |
| Died | August 14, 1999 (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Labor leader |
| Political party | Democratic |
Joseph Lane Kirkland (born March 12, 1922 – died August 14, 1999) was an important American labor union leader. He served as the President of the AFL-CIO, a very large group of labor unions, for over 16 years.
About Lane Kirkland
Lane Kirkland was born in Camden, South Carolina. He grew up to lead a huge movement of American workers. This movement represented 16 million members.
In 1941, he joined the United States Merchant Marine Academy. He graduated in 1942. During World War II, he worked as a deck officer on American merchant ships. After the war, he worked for the AFL's Research Department. He also earned a degree from Georgetown University.
Kirkland married Edith Draper Hollyday in 1944. They had five daughters together. Later, in 1973, he married Irena Neumann. She was from Prague and had survived the Holocaust.
Leading the AFL-CIO
From 1979 to 1995, Kirkland was the president of the American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). During his time, the number of union members in the United States went down. Unions also faced some tough challenges.
However, Kirkland also made a big difference around the world. He strongly supported the Solidarity movement in Poland. This movement helped to end communism there. American unions, led by Kirkland, gave money to Solidarity very early on. This was even when some government officials were worried about helping. Kirkland believed in helping workers globally and building agreement on human rights.
After changes in Eastern Europe, Kirkland became a guide for many new labor leaders. They saw him as a visionary. He became friends with Lech Wałęsa, who was a leader of Solidarity. Kirkland was given Poland's highest award, the Order of the White Eagle, after he passed away.
Famous Quote and Awards
Lane Kirkland is remembered for a famous quote:
If hard work were such a wonderful thing, surely the rich would have kept it all to themselves.
He received several important awards for his work:
- On November 13, 1989, President George H. W. Bush gave him the Presidential Citizens Medal.
- In 1994, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- In 1999, he received the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom.
Lane Kirkland passed away in Washington, D.C., at age 77. He died from problems related to cancer.
