The Reagan Speech Preservation Society

Page History: Walter Reuther


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Page Revision: Sunday, 30 June 2013 22:31


Walter Reuther was a big shot in unions. He led the UAW (United Auto Workers) and the CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations). During his time as President of the CIO, he negotiated its merger with the AFL (American Federation of Laborers). He was also a socialist. According to the AFL-CIO's website, Reuther met weekly with President Lyndon B. Johnson on legislative and political issues between 1964 and 1965. In this way, I suppose he's Johnson's Andy Stern or Richard Trumka.

Speech Relevance

In 'Encroaching Control':
Walter Reuther has announced that it is no secret that the organization that he represents favors a complete program of national health insurance for all the population.
In 1964, Reuther was head of the UAW, so we must assume this was the organization Reagan spoke of. In 'Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine' we hear the actual quote:
"It's no secret that the United Automobile Workers is officially on record of backing a program of national health insurance."


Source Links

Walter Reuther (Wikipedia)

Walter Reuther 1907 - 1970 (AFL-CIO)

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