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cover of episode The Woman Behind The New Deal

The Woman Behind The New Deal

2025/6/5
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Throughline
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Chapters
This chapter recounts the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, highlighting the horrifying conditions and loss of life. It introduces Frances Perkins, a witness to the event whose life was profoundly impacted, setting the stage for her future work in social reform.
  • The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire killed 146 workers, mostly young immigrant women.
  • Unsafe working conditions, including locked exits, contributed to the high death toll.
  • Frances Perkins witnessed the fire and was deeply affected, leading her to a career in social reform.

Shownotes Transcript

From Social Security and the minimum wage to exit signs and fire escapes, Frances Perkins transformed how people in the U.S. lived and worked. Today on the show: how a middle class do-gooder became one of the savviest and most powerful people in American politics — and built the social safety net we have today.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)