Part 6/8:
A Historical Perspective: The Legacy of Strong Leadership
In a reflective moment during his address, Biden invoked the legacy of Frances Perkins, the first female Secretary of Labor under Franklin D. Roosevelt. Perkins was pivotal in the creation of the New Deal during the Great Depression, demonstrating the importance of government intervention in creating equitable economic conditions for Americans.
Biden’s reference to Perkins presented his own administration's policies as continuations of this legacy. He argued that the work being done today, when contrasted with the previous administration's allocation of resources primarily towards the wealthy, is designed to uplift working-class Americans and restore the dignity of labor.