Putting the World Together: My Father Walter Reuther, The Liberal Warrior (Paperback)

~ Elisabeth reuther Dickmeyer (Author) "I am my brother's keeper..." (more)
Key Phrases: guaranteed annual wage, Walter Reuther, Paint Creek, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Elisabeth's account is an engaging, candid, revealing portrait of the most far-seeing American labor leader of the century" -- Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. Historian

"Her father was an inspirational man, and she captures that...remember that liberalism can be a powerful force for good." -- Neil Munro, Editor, Oakland Press

"Walter Reuther built the benefits package workers now take for granted, from health care to pensions." -- Time Magazine

Product Description

A memior about growing up with labor legend and social visionary, Walter Reuther, by his youngest daughter, Elisabeth. It is also a history of the UAW with Walter Reuther at the helm, and the monumental social impact he had on America and the world.

The book dispels the conservative propaganda that liberals are bad for America. In contrast it tells how one of our nation's greatest liberal and moral leaders created pensions and health care for workers, during World War II gave FDR the plan to turn Detroit's auto plants into manufacturing of planes and tanks, thus creating the Arsenal of Democracy, co-founded the United Way with Henry Ford II, marched side-by-side with Martin Luther King, Jr., during all great civil rights struggles of the 50s and 60s, was the first to give aid to Cesar Chavez and the migrant farm workers, gave President John F. Kennedy the plan that became the Peace Corps, gave the seed money for the first Earth Day, and at the time of his untimely death in a mysterious plane crash was leading the effort for national health care insurance for every American.

The book also reveals Walter Reuther and his close relationships with Eleanor Roosevelt, John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. Elisabeth tells of the security measures her family endured as numerous assassination attempts were made on her father's life. Her first memory, a shotgun blast that nearly killed her father, taught her that he had numerous enemies who were trying to stop him. Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater and J. Edgar Hoover never tired of of trying to destroy Reuther's voice. This is an inspiring story of a true working class hero.

Product Details

• Paperback: 411 pages
• Publisher: Livingforce Pub. (September 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975379216
• ISBN-13: 978-0975379219
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,488,243 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The true story of a legendary American labor leader, January 5, 2005

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Putting The World Together My Father Walter Reuther: The Liberal Warrior is the true story of a legendary American labor leader, as told by his daughter. Walter Reuther's determination to promote unionization helped bring about the American middle class, and the benefits packages that workers today take for granted, including health care and pensions. For his tireless work, he survived an assassination attempt that was never solved, and died with his wife in a plane crash that may or may not have been the result of sabotage. Putting The World Together is a remarkable story, touching upon the contributions of all three Reuther Brothers in their efforts to revolutionize the workplace but colored with the emotion of filial love.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed the book, October 27, 2007

By	freebird "Rob" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

I bet many under 40 doesn`t even know who Walter Reuther was.He championed many gains for working people like decent pay and benifits,health and safety and others.

Sadly the power elite is taking many of those things away in just the last few years with this so called free trade being the catalyst.

Some people might call Walter Reuther a socialist.In the end most people would go along with his way of thinking than the extreme right wing forces that rule today.

Isn`t it interesting all the liberal warriors that died during this period.JFK,MLK,RFK and Walter Reuther.

At any rate a good book written by his daughter Lisa.