LANE KIRKLAND - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 09/12/1980 - HFSID 263681

LANE KIRKLAND
Lane Kirkland sends a typed letter to a fan about their request.
Typed Letter signed: "Lane Kirkland", 1p, 8½x11. Washington, D. C., 1980 September 12. To Mr. and Mrs. Devlin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In full: "Thank you for your letter of recent date in which you request my autograph on the First Day Cover honoring Francis Perkins. I am most appreciative of your interest and more than happy to do so. With all good wishes, I am Sincerely," Born to a prominent South Carolina family, Lane Kirkland (1922-1999) went to school with the children of mill workers and developed strong sympathy for their plight. After service in the merchant marine during World War II, Kirkland went to work for the AFL-CIO labor federation, becoming in 1960 the executive assistant of the federation president George Meany. He also wrote speeches for Democratic candidates, beginning in 1948. Kirkland was unanimously elected AFL-CIO President in 1979, serving until his retirement in 1995. His major initiatives included bringing strong union support to the civil rights movement, encouraging independent unions like the Teamsters' Union to join or rejoin the AFL-CIO, and rendering strong financial as well as moral support to Poland's independent trade union, Solidarity. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. Fold creases through signature. Fine condition.