Raymond J. Donovan
Raymond Donovan | |
---|---|
17th United States Secretary of Labor | |
In office February 4, 1981 – March 15, 1985 | |
President | Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | Ray Marshall |
Succeeded by | Bill Brock |
Personal details | |
Born | Raymond James Donovan August 31, 1930 Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | June 2, 2021 New Vernon, New Jersey, U.S. | (aged 90)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Catherine Sblendorio
(m. 1957) |
Children | 3 |
Education | Notre Dame Seminary (BA) |
Raymond James Donovan (August 31, 1930 – June 2, 2021) was an American business executive and politician. He served as U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1985. He resigned after being the first serving member of the Cabinet of the United States to be indicted, but was ultimately acquitted in 1987.
Early life and career
Donovan was born in
Donovan was employed as a laborer responsible for unpacking Ballantine beer trucks,[3] and became part of the electrical workers union.[2] He then worked for the American Insurance Company until 1959, when he joined Schiavone Construction Company as its vice president in charge of labor relations, finance, bonding, and real estate.[3] He was promoted to executive vice president in 1971.[2]
Political career
Reagan appointed Donovan the
Throughout his tenure, Donovan was noted for his frosty dealings with leaders of organized labor.[2] His implementation of Reagan's conservative business agenda – of free enterprise with limited regulation from the government – was seen by them as reducing protections in the workplace and rolling back the hard-fought improvements they had achieved under the previous Carter administration.[2][3] He resigned from his position on March 15, 1985,[4] five months after he was indicted.[2] He was the first serving member of the Cabinet of the United States to be indicted.[2][3]
Criminal investigation and exoneration
In a highly publicized case,
A second criminal investigation saw Donovan investigated by a federal
Later life
Donovan held 50% ownership in Schiavone Construction until its late 2007 sale to Spanish conglomerate,
Personal life
Donovan married Catherine Sblendorio in 1957. They remained married until his death. Together, they had three children: Kenneth, Mary Ellen, and Keith.[2][3]
Donovan died on June 2, 2021, at his home in New Vernon, New Jersey. He was 90, and suffered from congestive heart failure prior to his death.[2][3]
References
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fried, Joseph P. (June 5, 2021). "Raymond Donovan, 90, Dies; Labor Secretary Quit Under a Cloud". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Plokhii, Olesia (June 5, 2021). "Raymond Donovan, embattled labor secretary under Ronald Reagan, dies at 90". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ a b "Hall of Secretaries: Raymond J. Donovan". United States Department of Labor. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ "Ex-Labor Secretary Donovan is acquitted after a nine-month trial". Time. June 8, 1987.
- ^ "Company With Big City Contracts Is Tied to Mob Schemes in Affidavit". The New York Times. July 2, 2008.
- ^ "Donovan Cleared Of Fraud Charges By Jury In Bronx". The New York Times. May 26, 1987.
- ^ "Raymond Donovan, New Jerseyan who served as Reagan Labor Secretary, dies at 90". New Jersey Globe. June 4, 2021.
External links
- General
- Court filings
- Schiavone v Donovan et al., March 6, 2008