Joseph Daniel Keenan (November 5, 1896 – July 22, 1984) was an American labor union leader.

Born in Chicago, Keenan completed an apprenticeship as an electrician and joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). In 1923, he was elected as an inspector for his local union, and then in 1926 as recording secretary. He was also elected as secretary of the Chicago Federation of Labor.[1][2]

During World War II, Keenan served on the National Defense Council and with the Office of Production Management, and was appointed as associated director of the War Production Board. In 1945, he became manpower director of the Allied Commission in Germany. He then returned to the Chicago Federation of Labor as secretary.[2]

In 1948, Keenan became the founding director of the American Federation of Labor's (AFL) Labor's League for Political Education. In the role, he worked with Jack Kroll of the Congress of Industrial Organizations to run a co-ordinated campaign for Harry S. Truman's re-election.[2]

In 1951, Keenan was elected as secretary-treasurer of the Building and Construction Trade Department of the AFL. In 1954, he was instead elected as international secretary of the IBEW, and the following year he was additionally elected as a vice-president of the AFL. He served on the Democratic National Committee's committee on economic policy in 1957.[2]

Keenan traveled widely to campaign for John F. Kennedy in the 1960 United States presidential election. He was rumored to be in line for a prominent position in Kennedy's administration, but was instead offered the ambassador position in New Zealand, which he turned down.[3] He retired in 1976.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Joseph Keenan, retired union executive". Chicago Tribune. July 24, 1984.
  2. ^ a b c d e Fink, Gary (1984). Biographical Dictionary of American Labor. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313228655.
  3. ^ "Joseph Keenan, Labor Leader Who Advised Presidents, Dies". Washington Post. July 24, 1984.
Trade union offices Preceded byHerbert Rivers Secretary-Treasurer of the Building and Construction Trade Department 1951–1954 Succeeded byFrank Bonadio Preceded byJ. Scott Milne Secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 1954–1976 Succeeded byRalph A. Legion Preceded byJ. Scott Milne Fifteenth Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor 1955 Succeeded byFederation merged Preceded byWilliam F. SchnitzlerEmil Rieve AFL-CIO delegate to the Trades Union Congress 1957 With: Walter P. Reuther Succeeded byGeorge McGregor HarrisonJacob Potofsky
Categories