Lane Kirkland’s Crisis of Leadership

Lane Kirkland had barely taken over the leadership of the AFL-CIO from the masterly but aged George Meany when he was confronted by an excruciating dilemma, the same one his predecessor had faced in 1972.

At that time, given a choice between McGovern and Nixon, Meany led the AFL-CIO Executive Council, albeit reluctantly, to a no-endorsement position in the presidential race. Let the membership vote as they pleased without the numinous guidance of the Council.

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Arnold Beichman

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Lane Kirkland had barely taken over the leadership of the AFL-CIO from the masterly but aged George Meany when he was confronted by an excruciating dilemma, the same one his predecessor had faced in 1972.

At that time, given a choice between McGovern and Nixon, Meany led the AFL-CIO Executive Council, albeit reluctantly, to a no-endorsement position in the presidential race. Let the membership vote as they pleased without the numinous guidance of the Council.