Raymond J. Donovan
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| Raymond J. Donovan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Raymond J. Donovan |
| Caption | Official portrait, 1981 |
| Office | 14th United States Secretary of Labor |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Term start | February 4, 1981 |
| Term end | March 15, 1985 |
| Predecessor | Ray Marshall |
| Successor | William E. Brock |
| Birth date | 31 August 1930 |
| Birth place | Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Death date | 2 June 2021 |
| Death place | Short Hills, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Catherine Donovan, 1952, 2021 |
| Alma mater | University of Notre Dame |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Serviceyears | 1952–1954 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
Raymond J. Donovan was an American construction executive and government official who served as the United States Secretary of Labor under President Ronald Reagan. His tenure was dominated by his management of labor relations during a period of significant industrial decline and his own protracted legal battles. Donovan holds the distinction of being the first sitting Cabinet secretary to be indicted on criminal charges, a case that ended in his full acquittal but cast a long shadow over his public service.
Early life and career
Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, he attended Seton Hall University before graduating from the University of Notre Dame. After serving as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army, he began his career in the construction industry in New Jersey. Donovan rose to become the executive vice president of Schiavone Construction Company, a major firm involved in significant projects in the New York metropolitan area, including work for the New York City Transit Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. His success in the private sector and his involvement in Republican politics in New Jersey brought him to the attention of the Reagan campaign.
United States Secretary of Labor
Appointed by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the United States Senate in 1981, his tenure coincided with pivotal events in American labor history. He oversaw the Department during the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) strike of 1981, supporting the president's decision to fire the striking controllers. His department also managed labor policy amidst the severe decline of industries like steel and automotive manufacturing in the Midwestern United States. Donovan generally advocated for the administration's deregulation agenda and sought to reduce the regulatory reach of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Indictment and trial
In 1984, a New York County grand jury indicted him and other executives from Schiavone Construction Company on charges of grand larceny and fraud related to a New York City Subway construction project. The indictment alleged a scheme to defraud the New York City Transit Authority through inflated payments to a minority-owned subcontractor, Jopel Contracting & Trucking. He temporarily stepped aside from his cabinet post, becoming the first sitting Cabinet secretary to be indicted. After a lengthy and highly publicized trial in New York State Supreme Court, he and his co-defendants were acquitted of all charges in 1987.
Later life and death
Following his acquittal, he resigned his cabinet position and returned to private life in New Jersey. He largely retreated from public view, though he remained involved in the construction industry and various charitable endeavors. In his later years, he resided in Short Hills, New Jersey. He died at his home in 2021 at the age of 90, survived by his wife, the former Catherine Donovan, and their two children.
Legacy
His legacy is inextricably linked to the unprecedented legal proceedings during his service. While exonerated, the long investigation and trial are often cited in discussions about the politicization of law enforcement and the legal pressures faced by high-ranking officials. His tenure at the United States Department of Labor is viewed as a period of diminished federal activism in labor relations, aligning with the Reagan Administration's broader economic philosophy. Historical assessments often contrast his legal ordeal with the policy actions of his department during a transformative era for American organized labor.
Category:1930 births Category:2021 deaths Category:United States Secretaries of Labor Category:American businesspeople in construction Category:People from Bayonne, New Jersey Category:University of Notre Dame alumni Category:Reagan administration cabinet members