Andrew Burt

FORTY GAVELS, the story of Illinois AFL-CIO President Reuben G. Soderstrom, is possibly the most ambitious biography of any labor leader to date. It is also one of the most in-depth histories of organized labor in America, spanning more than a century and examining its subject in documented, year-by-year detail. The result is a narrative of both a man and a movement. In many ways, Reuben’s personal journey mirrors that of the AFL-CIO itself—born of immigrants, forged by hard work and sacrifice, and driven to create a better world for all workers.

For more than forty years, Soderstrom was a pillar of organized labor in Illinois. As president, he steered the Illinois State Federation of Labor through depression, division, and war, ultimately guiding it to unprecedented prosperity and influence. His legislative accomplishments bettered the lives of workers not just in Illinois but across the nation. By the time he was honored as President Emeritus in 1970, Reuben had become one of organized labor’s most prolific leaders, leaving a legacy that endures to this day.

Just as important was the vision Reuben articulated for organized labor’s role in American life. He was a fierce advocate for the tripartite approach to labor legislation, preferring private collaboration between organized labor, business, and government over public opposition (a practice most clearly reflected in the “agreed bills” process he pioneered in Illinois). He argued passionately for an activist government unafraid to adopt and enforce broad regulations on wages, prices, and hours of labor. All this was grounded in his faith in representative democracy and the instruments of civil society, especially unions. He viewed the AFL (and later the AFL-CIO) as an American institution, a “fifth estate” worthy of the same respect and responsibilities as the judiciary or a free press.

Throughout his career, Reuben judged every action according to a single measure: is it in the best interests of working men and women? His scrupulous nature set him apart from many of his contemporaries. Illinois politics is infamous for its corruption, and labor leaders often share a similar place in the popular imagination. Even if this reputation is more anti-labor spin than fact (as Reuben asserted), it is true that too many too often leveraged their power for personal gain. Soderstrom, however, never succumbed to such temptation, a fact even his fiercest critics acknowledge.

Not that Reuben was without his faults. His reflexive denial of corruption and racism within unions often rendered him blind the truth behind such critiques. He could be famously stubborn, spending political capital on quixotic campaigns like his fight against a revised Illinois constitution. Many interpreted his consistency as rigidity, and decried his policy positions as obsolete. Yet it is many of these same policies, and the broader philosophy of labor from which they were derived, that make Soderstrom a subject worthy of study today. His approaches to labor issues routinely defy modern political labels, and possess a coherence and practicality often missing in today’s discussion of the nature and future of organized labor. This work is intended to expand that conversation.

A project of this scope would be impossible without the hard work of many, and I am deeply grateful to all those who lent their time, effort, and talent. I would especially like to thank Dr. Carl Soderstrom, without whom this book would never have been possible. Special thanks as well to my co-authors Robert Soderstrom and Chis Stevens. Collaborating with writers of such caliber has been a professional and personal pleasure. Heartfelt thanks are due to graphic designer Kevin Evans, whose skill and resolve have been indispensable. My deepest gratitude to my family, especially parents Stan and Colleen, for their encouragement and strength. Most of all, I would like to thank my wife, Dr. Rosanne Chien, for her unfailing love, faith, and insight. Her support and sacrifice throughout the creation of this work have been invaluable to both it and the author.

“The onward and upward march called Progress that we have long been striving for is about to begin,” Reuben wrote at the outset of his presidency, “and the Illinois labor movement should head the parade.” This was more than just a prediction; it was a promise. A promise to lead. To never stop fighting or give up hope. To be unafraid of bold solutions. To move forward, step by step, confident in the belief that tomorrow can and will be better than today. It is my sincerest wish that this book can play a role in renewing that promise for a new generation.