Speeches, 1961-1979

This series consists of full texts of speeches by George Meany as well as articles or editorial pieces for publication in AFL-CIO and non-affiliated publications, statements to the press and interviews and statements before numerous congressional committees. The speeches and statements are generally in typescript, but also often include official releases and Meany's note cards and sometimes research materials. Interviews and press conferences are complete transcripts. Scattered pieces of correspondence can be found; of particular note are letters/telegrams exchanged by Meany and Soviet disidents Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Andrei Sakharov and Elena Bonner Sakharova, and letters/telegrams from union rank and file members and former members to Meany in response to Meany's statements on the Vietnam War and Democratic Party politics during an August 25, 1970, press conference.

This series documents George Meany's role as the "voice of labor" in national politics and his opinions on the issues of the day. He spoke most clearly for the labor movement in his addresses to affiliated unions, to the AFL-CIO conventions, and in his testimony before congressional committees. His opinions on current events and issues found expression in regular broadcast appearances on programs like "Face the Nation," "Meet the Press," and "MacNeil-Lehrer Report." Meany spoke on a wide variety of national political issues including civil rights, communism, the Vietnam War, Soviet-American detente and the Watergate scandal, and on such workers' concerns as job security, affordable housing, health insurance, and wage and price controls. Union-related topics include the organization of farm workers and the consolidation of the various postal workers' unions.