Reagan Names Brock Labor Secreatary; AFL-CIO Pleased : Choice of Trade Chief a Surprise
President Reagan, in a surprise move, today picked William E. Brock III, a Cabinet member who claims good relations with organized labor, to replace Raymond J. Donovan as secretary of labor.
Reagan called Brock “our top choice from a blue-ribbon list of candidates” for the post, which requires Senate confirmation.
AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland issued a statement saying: “The AFL-CIO welcomes the nomination of Bill Brock to be secretary of labor. We have worked with him in many areas over the years.
“While we have not always agreed, he has earned our respect. We look forward to a new and constructive relationship with the Labor Department.”
Trial Ordered
Donovan, who had been on leave since his indictment on grand larceny and fraud charges, resigned Friday hours after a New York judge ordered him to stand trial on the 137-count indictment.
Brock, the U.S. special trade representative, had been reported to be reluctant to take the post.
Asked about those reports, Brock said, “You just can’t believe everything you read, can you?” He also called the new post “a challenge that is impossible to resist.”
Rocky Relations
Reagan, referring to the rocky relations his Administration has had with organized labor, said of Brock, “Anyone who’s spent four years in international trade negotiations can negotiate almost anything.”
Even before Reagan announced the decision at a hastily arranged gathering of reporters, Brock called Kirkland to tip him off.
While acknowledging that there have been “some very difficult times” between the Administration and organized labor, Brock described Kirkland as “an old friend” and predicted that they would be able to work together.
Asked about fence-mending with the nation’s unions, most of whom did not support Reagan’s reelection bid, Brock said: “We had some very difficult times. We have a lot of communicating to do.”
Conservative Support
The nomination was also supported by conservative Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, chairman of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee.
“I suspect he can handle any problem that comes up,” the Utah senator said. “Mr. Brock has got a lot of free enterprise background and he knows all the key players.”
Brock, who was at Reagan’s side for the announcement, told reporters immediately afterward that his top priority is creating as many new jobs as possible.
As for his new job, Brock said: “I don’t even know what the budget of the department is. I have a lot to learn.”
Working in Garden
Brock said he was working in his garden when Reagan called this morning to offer him the job.
Brock, 54, heir to the Brock candy manufacturing fortune, has been a Washington figure since 1962, when he was elected to Congress from Chattanooga, Tenn., the first Republican to represent that city in the House in 42 years.
Brock served four terms in the House and was elected to the Senate in 1970, after the Nixon Administration asked him to take on a veteran Democratic liberal, Sen. Albert Gore, a sharp critic of the Nixon White House and a key Republican target that year. Brock attacked Gore’s opposition to the Vietnam War and his support of gun control. Brock became the second Republican ever elected to the Senate from Tennessee by popular vote.
But he was defeated for reelection six years later by Democrat Jim Sasser, a Nashville lawyer.
He then took on the chairmanship of the GOP National Committee, a position he held until Reagan tapped him for the trade job.
