Why would anyone have been out to harm Walter Reuther?
This controversial book details intense internal struggles in the UAW (United Auto Workers), especially between socialists, communists, and more conservative factions. Walter Reuther was a powerful figure in labor, especially within the UAW, and somebody doesn't want him remembered. His work involved leadership in organizing industrial workers, fighting factional conflicts within the union, and pushing for workers' rights and social justice. He was a skilled union leader who combined militancy with negotiation, significantly shaping labor relations in the U.S.
Reuther's battles with key figures like Homer Martin and Jay Lovestone-who became a CIA agent-and his eventual opposition to communist influence in the union, shaped the UAW's direction and contributed to his complex legacy. Walter and his brother Victor exposed the CIA's involvement in labor movements abroad, particularly through the AIFLD, linked to covert operations.
This led to conflicts within the labor movement and contributed to UAW's withdrawal from the AFL-CIO. Reuther played a leading role in the Civil Rights and Anti-War Movements, too. He was a significant labor ally, supporting civil rights marches and challenging racial discrimination.
The suspicious circumstances of Reuther's death have not been officially investigated. Author Rob McKenzie is a former Ford Assembler and long-time UAW leader. Here, he details the incriminating facts he has unearthed surrounding the crash at the Pellston airport as well as the obstruction put up by the FBI, the NTSB and others who hold the evidence of the crime. His connections within organized labor helped dig up long-suppressed documents. First-hand knowledge and decades of experience in the UAW provide a new perspective on Reuther's life, death, and legacy. The book argues that Reuther was assassinated due to his political positions and conflicts with the CIA and other powerful entities.
CIA and Intelligence Agency interference is strongly suggested by the circumstances. The long-standing antagonism between Reuther and the CIA, with its covert operations that intersected with labor politics, made him a target.
Judging by the decline of the UAW after his removal, the powers-that-be won. The UAW leadership shifted towards more conservative, cooperative relations with employers, moving away from Reuther's social unionism. The book highlights how the union's political and strategic path changed, leading to challenges in adapting to globalization and labor struggles.
Despite new evidence and suspicions, the UAW leadership, the FBI and the NTSB have refused to launch thorough investigation. Attempts by family members, private investigators, and researchers to uncover the truth and seek justice have been met with resistance and silence.
The book situates Reuther's assassination in its historical context alongside other politically significant assassinations of the era (John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy) and calls for a reassessment of his life and death in light of suppressed information. Walter Reuther was a pivotal labor leader. His assassination shows every sign of being politically motivated and covered up. The author supports his conclusions with extensive documentation, interviews, and references to FBI files, union records, and personal accounts.
