Peter J. Brennan

Peter J. Brennan
Portrait by Everett Kinstler
13th United States Secretary of Labor
In office February 2, 1973 – March 15, 1975
President	Richard Nixon Gerald Ford
Preceded by	James Day Hodgson
Succeeded by	John Thomas Dunlop
Personal details
Born	Peter Joseph Brennan (1918-05-24)May 24, 1918 New York City, U.S.
Died	October 2, 1996(1996-10-02) (aged 78) Massapequa, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Josephine Brickley
Children	3
Education	City University of New York, City College (BS)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Battles/wars	World War II

Peter Joseph Brennan (May 24, 1918 – October 2, 1996) was an American labor activist and politician who served as United States Secretary of Labor from February 2, 1973, until March 15, 1975, in the administrations of Presidents Nixon and Ford. Brennan had previously been the president of both the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and the Building and Construction Trades Council of New York, and he returned to the former position after leaving the Ford administration. He was a strong opponent of affirmative action measures to increase the number of minority construction workers. After organizing a demonstration in support of the Nixon administration that turned into the Hard Hat Riot of May 8, 1970, where construction workers violently attacked student anti-war protesters, Brennan was wooed by the Nixon administration as a potential supporter in the 1972 presidential election. His work for Nixon in that election was crucial in increasing the vote for Nixon in New York and in the union movement.