Robert Reich

Early Life and Education

Robert Bernard Reich was born on June 24, 1946, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He later pursued higher education at Dartmouth College and earned degrees from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, followed by a law degree from Yale Law School.

Public Service and Political Involvement

Reich served as Secretary of Labor from 1993 to 1997 under President Bill Clinton. During his tenure, he focused on initiatives such as raising the minimum wage, improving workplace safety, and enforcing labor standards. His efforts earned recognition, with Time magazine naming him one of the ten best cabinet members of the 20th century.

Earlier in his career, Reich worked in the administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, focusing on policy planning and Federal Trade Commission matters. He also served as a member of President Barack Obama’s economic transition advisory board in 2008.

Academic Roles and Thought Leadership

Reich currently holds the position of Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies, where his work emphasizes economic inequality and sustainable development.

Books and Publications

Robert Reich is the author of fifteen books, several of which are national bestsellers. Notable titles include Aftershock, The Work of Nations, and Beyond Outrage. His most recent book, The Common Good, continues his exploration of civic responsibility and democratic values and is available in bookstores and online.

Media and Advocacy Work

In addition to his academic and policy contributions, Reich is a founding editor of The American Prospect magazine, a publication dedicated to progressive policy ideas. He also serves as chairman emeritus of Common Cause, a nonpartisan watchdog group promoting government accountability.

Reich is the co-creator of the critically acclaimed documentary Inequality for All, which examines the impact of economic inequality in the United States. He also collaborated on the Netflix original documentary Saving Capitalism, focusing on the shifting dynamics of American capitalism in the 21st century.