Description
Inscribed by General Secretary of the T.U.C. to the President of the United Auto Workers, Leonard Woodcock, the first edition of The History of the T.U.C. 1868-1968.
Small folio, 159pp. Red cloth, title in gilt on spine and front cover. No additional printings mentioned. Solid text block, touch of wear to corners and bottom edge, a near fine example. In the publisher’s dust jacket, 25s retail price on front flap, edges of spine chipped, faint foxing to edges, a few short closed tears. A very good example. Signed by the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress in Great Britain on verso of front free endpaper: “To Leonard Woodcock, With best wishes. Vic Feather, March 22, 1971.” This copy was signed while both parties served in their notable union leadership roles.
Leonard Woodcock (1911-2001) was the President of the United Auto Workers and the first United States Ambassador to China. Woodcock dropped out of college in 1933 and began working as a machine assembler in Detroit. As manufacturing unions grew, he joined the United Auto Workers. After the tragic airplane accident resulting in the death of former UAW president Walter Reuther, Woodcock was selected to lead, and would remain president of the union from 1970 through 1977. Due to his progressive ideals, Woodcock was listed #9 on Nixon’s Enemies List, with the notation “No comments necessary.”
