Career Timeline of Robert Reich: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Robert Reich, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Robert Reich is a prominent American political commentator, professor, author, and lawyer. He has held significant positions in multiple presidential administrations, including serving as Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. Reich is known for his progressive political views and advocacy for economic equality. He frequently comments on economic and political issues, and has written extensively on topics such as income inequality, globalization, and the changing nature of work.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1973: Law Clerk for Judge Frank M. Coffin

From 1973 to 1974, Reich served as a law clerk to Judge Frank M. Coffin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

1974: Assistant to U.S. Solicitor General Robert Bork

From 1974 to 1976, Reich was an assistant to U.S. Solicitor General Robert Bork.

1976: End of role as assistant to Robert Bork

In 1976, Reich's time as assistant to U.S. Solicitor General Robert Bork came to an end.

1977: Director of Policy Planning at the Federal Trade Commission

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Reich as director of the Policy Planning staff at the Federal Trade Commission.

1980: Professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government

From 1980 until 1992, Reich taught at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

1990: Co-founded The American Prospect

In 1990, Robert Reich co-founded The American Prospect magazine.

1991: Publication of "The Work of Nations"

In 1991, Robert Reich published his book "The Work of Nations", which became a best-seller.

1992: Clinton Platform and Reich's Vision

Consistent with the 1992 Clinton platform and his writings before taking office, Reich called for more federal spending on jobs training and infrastructure.

1992: Inclusion in Clinton's Campaign Platform

In 1992, Bill Clinton incorporated Reich's thinking into his campaign platform, and after winning the election, Clinton appointed Reich to head economic policy for the presidential transition.

1992: End of professorship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government

In 1992, Reich ended his time as a professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

January 21, 1993: Confirmation as Secretary of Labor

On January 21, 1993, Robert Reich's nomination as Secretary of Labor was confirmed unanimously and without controversy.

July 1993: Reich's NAFTA Prediction

In July 1993, Reich stated that unions were incorrect in predicting job losses due to NAFTA, anticipating more automobile jobs would be created in the U.S. due to growth in the Mexican automobile market.

September 1993: Reich's Speech on Change and Flexibility

In a September 1993 speech to the Center for National Policy, Reich emphasized the need for flexibility in the face of change and acknowledged anxieties related to economic shifts.

1993: Secretary of Labor

In 1993, Robert Reich became the Secretary of Labor in President Bill Clinton's cabinet.

August 1994: Speeches on the "Anxious Class"

By August 1994, Reich, after largely being sidelined on policy, delivered the first of four major speeches on the emergence of a new "anxious class" of Americans concerned with global competition and technological change.

November 1994: Return to Clinton's Economic Team

Following a disastrous performance by the Democratic Party in the midterm elections in November 1994, Reich returned to the forefront of the Clinton economic team, with Clinton reframing his agenda around Reich's proposals.

February 1995: Opposition and Support on Striking Worker Ban

In February 1995, Reich faced opposition within the Clinton administration over his proposal to ban government contractors from permanently replacing striking workers, but Clinton sided with Reich, re-establishing his central role in economic policy.

December 1995: Commencement Speech at University of Maryland

In December 1995, Reich gave a commencement speech at the University of Maryland, College Park, decrying the increasing tendency of wealthy, educated Americans to separate themselves from the general population as "the secession of the successful America".

1996: Decision to Leave the Department of Labor

In 1996, between Clinton's re-election and second inauguration, Reich decided to leave the Department of Labor to spend more time with his sons.

April 1997: Publication of "Locked in the Cabinet"

In April 1997, Reich published his experiences working for the Clinton administration in his book "Locked in the Cabinet", criticizing figures like Dick Morris, Lane Kirkland, and Alan Greenspan, and expressing concerns about the Democratic Party.

Locked in the Cabinet

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1997: Professor at Brandeis University

In 1997, Reich became a professor at Brandeis University, teaching courses for undergraduates as well as in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.

1997: End of term as Secretary of Labor

In 1997, Robert Reich concluded his service as Secretary of Labor in President Bill Clinton's cabinet.

2002: Gubernatorial Campaign

In 2002, Reich ran for the office of Governor of Massachusetts, losing in the Democratic primary to Shannon O'Brien; he also published the book "I'll Be Short" and supported same-sex marriage.

2003: Professor of the Year at Brandeis University

In 2003, Reich was elected Professor of the Year by the undergraduate student body at Brandeis University.

2004: Publication of "Reason: Why Liberals Will Win the Battle for America"

In 2004, Reich published the book "Reason: Why Liberals Will Win the Battle for America".

Reason: Why Liberals Will Win the Battle for America

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2004: Publication of Reason

In 2004, Robert Reich published his book "Reason", which became a best-seller.

September 2005: Testimony Against John Roberts

In September 2005, Robert Reich testified against John Roberts at his confirmation hearings for Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

2005: Endorsement of Deval Patrick

In 2005, instead of running for governor, Reich endorsed Deval Patrick for Governor of Massachusetts.

January 1, 2006: Joined UC Berkeley Faculty

On January 1, 2006, Reich joined the faculty of UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy.

January 2006: Chancellor's Professor at UC Berkeley

In January 2006, Reich became the Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.

2006: Patrick wins election

In November 2006, Deval Patrick, who Reich endorsed in 2005, ultimately won the general election.

2007: Publication of Supercapitalism

In 2007, Robert Reich published his book "Supercapitalism", which became a best-seller.

2010: Syndication by Tribune Content Agency

In 2010, Reich's weekly column was syndicated by the Tribune Content Agency.

2010: Publication of Aftershock

In 2010, Robert Reich published his book "Aftershock", which became a best-seller.

2012: Publication of Beyond Outrage

In 2012, Robert Reich published his book "Beyond Outrage", which became a best-seller.

2013: Partnership with Jacob Kornbluth for Inequality for All

In 2013, Robert Reich partnered with filmmaker Jacob Kornbluth to produce the documentary "Inequality for All", which was based on Reich's book "Aftershock". The documentary subsequently won a Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival.

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2013: Award for Inequality for All at Sundance Film Festival

In 2013, the film "Inequality for All", by Robert Reich, won a U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Achievement in Filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival.

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2014: Advocacy for Raising Minimum Wage

In 2014, Robert Reich advocated for raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour over three years, believing it will not adversely impact big business and will increase the availability of higher-value workers.

2015: Publication of Saving Capitalism

In 2015, Robert Reich published his book "Saving Capitalism", which became a best-seller.

Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few

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2015: Founding of Inequality Media

In 2015, Robert Reich, with Jacob Kornbluth, founded Inequality Media, which produces video content of Reich, including a "Resistance Report" and the weekly YouTube show The Common Good.

June 2016: Support for Universal Basic Income

In June 2016, on the eve of a referendum in Switzerland on basic income, Robert Reich declared that countries will eventually need to introduce this financial instrument, showing his support for an unconditional and universal basic income.

2016: Opinion Column in Newsweek

Since the summer of 2016, Reich has contributed an opinion column to Newsweek magazine.

February 2017: Criticism of UC Berkeley's Decision

In February 2017, Reich criticized UC Berkeley's decision to host Milo Yiannopoulos and speculated about the possibility of right-wing agitators.

2017: Partnership with Jacob Kornbluth for Saving Capitalism

In 2017, Robert Reich again partnered with Jacob Kornbluth to produce the documentary "Saving Capitalism", based on Reich's book of that name. Netflix selected the film to be a Netflix Original Documentary.

2017: Netflix Debut of "Saving Capitalism"

In November 2017, "Saving Capitalism", a film by Robert Reich and Jacob Kornbluth, debuted on Netflix.

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2021: Authors Substack newsletter, Robert Reich

Since 2021, Robert Reich has authored a Substack newsletter, Robert Reich, where he provides daily commentary on economic and political issues. The publication has attracted more than one million subscribers.

2022: Featured in The Simpsons season finale "Poorhouse Rock"

In 2022, Robert Reich was featured in The Simpsons season finale "Poorhouse Rock", where he briefly explains the economic decline of the American middle class during a musical sequence.

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2023: Appearance in Dropout's Breaking News

In 2023, Robert Reich appeared in a cameo role in "Dropout America 2", the first episode of the 6th season of Dropout's Breaking News program, providing a fictional account of his son Sam's life.

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