George Meany (1894-1980) and Walter Philip Reuther (1907-1970) Agree on Recommendations for AFL-CIO Merger 1955

Editor: Here we have a photograph of George Meany and Walter Reuther shaking hands. It's by Joe Migon. The body language reads as a moment of triumph and agreement. What's your take? Curator: It's more than just an agreement, isn't it? It's a symbolic handshake, sealing the AFL-CIO merger. That image, that simple gesture, speaks volumes about unity, and the potential for labor to be a real force. It makes you wonder, what kind of compromises did they have to make? Editor: That’s a good point. It is like, what did it really take to get to this handshake? Curator: Exactly! And what did labor actually achieve? I love a picture that asks more questions than it answers, don't you?