Harry Hopkins Social Worker

Harry Hopkins FDR and his trusted advisor Harry Hopkins (Photo credit: www. GustavoPiga.it) Social Worker, Presidential Advisor to FDR, Administrator of New Deal Programs and Noted Diplomat Representing American Values & Security Biography Harry L. Hopkins was born on August 17, 1890, in Sioux City, Iowa, and was the fourth of five children raised by David Aldona and Anna Picket (Georgetown.edu).

During his childhood Hopkins lived in Chicago and Nebraska, but at the age of 11 his family returned to Iowa and after high school he attended -- and graduated cum laude from -- Grinnell College in Iowa. That was 1912, and in 1913 he married Ethel Gross; between 1912 and 1933 Hopkins engaged in the field of social work, his passion. When World War I began, Hopkins served as head of the Gulf Division of the American Red Cross, helping the families of soldiers that were sent to war in Europe.

He met Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1928 in New York State. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor were fond of Hopkins right off the bat, and it led to his appointment to positions of authority and to his close association with Roosevelt in the years to come (Geogetown.edu). Hopkins passed away in 1946, after a long struggle with a debilitating disease. Hopkins' Career in Government In 1933 Hopkins was appointed (by FDR) head of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (giving relief for hungry and homeless Americans) (Georgetown.edu).

As Civil Works Administrator (New Deal) he created jobs for 4 million men; as Works Progress Administrator (1938) he put 3.5 million people to work (Georgetown.edu). He helped develop the Social Security System and was appointed by FDR as U.S. Secretary of Commerce; he accompanied FDR to WWII Allied conferences (PBS). As FDR's representative, he met with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin (PBS). Following FDR's death. Hopkins continued helping President Truman with the final allied conference in 1945 at the end of WWII (PBS).

Not every bit of biographical information on Hopkins is positive; indeed, a conservative website (Accuracy in Media) claims that Hopkins "…was a Soviet agent" (AIM.org). Accuracy in Media makes the absurd claim that Hopkins was, according to alleged KGB documents, "the most important of all Soviet wartime agents in the U.S." (AIM.org).

Meanwhile the truth about Hopkins was that he had represented FDR in some of the most delicate and important situations during FDR's presidency, including meeting with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, meeting with Joseph Stalin (the Soviet dictator told American ambassador Averell Harriman that Stalin "…displayed more open and warm cordiality towards Hopkins than any other foreigner" (Georgetown.edu).

Hopkins was FDR's personal point man to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Churchill once said: "He was the most faithful and perfect channel of communication between the president and me" (U.S. History.com). Hopkins was attacked by conservatives in Congress.