Stettinius, Edward R.

Stettinius, Edward R. (Reilly)

(1900–49) corporation executive, cabinet member; born in Chicago, Ill. At General Motors (1920–34), he established a workers' insurance plan before going to the United States Steel Corporation (1934–40), where as chairman of the board he recognized the steel workers' union. He was with the Office of Production Management (1941–43); as secretary of state (1944–46), he spearheaded negotiations to establish the United Nations; he then served as chairman of the American delegation to the first meetings of the United Nations (1945–46).