In 1981 President Ronald Reagan appointed New Jersey businessman, Raymond J Donovan to his cabinet as Secretary of Labor, a position he served in until 1985. During his tenure, Donovan carried out Reagan’s policies of advocating for free-market by reducing government regulation in labor issues.

Donovan's tenure as Secretary of Labor was marked by controversy. He was accused of having ties to organized crime and in 1984, he was indicted on charges of larceny and fraud in connection with a construction company he had been involved with before his government service. However, after a lengthy trial, Donovan was acquitted of all charges in 1987.

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Donovan’s son, Ken, who will give us insight into the life of his father, including his challenging start in life, his success as a businessman, his political prominence in the Reagan campaign and his heart for his family and philanthropic causes.

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man