Alexander Barkan

Who was Alexander Barkan?

Alexander E. Barkan was head of the AFL-CIO's Committee on Political Education from 1963 until 1982. During the Watergate hearings, it became known that Barkan was one of the original members of Nixon's Enemies List.

Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, Barkan attained degrees in political science and economics from the University of Chicago in 1933. He became actively involved in labor unions right after college. During World War II he served on the USS Alabama.

In 1955 Barkan became assistant director of the AFL-CIO's political arm, COPE. Later on he was appointed director in 1963.

A lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party, in 1972 he denounced George McGovern and his followers for turning the party into the "party of acid, amnesty, and abortion."