Kreps, Juanita M. (Juanita Morris), 1921-2010

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Clara Juanita Morris Kreps (January 11, 1921 – July 5, 2010) was an American government official and businesswoman. She served as the United States Secretary of Commerce from January 23, 1977 until October 31, 1979, under President Jimmy Carter and was the first woman and first economist to hold that position, and the fourth woman to hold any cabinet position in the United States Executive Branch.

Born in Lynch, Kentucky, she graduated from Berea College in 1942, and earned her master's and Ph.D. in economics at Duke University in 1944 and 1948, respectively. A specialist in labor demographics, Kreps taught at Denison University, Hofstra College, Queens College, and Duke. She rose through the ranks there to become the university's first female vice president. In 1972 she was the first woman director of the New York Stock Exchange.

Political advisor Anne Wexler, who was serving on the President Jimmy Carter's transition team after his victory in the 1976 presidential election, recommended Kreps for a post in the Carter administration. Kreps was appointed to serve as the Secretary of Commerce. Kreps' time as a cabinet member was considered different not only because she was a woman but also because no economist had ever before held her cabinet position. She worked heavily on trade issues during her appointment. One of her biggest accomplishments as a cabinet member was noted as the trade agreement with China. The agreement was a public works program and it was started in her first year on the job. Kreps facilitated a successful bill associated with the Arab boycott during her appointment as well. Kreps made it very clear that the U.S. was not particularly savvy in regard to the world economy. To form successful relations with other countries, like Japan, Kreps believed that the U.S. needed to appreciate the other countries for what they were and to stop trying to force free trade on places that have different kinds of governments. Kreps 0resigned on October 31, 1979 and was replaced by Philip M. Klutznick.

Kreps died in Durham, North Carolina, on July 5, 2010. She was buried at the Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Churchyard in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Rebecca Caudill Public Library (Cumberland, Ky.). Rebecca Caudill Public Library oral history collection, 1976-1981 (bulk 1978). Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky Guide Project Office
referencedIn Southern Economic Journal Records, 1937-2003 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Biographical Reference Collection, ., 1972 - 2004 University Archives, Duke University.
referencedIn Research Triangle Foundation Records, 1955-1999 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Cable 13 (Television station : Durham, N.C.). Cable 13 videotapes, 1976-1982. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Women's Economic Round Table. Records, 1976-2005 (bulk: 1978-2004) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn News Service Biographical Files, ., circa 1930s - 2004 University Archives, Duke University.
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Kreps, Juanita Morris. Juanita Morris Kreps Papers, 1921-2001 and undated (bulk 1968-1997). Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Staff Scheduling Memoranda. 1977 - 1978. 10/19/77-10/31/77 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn East, Catherine Shipe. Papers of Catherine Shipe East. 1941-1995 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn General Faculty and Faculty Council of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1799-2011 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives and Records Service
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 8/8/79 Jimmy Carter Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Berea College corporateBody
associatedWith Cable 13 (Television station : Durham, N.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Catherine East, 1916-1996 person
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Duke University corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University. News Service. corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University. University Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Duke University. Woman's College. corporateBody
associatedWith New York Stock Exchange corporateBody
associatedWith Research Trianlge Foundation. corporateBody
correspondedWith Southern economic journal. corporateBody
leaderOf United States. Dept. of Commerce corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. General Faculty. corporateBody
associatedWith Women's Economic Round Table corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Durham NC US
Granville OH US
Berea KY US
New York City NY US
Hempstead NY US
Lynch KY US
Atlanta GA US
Subject
Aging
Cabinet officers
Economists
Executive departments
Feminism
Leisure
Older people
Sexual division of labor
Women
Women
Women
Women economists
Women executives
Work
Occupation
Cabinet officers
Deans (Education)
Economists
Professors (teacher)
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Person

Birth 1921-01-11

Death 2010-07-05

Female

Americans

English

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