National Association of Manufacturers
Encyclopedia
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is an advocacy group
headquartered in Washington, D.C.
with 10 additional offices across the country. It is the nation’s largest industrial trade association, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states.
).
The early history of NAM was marked by frank verbal attacks on labor. In 1903, then-president David MacLean Parry delivered a speech at its annual convention which argued that unions' goals would result in "despotism, tyranny, and slavery." Parry advocated the establishment of a great national anti-union federation under the control of the NAM, and the NAM responded by initiating such an effort. In an address at its 1911 convention, NAM president John Kirby Jr. proclaimed, "The American Federation of Labor
is engaged in an open warfare against Jesus Christ and his cause."
The NAM also encouraged the creation and propagation of a network of local anti-union organizations, many of which took the name Citizens' Alliance
. The national Citizens' Alliance entity came to be called the Citizens' Industrial Alliance
.
NAM used pioneering public relations expert Edward Bernays
in the 1930s to promote the benefits of capitalism, to combat the policies of President Roosevelt. NAM made efforts to undermine organized labor in the United States before the New Deal
.
The advent of commercial television led to the NAM's own 15-minute television program, “Industry on Parade,” which first aired in 1950.
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
with 10 additional offices across the country. It is the nation’s largest industrial trade association, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states.
Mission Statement
The NAM’s stated mission is "to be the voice for all manufacturing in the United States. To inform legislators, the Administration, the media, policy influencers and the public about manufacturing’s vital leadership in innovation, job opportunity, technological progress and economic security. To be a respected and focused partner in achieving an economic environment that encourages the expansion of manufacturing in the United States and strengthens our global leadership".Policy Issues
The NAM's policy issue work is focused in the areas of labor, employment, health care, energy, climate, corporate finance, tax, bilateral trade, multilateral trade, export controls, technology, regulatory and infrastructure policy. According to Bloomberg, Duke Energy did not renew its membership with the NAM partly because of differences over climate policy.Board of Directors
The NAM's Board of Directors includes Jay Timmons, NAM President and CEO; Mary Vermeer Andringa, President and CEO, Vermeer Corporation; and Douglas Oberhelman, CEO, Caterpillar Inc.History
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) website states that the NAM "was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1895. The U.S. was in the midst of a deep recession and many of the nation’s manufacturers saw a strong need to export their products in other countries. One of the NAM’s earliest efforts was to call for the creation of the U.S. Department of Commerce". The organization's first president was Thomas Dolan of Philadelphia (not, as erroneously listed in some sources, Samuel P. BushSamuel P. Bush
Samuel Prescott Bush was an American industrialist and entrepreneur, and the patriarch of the Bush political family. He was the father of U.S. Senator Prescott Bush, grandfather of former U.S President George H. W. Bush, and great-grandfather of former U.S. President George W...
).
The early history of NAM was marked by frank verbal attacks on labor. In 1903, then-president David MacLean Parry delivered a speech at its annual convention which argued that unions' goals would result in "despotism, tyranny, and slavery." Parry advocated the establishment of a great national anti-union federation under the control of the NAM, and the NAM responded by initiating such an effort. In an address at its 1911 convention, NAM president John Kirby Jr. proclaimed, "The American Federation of Labor
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
is engaged in an open warfare against Jesus Christ and his cause."
The NAM also encouraged the creation and propagation of a network of local anti-union organizations, many of which took the name Citizens' Alliance
Citizens' Alliance
The Citizens' Alliance is a defunct political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Former finance minister Wendell Mottley was leader and businessman Peter George was deputy leader...
. The national Citizens' Alliance entity came to be called the Citizens' Industrial Alliance
Citizens' Industrial Alliance
The Citizens' Industrial Alliance was a national pro-employer organization in the United States, and became a parent to thousands of local branches of the Citizens' Alliance...
.
NAM used pioneering public relations expert Edward Bernays
Edward Bernays
Edward Louis Bernays , was an Austrian-American pioneer in the field of public relations and propaganda along with Ivy Lee, referred to in his obituary as "the father of public relations"...
in the 1930s to promote the benefits of capitalism, to combat the policies of President Roosevelt. NAM made efforts to undermine organized labor in the United States before the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
.
The advent of commercial television led to the NAM's own 15-minute television program, “Industry on Parade,” which first aired in 1950.