John J. Sweeney, a labor official who led the AFL-CIO for 14 years, expanding the union federation’s national reach in politics while presiding over a steady decline in union membership, died Feb. 1 at his home in Bethesda, Md. He was 86.
Democracy Dies in Darkness
John J. Sweeney, AFL-CIO leader who raised unions’ political clout, dies at 86
By Matt Schudel
February 2, 2021 at 7:11 p.m. EST