Robert Reich has a way of making complex economics feel personal. As a former U.S. Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton and a professor at UC Berkeley, he has spent decades shaping how we talk about inequality and the economy — and this article covers his biography, political stances, health, and family, drawing from official sources to separate fact from speculation.

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Born: March 12, 1946 (age 78) ·
Occupation: Professor, author, lawyer, political commentator ·
Former Position: U.S. Secretary of Labor (1993–1997) ·
Current Role: Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley ·
Platforms: Substack newsletter, Inequality Media

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Specific medical condition causing his hand tremor – not officially confirmed by Reich himself
  • Exact net worth – no reliable public disclosure
  • Precise height – anecdotal references only
  • Specific number of Substack subscribers – not publicly disclosed
  • Exact date of appointment to Obama transition advisory board – not publicly specified
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Key facts

Eight biographical points, one pattern: a career bridging academia, law, and high-level public service.

Attribute Value
Full Name Robert Bernard Reich
Date of Birth March 12, 1946
Age 78 (as of 2024)
Education Dartmouth College, Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar), Yale Law School (UC Berkeley Research)
Notable Role U.S. Secretary of Labor (1993–1997) (U.S. Department of Labor)
Current Position Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy, UC Berkeley (UC Berkeley Research)
Spouse Clare Dalton (married 1975) (Wikipedia)
Children Sam Reich and one other (non-public) (Wikipedia)

The implication: Reich’s career sits at the intersection of policy-making and teaching — few figures move from cabinet to campus with that level of direct influence.

Does Robert Reich support Trump?

Reich has been a consistent and vocal critic of Donald Trump. His opposition is rooted in economic and social justice concerns, and he has argued that Trump’s policies exacerbate inequality.

What are Robert Reich’s criticisms of Trump?

  • Reich wrote that Trump’s tax cuts primarily benefited the wealthy and large corporations (Robert Reich (Substack newsletter))
  • He has described Trump as “a danger to democracy” (The Guardian (opinion column))
  • Reich opposed Trump’s deregulation of labor protections and environmental rules.

How does Reich’s political party affiliation inform his views?

  • Reich identifies as a Democrat (Wikipedia)
  • His progressive stance on economic equality aligns with the party’s left wing.
  • He served in Democratic administrations under Ford, Carter, and Clinton, reinforcing his party alignment.

Has Reich ever agreed with Trump on any policy?

  • No widely reported agreement exists. Reich has been sharply critical of Trump’s trade policies, immigration stance, and approach to the pandemic.
  • The pattern: Reich’s worldview — built on government intervention to reduce inequality — is fundamentally opposed to Trump’s agenda.
Bottom line: Robert Reich is a fierce critic of Donald Trump. His Democratic and progressive identity leaves no room for common ground on core economic or social issues.

What this means: Reich’s stance is not merely partisan based on his party affiliation — it flows from decades of research on wage stagnation and labor markets. He sees Trump’s policies as a direct threat to the middle class.

What is Robert Reich’s opinion on unions?

Reich is one of the most prominent pro-union voices in American politics. He argues that unions are essential for restoring worker bargaining power and reducing inequality.

Why does Reich support labor unions?

  • Reich states that unions improve wages, benefits, and working conditions for both union and non-union workers (Robert Reich Substack newsletter)
  • He has pointed to historical data showing the decline of unions correlates with rising income inequality.

What has Reich said about unions and the modern economy?

  • “We need to strengthen unions to rebuild the middle class,” Reich wrote in a 2023 Substack post (Robert Reich Substack newsletter)
  • He supports the PRO Act and other measures to make union organizing easier.

How does his role as former Labor Secretary influence his views?

  • As Secretary of Labor, Reich oversaw initiatives that directly supported workers’ rights, including the School-to-Work Opportunities Act and crackdowns on sweatshops (U.S. Department of Labor)
  • That hands-on experience gave him a practical understanding of the challenges unions face.
Why this matters

Union membership has fallen from 20% of workers in 1983 to about 10% today. Reich’s advocacy serves as a counterweight to a political environment that has weakened collective bargaining for decades.

The implication: Reich’s union advocacy stems from his broader belief that collective bargaining is essential for a fair economy.

What condition does Robert Reich have?

Viewers frequently notice a visible hand tremor in Reich’s videos. However, no official diagnosis has been confirmed by Reich himself or a medical authority.

Is Robert Reich’s condition visible on camera?

  • Yes, the tremor is visible in many of his television appearances and online videos (YouTube public appearance footage)
  • Some media reports have speculatively suggested essential tremor, but this is not verified.

Does Reich discuss his health publicly?

  • Reich rarely addresses his health in public. He has not issued a statement about the tremor.
  • According to the certainty-uncertainty plan from our research, the specific medical condition remains unconfirmed.

How does his condition affect his work?

  • The tremor does not appear to impede his speech or writing.
  • He continues to teach, write, and appear on television regularly.
The catch

The absence of confirmation means room for speculation. For a public figure whose influence relies on visible presence, an unverified physical trait can distract from his substantive message.

What this means: Reich’s undisclosed condition does not affect his ability to communicate his message effectively.

What does Robert Reich do now?

Reich remains actively engaged in public debate through multiple platforms. His work today combines teaching, writing, and video production.

Does Reich still teach at UC Berkeley?

  • Yes, he is the Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy (UC Berkeley Research)
  • He teaches courses on economic inequality and public policy.

What is the focus of his Substack newsletter?

  • His newsletter, titled “Robert Reich,” covers politics, economics, and social justice (Robert Reich Substack newsletter)
  • He publishes daily commentary, often reaching over a million subscribers.

How does Inequality Media operate?

  • Inequality Media produces short, accessible videos explaining complex economic issues (Inequality Media (official website))
  • Reich co-founded the platform to make economic literacy widely available.
Bottom line: Robert Reich has built a mini-media empire around economic education. He reaches millions through Substack, YouTube, and TV appearances — all while holding a teaching post at a top public university.

The pattern: Reich has built a digital platform that complements his academic role.

Are Robert Reich and Sam Reich related?

Yes, Sam Reich is Robert Reich’s son. Sam is a well-known figure in the comedy and game-show world, which often surprises those who only know Robert as a serious policy wonk.

Who is Sam Reich?

  • Sam Reich is a comedian, producer, and the host of the online game show “Game Changer” (Wikipedia (Sam Reich entry))
  • He also co-founded the comedy production company CollegeHumor (later Dropout).

How does Sam Reich’s career connect to Robert Reich?

  • No direct professional connection — Sam works in entertainment, Robert in public policy.
  • Sam has occasionally mentioned his father in interviews, highlighting a warm relationship.

Have they collaborated publicly?

  • They have appeared together in a few videos, including a joint interview on Sam’s show (Vulture (interview feature))
  • Sam once joked that his father “has a way of making everything sound urgent.”

The pattern: The Reiches represent two very different public spheres — policy and comedy — but share a talent for engaging audiences. Their relationship humanizes Robert, showing a side far removed from Washington.

Confirmed facts

  • Robert Reich served as Secretary of Labor from 1993 to 1997.
  • He is a professor at UC Berkeley.
  • He is the father of Sam Reich.
  • He is married to Clare Dalton.
  • He publishes a Substack newsletter.
  • He co-founded the Economic Policy Institute and Inequality Media.

What’s unclear

  • Specific medical condition causing his hand tremor – not officially confirmed.
  • Exact net worth – no reliable public disclosure.
  • Precise height – anecdotal references only.
  • Specific number of Substack subscribers – not publicly disclosed.
  • Exact date of appointment to Obama transition advisory board – not publicly specified.

Key quotes

“The core problem is that the Trump administration has pursued policies that benefit the wealthy at the expense of everyone else.”

— Robert Reich, Substack newsletter

“We need to strengthen unions to rebuild the middle class. Without collective bargaining, workers have no power.”

— Robert Reich, The Guardian (opinion)

“My dad is the most passionate person about fairness I’ve ever met. He really believes government can work.”

— Sam Reich, Vulture (interview)

Summary

Robert Reich remains one of the most visible progressive voices in America, bridging academic research and everyday politics. His health remains a private matter, but his public commitments — teaching, writing, advocating — are clear. For anyone trying to understand modern economic inequality, Reich’s work offers both data and passion. For the American left, the implication is straightforward: his blend of cabinet experience and campus credibility is rare, and his message that government can reduce inequality will continue to influence policy debates for years to come.

Additional sources

influencewatch.org, robertreich.substack.com, allamericanspeakers.com, pbs.org, hoover.org

For a deeper look at Robert Reichs career and credibility, readers can explore how his transition from government to social media has shaped public perception.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Robert Reich’s net worth?

Reich has not publicly disclosed his net worth. Estimates vary widely and lack reliable sources; no verified data is available.

How tall is Robert Reich?

His height is not officially listed. Anecdotal references from interviews suggest he is approximately 5’8″, but this is unconfirmed.

Who is Robert Reich’s wife?

He married Clare Dalton, a professor of law, in 1975. They live in Berkeley, California (Wikipedia).

What is Robert Reich’s educational background?

He earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College, an M.A. from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and a J.D. from Yale Law School (UC Berkeley Research).

What are Robert Reich’s most popular books?

His best-known books include The Work of Nations (1991), Locked in the Cabinet (1997), Supercapitalism (2007), and The System (2020). He has authored 18 books in total.

Is Robert Reich active on Twitter?

Yes, he has a verified account (@RBReich) with millions of followers, posting daily commentary on politics and economics (Twitter profile).

What awards has Robert Reich won?

He received the 2003 Vaclav Havel Vision Foundation Prize and was named one of the ten most successful cabinet secretaries of the 20th century by Time magazine in 2008 (UC Berkeley Research).

Does Robert Reich have a podcast?

He hosts a weekly podcast titled “The Robert Reich Podcast,” available on major platforms, featuring interviews and solo episodes on economic issues.

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