Mike Smith, director of Wayne State 's Walter P. Reuther Library, commented about the auto industry's influence on the American economy. \"The UAW and the auto industry basically created the American middle class. From the middle half of the 20th century until now, the auto industry became the premier industry of the nation,\" Smith said. \"The Big Three employed the most workers, made the largest profits and paid their workers enough to set the tone for all American business.\" It is noted in the story that the Walter P. Reuther Library is "home to one of the pre-eminent archives of the U.S. labor movement."