Mickey Kantor

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Mickey Kantor
31st United States Secretary of Commerce
In office April 12, 1996 – January 21, 1997
Preceded by	Ronald Harmon Brown
Succeeded by	William M. Daley
Born	August 7, 1939 (1939-08-07) (age 68) Nashville, Tennessee
Political party	Democratic

Michael "Mickey" Kantor (born August 7, 1939 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American politician and lawyer. After serving as the Clinton-Gore campaign chair in 1992, Kantor was appointed United States Trade Representative, holding that office from 1993 to 1997. He was, in 1996 and 1997, United States Secretary of Commerce.

Born in Nashville, he holds a B.A. in business and economics from Vanderbilt University (where he pledged to Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity), earned in 1961. He then served four years as an officer in the United States Navy, and subsequently earned a J.D. from Georgetown University in 1968. Initially, Kantor worked for the Legal Services Corporation, providing legal assistance to migrant farm workers. It was during this time that he first met Hillary Clinton. From 1976-1993, he practiced law with the Los Angeles law firm of Manatt, Phelps, Phillips & Kantor (now Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP), and was active in Democratic politics and fundraising. He also co-founded the Los Angeles Conservation Corps.

An advocate of free trade, Kantor, as Trade Representative, led U.S. negotiations that created the World Trade Organization (WTO), such as the Uruguay Round, and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He also engaged in organizating the Miami Summit of the Americas and three meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, including the U.S.-hosted First Leaders' Meeting. With the European Commission of the newly formed European Union, he expanded the trans-Atlantic market.

Kantor practices law at Mayer Brown, an international law firm based in Chicago.

Kantor has been married to broadcast journalist Heidi Schulman since 1982, following the death of his first wife, Valerie Woods Kantor in a 1978 plane crash in San Diego^[1][2]. He has children Leslie, Douglas (from the first marriage), and Alix (from the second marriage); and grandchildren Ryan, Jackson, and Zack. Another son from Valerie, Russell, died in a single-car crash in October, 1988, while a senior in high school.^[2]

References

• Clinton, Bill (2005). My Life. Vintage. ISBN 1-4000-3003-X.
• NNDB profile: http://www.nndb.com/people/539/000059362/

External links

• Kantor on Clinton
• Kantor on free trade

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v • d • e Cabinet of President Bill Clinton (1993-2001) Vice President Al Gore (1993-2001) Secretary of State Warren Christopher (1993 – 1997) • Madeleine Albright (1997 – 2001) Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd Bentsen (1993 – 1994) • Robert Rubin (1995 – 1999) • Lawrence Summers (1999 – 2001) Secretary of Defense Les Aspin (1993 – 1994) • William Perry (1994 – 1997) • William Cohen (1997 – 2001) Attorney General Janet Reno (1993-2001) Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt (1993 – 2001) Secretary of the Agriculture Mike Espy (1993 – 1994) • Dan Glickman (1994 – 2001) Secretary of Commerce Ronald Brown (1993 – 1996) • Mickey Kantor (1996 – 1997) • William M. Daley (1997 – 2000) • Norman Mineta (2000 – 2001) Secretary of Labor Robert Reich (1993 – 1997) • Alexis Herman (1997 – 2001) Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala (1993-2001) Secretary of Education Richard Riley (1993-2001) Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros (1993 – 1997) • Andrew Cuomo (1997 – 2001) Secretary of Transportation Federico Peña (1993 – 1997) • Rodney E. Slater (1997 – 2001) Secretary of Energy Hazel R. O'Leary (1993 – 1997) • Federico Peña (1997 – 1998) • Bill Richardson (1998 – 2001) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jesse Brown (1993 – 1997) • Togo D. West, Jr. (1998 – 2000) • Hershel W. Gober, act. (2000 – 2001)