Mickey Kantor

Mickey Kantor
31st United States Secretary of Commerce
In office April 12, 1996 – January 21, 1997
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Ronald Brown
Succeeded by	William M. Daley
11th United States Trade Representative
In office January 20, 1993 – April 12, 1996
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Carla A. Hills
Succeeded by	Charlene Barshefsky
Personal details
Born	(1939-08-07) August 7, 1939 Nashville, Tennessee
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Valerie Woods Kantor (died 1978) Heidi Schulman (since 1982)
Children	Leslie, Douglas, and Russell, (died 1988) from first marriage and Alix (from second marriage)
Residence	Los Angeles, CA
Alma mater	Vanderbilt University (B.A.) Georgetown University (J.D.)
Known for	NAFTA
Religion	Jewish

Michael "Mickey" Kantor (born August 7, 1939) 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 1996. He was, in 1996 and 1997, United States Secretary of Commerce.

Life and career

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, of Jewish parents, he holds a B.A. in business and economics from Vanderbilt University, 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). His efforts were broadly criticized by organized labor and environmentalists alike, for refusing to consider fundamental worker and environmental health issues in the core agreements. President Clinton later acknowledged the errors of his administration in relegating these key economic concerns to legally weak side agreements, while favoring large business interests in the NAFTA treaty document. "I think it was a mistake. I think it was part of a global trend that was wrong-headed." Kantor 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 in the Los Angeles office of Mayer Brown, an international law firm based in Chicago. He is also the Co-Chairman of the Pacific Council on International Policy.

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. He has children Leslie, Douglas (from the first marriage), and Alix (from the second marriage); and grandchildren Ryan, Jackson, and Zack. Another son by Valerie, Russell, died in a single-car crash in October, 1988, while a senior in high school.

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

Political offices
Preceded by Ronald H. Brown	U.S. Secretary of Commerce Served under: Bill Clinton April 12, 1996 – January 21, 1997	Succeeded by William M. Daley
Government offices
Preceded by Carla A. Hills	United States Trade Representative 1993–1996	Succeeded by Charlene Barshefsky