Mack McLarty facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mack McLarty
Counselor to the President
In office July 17, 1994 – June 30, 1998
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	David Gergen
Succeeded by	Paul Begala
17th White House Chief of Staff
In office January 20, 1993 – July 17, 1994
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	James Baker
Succeeded by	Leon Panetta
Chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas
In office 1974–1976
Succeeded by	Herby Branscum Jr.
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 34th district
In office 1971–1973
Preceded by	Talbot Feild Jr.
Succeeded by	John Hoffman
Personal details
Born	Thomas Franklin McLarty III (1946-06-14) June 14, 1946 (age 79) Hope, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of Arkansas (BBA)

Thomas Franklin "Mack" McLarty, III (born June 14, 1946) is an American leader in business and politics. He is best known for being President Bill Clinton's first White House Chief of Staff. This important role meant he was the president's top helper and advisor. He served in this position from 1993 to 1994.

After that, he became a special advisor to the president. He also worked as a special envoy, helping with relationships between the U.S. and countries in the Americas. He left government work in 1998. Before working for the president, he was the head of Arkla, Inc., a natural gas company. Today, he leads two companies: McLarty Associates, which advises businesses around the world, and McLarty Companies, which owns car dealerships.

Early Life and Education

Mack McLarty was born in Hope, Arkansas. His father ran a car dealership that his grandfather started in 1921. His mother was the first woman to join the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission.

When he was in high school, Mack was a great athlete and a football quarterback. He was also the president of his high school's student council. In 1963, he attended Arkansas Boys State, a program where young people learn about government. He was elected governor there. In the same year, his childhood friend Bill Clinton was elected Senator at the same program.

McLarty went to the University of Arkansas. He was elected Student Body President there. He graduated in 1968 with a degree in business. He met Donna Kaye Cochran, another business student, at the university. They got married in 1968 and moved back to Hope. Mack then joined his father's family business.

Business and Political Beginnings

At just 23 years old, Mack McLarty was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives. He served one term from 1971 to 1973. After that, he focused on growing his family's truck leasing business. It was first called M&M Leasing, and later McLarty Leasing.

McLarty was very active in politics and his community. He was involved with the Democratic National Committee and led the State Democratic Party in Arkansas. He also helped manage the money for successful campaigns, including those of Governor David Pryor and President Bill Clinton. McLarty also helped create a program called IMPAC. This program worked to get computers into classrooms across Arkansas.

Later, McLarty became the youngest board member of Arkla, Inc., a large natural gas company. He became its chief executive officer in 1983.

Working in the White House

After Bill Clinton won the 1992 election, McLarty helped lead the team that prepared for the new presidency. He then joined the Clinton administration. He served as President Clinton's first White House Chief of Staff from 1993 to 1994. Mack McLarty and Bill Clinton have been friends since kindergarten in Hope, Arkansas.

During the first year of President Clinton's time in office, McLarty and his team helped with many important things. They worked on a plan to reduce the country's debt. They also helped set up the first National Economic Council, which advises the president on money matters. They helped pass the Family and Medical Leave law, which lets workers take time off for family reasons. They also helped pass NAFTA, a trade agreement, and the Brady Bill, a gun control law.

After being Chief of Staff, McLarty became a counselor to the president. He served in this role for more than five years. He was part of the President's Cabinet and the National Economic Council. In this job, he helped organize the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He also organized the 1994 Summit of the Americas in Miami. This led to him being named a Special Envoy for the Americas in 1996. For his work, McLarty received special awards from the U.S. Secretary of State and from seven Latin American countries.

McLarty left the Clinton administration in June 1998.

After Government Service

After leaving government, Mack McLarty started an international advisory firm called McLarty Associates. He partnered with Nelson Cunningham, who also worked in the White House, and later with Henry Kissinger.

McLarty Associates is based in Washington D.C. It has a team of experts who used to be ambassadors, foreign policy advisors, journalists, and business leaders. They help companies understand and work in different markets around the world.

McLarty also returned to lead the McLarty Companies in 1998. This company owns 11 car dealerships in five different states. In 2007, the company partnered with Robert L. Johnson, who founded Black Entertainment Television. As of 2017, their combined company, RML Automotive, had 47 car dealerships across the South Central, Southeast, and Midwest regions of the United States. It was ranked among the top dealerships in the U.S.

Current Activities

Mack McLarty is still very active today. He serves on the boards and advisory groups of several important organizations, including:

• Americas Society/Council of the Americas
• Center for Strategic and International Studies
• Inter-American Dialogue
• Union Pacific
• University of Arkansas
• United States Chamber of Commerce
• Energy Futures Initiative
• Partnership for Public Service Center for Presidential Transition
• Council on Foreign Relations (since 2001)

See also

• Kissinger Associates