Mickey Kantor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mickey Kantor
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| 31st United States Secretary of Commerce | |
| In office April 12, 1996 – January 21, 1997 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Ron Brown |
| Succeeded by | Bill Daley |
| 11th United States Trade Representative | |
| In office January 22, 1993 – April 12, 1996 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Carla Hills |
| Succeeded by | Charlene Barshefsky |
| Head of the "Clinton-Gore Pre-Transition Planning Foundation"/"Clinton–Gore Presidential Transition Planning Foundation" | |
| In office August 1992 – 20 January 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 7, 1939 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Valerie Woods
(died 1978)Heidi Schulman
(m. 1982) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Vanderbilt University (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
Michael Kantor, born on August 7, 1939, is an American lawyer who held important government jobs. He was the United States Trade Representative from 1993 to 1996. He also served as the United States Secretary of Commerce in 1996 and 1997.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Kantor grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. His family owned furniture stores. He went to Vanderbilt University and earned a degree in business and economics in 1961.
After college, he served in the United States Navy for four years as a supply officer. Later, he went to Georgetown University and became a lawyer, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 1968.
Career Highlights
Early in his career, Kantor worked for the Legal Services Corporation. He helped migrant farm workers with legal issues. From 1976 to 1993, he practiced law at a firm in Los Angeles. He was also very active in Democratic politics. He helped raise money for political campaigns.
Leading Trade Agreements
As the United States Trade Representative, Mickey Kantor played a big role in creating important trade agreements. He led the U.S. negotiations that helped form the World Trade Organization (WTO). This organization helps countries trade fairly with each other.
He also worked on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This agreement made it easier for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to trade goods. Kantor also helped organize major international meetings, like the Miami Summit of the Americas. He also helped with meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group.
Secretary of Commerce
Mickey Kantor became the United States Secretary of Commerce on April 12, 1996. He took over this role after the previous Secretary, Ron Brown, sadly passed away. As Secretary of Commerce, he worked to promote American businesses and trade.
Current Work
Today, Kantor continues to practice law in Los Angeles. He works for an international law firm called Mayer Brown. He also serves on the boards of several organizations. These include Vision to Learn, which helps provide glasses to children, and the University of Southern California Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy.
Personal Life
Mickey Kantor has been married to broadcast journalist Heidi Schulman since 1982. His first wife, Valerie Woods Kantor, sadly passed away in a plane accident in 1978. He has three children. Another son, Russell, sadly passed away in a car accident in 1988.
In 2001, the government of Brazil honored him with the Order of the Southern Cross. This is a special award given to people who have done great things for Brazil.
See also
- List of Jewish United States Cabinet members
