Dan Glickman

Daniel Robert Glickman is an American public servant whose career has spanned law, education governance, federal legislation, and executive leadership in the United States Department of Agriculture. Born in Wichita, Kansas, he entered national politics as a long‑term representative for his home district before being appointed by President Bill Clinton to oversee the nation’s agricultural policy during the late 1990s. After leaving public office, Glickman continued to influence public affairs through academic leadership, industry advocacy, and nonprofit stewardship.

Early life and career

Glickman entered the world on November 24, 1944, in Wichita, Kansas. His parents, Gladys A. (née Kopelman) and Milton Glickman, were part of a Jewish family that had established a scrap‑metal business in the region for several generations. The enterprise, known as Glickman Inc., operated since 1915 and later expanded to include Kansas Metal, an automobile and appliance shredder founded in 1994. Following his father’s death in December 1999, Dan and his siblings continued the family operation until its sale in 2002.

He completed secondary education at Wichita Southeast High School in 1962 before attending the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1966. He pursued legal studies at The George Washington University Law School, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1969. Glickman married Rhoda Joyce Yura; together they have two children, Jonathan and Amy.

After law school, Glickman served as a trial attorney for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during 1969–1970. He later became a partner at the Washington, D.C., firm Sargent, Klenda and Glickman, where he practiced corporate and securities law.

Glickman's first elected position was on the Wichita School Board, one of the largest school districts in the United States. From 1973 to 1976 he served as president of the board, overseeing educational policy for the local community. In that capacity he helped guide budgetary decisions, curriculum standards, and facility planning for a district that served thousands of students across multiple schools.

Cabinet tenure

In 1976, Glickman won election to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Kansas’s 4th congressional district. He held that seat from January 3 1977 until January 3 1995, serving nine consecutive terms. During his time in Congress he focused on issues relevant to his constituents, including agriculture and aviation.

On the House Agriculture Committee, Glickman chaired the subcommittee responsible for federal farm policy for six years. He played a leading role in drafting the 1990 Farm Bill, which restructured agricultural subsidies and conservation programs. His district’s prominence in wheat production informed his advocacy for policies that supported domestic farmers. In addition to agriculture, Glickman contributed to aviation legislation. He co‑authored the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA), legislation designed to provide product liability protection for manufacturers of small aircraft—a sector significant within his district.

In 1986, Glickman was one of the House impeachment managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1986 to prosecute the case in the impeachment trial of Harry E. Claiborne, judge of the United States District Court for Nevada. Claiborne was found guilty by the United States Senate and removed from his federal judgeship.

In 1993 he was appointed chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where he conducted hearings on post‑Cold War activities and investigated espionage cases such as that involving Aldrich Ames. He also participated in the impeachment process against Judge Harry E. Claiborne in 1986, acting as one of the House’s impeachment managers.

During his final term, Glickman served as Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He held open hearings to bring the intelligence community’s post–Cold War activities to light and began a committee investigation into the Aldrich Ames espionage case. Colleagues from both parties noted his quiet, non‑grandstanding, “careful and considered” leadership of the committee.

In October 1993, Glickman, representing a district whose second‑largest industry was agriculture (particularly wheat production), voted for protectionism over free trade, restricting the importation of Canadian wheat. In June 1993 he voted to require that television shows have explicit viewer advisories, a stance that foreshadowed his later work with the Motion Picture Association of America.

In 1994, amid a nationwide Republican surge known as the “Republican Revolution,” Glickman was unexpectedly defeated by Republican Todd Tiahrt. Following this defeat, he left Congress and was appointed United States Secretary of Agriculture on the recommendation of President Bill Clinton. He served in that capacity from 1995 until 2001, during which time he was confirmed by the Senate. In his role as secretary, Glickman oversaw national agricultural policy, food safety programs, rural development initiatives, and international trade negotiations related to agriculture.

Legacy

Following his tenure at the Department of Agriculture, Glickman continued to shape public discourse through a variety of leadership roles. He directed Harvard University’s School of Government and Institute of Politics, fostering civic engagement among students and scholars. From 2004 to 2010 he served as chairman and chief executive officer of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), guiding industry standards for film ratings.

Glickman is a Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, where his work concentrates on public health, national security, and economic policy. He co‑chairs the center’s Democracy Project and co‑leads its Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative, reflecting an ongoing commitment to food policy and public wellness.

His board service includes positions with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Friends of the World Food Program, and the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One. He also contributes to the Council on American Politics at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.

Glickman’s career illustrates a sustained engagement with agricultural policy, education governance, and public service beyond elected office. His legislative achievements in farm policy and aviation, his oversight work in intelligence matters, and his post‑government leadership roles collectively underscore a legacy rooted in the stewardship of national resources, civic institutions, and nonprofit advocacy.