Mickey Kantor

Michael Kantor is an American attorney and former federal official who served as United States Trade Representative from 1993 to 1996 and as Secretary of Commerce in 1996–1997 under President Bill Clinton. His career has spanned private legal practice, public service, and civic leadership, with a focus on international trade, economic development, and nonprofit governance.

Early life and career

Michael Kantor was born on August 7, 1939, in Nashville, Tennessee, into a family that operated a Jewish furniture retail business. His father, Henry Kantor, was a prominent figure in the family enterprise. He pursued higher education at Vanderbilt University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business and economics in 1961. Following his undergraduate studies, Kantor served four years as a supply officer in the United States Navy, an experience that provided him with logistical and administrative skills.

After completing his military service, Kantor attended Georgetown University Law Center, receiving a Juris Doctor in 1968. His early professional work included a position with the Legal Services Corporation, where he offered legal assistance to migrant farm workers, reflecting an early commitment to public‑service law. In 1976, he joined the Los Angeles office of Manatt, Phelps, Phillips & Kantor—now known as Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP—and remained there until 1993. During this period, he practiced corporate and commercial law while also engaging actively in Democratic politics and fundraising efforts.

Kantor’s civic engagement extended beyond his legal practice; he founded the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, a community organization focused on environmental stewardship. His involvement in political campaigns culminated in the 1992 presidential election when he served as head of pre‑transition planning for the Clinton administration. Once the election results were certified, Kantor took on the role of leading transition planning, coordinating the establishment of the new administration’s executive branch.

In 1993, Kantor was appointed United States Trade Representative, a position that placed him at the forefront of U.S. trade policy during a pivotal era for global commerce. His tenure as Trade Representative was marked by advocacy for free‑trade agreements and participation in multilateral negotiations. He led U.S. efforts that contributed to the creation of the World Trade Organization through the Uruguay Round and negotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Additionally, he organized the Miami Summit of the Americas and participated in three meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, including the United States‑hosted First Leaders’ Meeting. His work also involved collaboration with the European Commission of the newly formed European Union to expand trans‑Atlantic trade opportunities.

Cabinet tenure

Kantor’s service in the federal government continued when he was appointed United States Secretary of Commerce on April 12, 1996, succeeding Ron Brown, who had died in a 1996 Croatia USAF CT‑43 crash. The appointment occurred during President Bill Clinton’s administration and was confirmed by the Senate; specific vote tallies are not provided in the available records. As Secretary of Commerce, Kantor oversaw the Department of Commerce’s broad portfolio, which includes trade policy implementation, economic development initiatives, and technology programs aimed at fostering innovation and competitiveness.

During his tenure, he worked to advance U.S. commercial interests abroad while also supporting domestic economic growth through policies that encouraged entrepreneurship and investment. His leadership in the department was brief, concluding in 1997, after which he returned to private practice.

Legacy

After leaving federal office, Kantor resumed a legal career with Mayer Brown’s Los Angeles office, an international law firm headquartered in Chicago. He has maintained extensive involvement in both corporate and nonprofit governance. His board service includes co‑chairing Vision to Learn, a nonprofit dedicated to educational technology; serving on the University of Southern California Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy; holding an officer position with Drug Strategies; participating as a leadership council member for the Sargent Shriver Center on Poverty Law; contributing as a steering committee member for Japan House; and sitting on the boards of Lexmark International, Inc. and the Pacific Council on International Policy.

Kantor’s personal life has been marked by both public service and private loss. He married broadcast journalist Heidi Schulman in 1982 after the death of his first wife, Valerie Woods Kantor, who died in a plane crash in San Diego in 1978. The couple has three children; one son, Russell, died in a single‑car accident in October 1988 while a senior in high school.

He has also served on the board of directors for CBRE, been a member of Georgetown Law’s board of visitors, and sat on the international advisory board for FleishmanHillard. In recognition of his contributions to trade and diplomacy, Kantor was awarded the Order of the Southern Cross by the government of Brazil in 2001.

Kantor’s career reflects a sustained commitment to expanding international commerce, supporting legal aid initiatives, and engaging with nonprofit and corporate governance. His service as United States Trade Representative and Secretary of Commerce positioned him among the notable Jewish American cabinet members who have shaped U.S. economic policy over recent decades.