Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 21/7/233
Charles T. Manatt (1936-2011)
Papers, 1971-2011, undated


Descriptive summary

creator: Manatt, Charles T. (1936-2011)
title: Papers
dates: 1971-2011, undated
extent: 2.10 linear feet (5 document boxes)
collection number: RS 21/7/233
repository: University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access: Open for research
publication rights: Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation: Charles T. Manatt Papers, RS 21/7/233, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Abstract

Charles T. Manatt was a lawyer, politician, and businessman. Born in Chicago and raised in Audubon, Iowa, he received his B.S. (1958) from Iowa State College (University) and his J.D. (1962) from the George Washington University School of Law. He was a cofounder of the Los Angeles law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and also founded First Los Angeles Bank. Manatt served as the state Democratic chairman in California, Democratic National Committee chairman (1981-1985), and co-chairman of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. He was named United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic by President Clinton in 1999. This collection contains materials related primarily to Manatt's tenure as Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, including news clippings from both English and Spanish publications, correspondence, programs, and training materials.

 

Biographical note

Charles Taylor Manatt was born to Mr. and Mrs. Price Manatt in Chicago on June 9, 1936. He was raised on a farm near Audubon, Iowa. Manatt received his B.S. (1958) in rural sociology from Iowa State College (University). He was an active member of the student body at Iowa State serving as president (1957-1958) of the Rural Sociology Club, president (1956-1957) of Delta Chi, president (1955-1956) of the Iowa State Debaters, president (1957-1958) of the Cardinal Guild (now the Government of the Student Body), and participated in several other campus organizations. After graduating from Iowa State, Manatt earned his J.D. (1962) from the George Washington University Law School.

Manatt's next move took him to Los Angeles where he was hired by a law firm to work in banking and finance. As part of his job, he worked with clients to establish savings and loan financial institutions. In 1965, he established his own law office, teaming up with fellow Iowa State alum Thomas Phelps to form Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. The firm initially focused on serving the financial and banking industry, but eventually grew to offer international legal services to industries of all kinds including sports, entertainment, real estate, and corporate securities. In addition, Manatt also founded and served as chairman (1973-1989) of First Los Angeles Bank.

Shortly after moving to California, Manatt became active in state politics. In 1969, he was elected Chairman of the California Democratic Party. Several years later he was named the Democratic National Committee chairman (1981-1985). Manatt served as co-chairman of Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992 and later President Clinton called on Manatt to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic (1999-2001).

Throughout his high-profile career, Manatt kept close ties to his hometown of Audubon and to Iowa State University. He and his wife built Taylor Hill Lodge outside of Audubon and he would frequently bring guests from Washington D.C. and the West Coast to Iowa. Iowa State recognized his career accomplishments by awarding him the ISU Alumni Association Outstanding Young Alumnus award (1971), the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Distinguished Service Award (2004), and the Distinguished Alumni Award (2008).

Charles Manatt married Kathleen Klinkefus of Audubon in 1957 and they had three children, Michele, Timothy, and Daniel. Manatt died July 22, 2011, in Richmond, Virginia, and was buried in Audubon, Iowa.

 

Collection description

This collection (1971-2011, undated) consists primarily of ambassadorial training materials, news clippings (photocopies), press releases, photographs, and speeches related to Manatt's tenure as United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Also included are materials related to a number of events that Manatt hosted or participated in as part of his ambassadorial duties such as the Entrepreneurs' Conference, the Ambassador's Golf Tournament, Fourth of July celebrations, and a Major League Baseball exhibit.

The collection also contains several files unrelated to Manatt's service in the Dominican Republic. These include biographical information, personal correspondence, and files related to the Dominican Republic-United States Business Council which organized a visit to Washington, D.C. in 2004.

 

Organization

The collection is listed alphabetically with biographical information filed at the front of the collection.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Biographical information: News clippings

1971-2011

1

2

Ambassador's files: American Chamber of Commerce Ambassador's Cup Golf Tournament program, remarks, correspondence

2000-2001

1

3

Ambassador's files: Baseball Hall of Fame, Major League Baseball correspondence, press releases

2000

1

4-5

Ambassador's files: Briefing book on the Dominican Republic

1999

1

6

Ambassador's files: Contact list

2001, undated

1

7

Ambassador's files: Crisis management training handouts and notes

1999

1

8

Ambassador's files: Election night party, November 7, 2000

2000

1

9

Ambassador's files: Entrepreneurs' Conference agendas, directory, conference report, invitations, press releases

2001

2

1-2

Ambassador's files: Entrepreneurs' Conference budget and planning materials

2000-2001

2

3

Ambassador's files: Entrepreneurs' Conference photographs (23 color photographs)

2001

2

4

Ambassador's files: Entrepreneurs' Conference programs, participant packets, directory, report

2001

2

5

Ambassador's files: Entrepreneurs' Conference videotape

2001

2

6

Ambassador's files: Fourth of July celebration correspondence, invitation, planning materials, and remarks

2000

2

7

Ambassador's files: Fourth of July celebration invitations, news clippings, and photographs (18 color photographs)

2000

3

1

Ambassador's files: Mailings, August 1, 2000 - includes copies of news clippings, speeches, and press releases

2000

3

2

Ambassador's files: Major League Baseball event correspondence, invitations, agendas, and prepared remarks by Manatt

2000-2001

3

3

Ambassador's files: News clippings (English and Spanish)

1999-2001

3

4

Ambassador's files: News clippings (Spanish), December-May

1999-2000

3

5

Ambassador's files: News clippings (Spanish), May elections

2000

3

6

Ambassador's files: News clippings (Spanish), June-August

2000

3

7

Ambassador's files: News clippings (Spanish), September-December

2000

3

8

Ambassador's files: News clippings (Spanish), January-March

2001

4

1

Ambassador's files: News clippings (translated to English)

2000

4

2

Ambassador's files: News clippings and photographs (8 color photographs)

1999-2000, undated

4

3

Ambassador's files: Photographs of baseball fundraiser cookout at residence, January 25, 2001 (11 color contact sheets)

2001

4

4-6

Ambassador's files: Photographs of events (121 color contact sheets)

2000-2001

4

7

Ambassador's files: Photographs of January events (44 color contact sheets)

2000

4

8

Ambassador's files: Photographs of visitors and acquaintances (3 color photographs)

2000-2001

4

9

Ambassador's files: Presidential installation program (1 color photograph)

2000

4

10

Ambassador's files: Press releases from the U.S. Embassy

2001

4

11

Ambassador's files: Residence - repair project status memo

2000

4

12

Ambassador's files: Speech, Ceremonia De Inauguración Del Seminario, "Midiendo El Progreso En El Respeto Por Los Dereches Humanos"

2001

4

13

Ambassador's files: Speeches delivered to the American Chamber of Commerce

2000-2001

5

1

Ambassador's files: Training seminar notes

1999

5

2

Ambassador's files: Veteran's Day program, remarks, news clippings

2000

5

3

American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic and Dominican Republic-United States Business Council: Briefing book for Washington, D.C. visit

2004

5

4

Correspondence: Personal

1999-2000

5

5

Dominican Republic-United States Business Council: Briefing book for Washington, D.C. visit

2004

5

6

Dominican Republic-United States Business Council: Correspondence

2004

5

7

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP: Company information submitted to Grupo Popular, Dominican Republic

2004