Dan Glickman Biography Quotes 11 Report mistakes

Early Life and Education
Daniel Robert Glickman was born in 1944 in Wichita, Kansas, and grew up in a community shaped by aviation, agriculture, and a tradition of civic involvement. He attended the University of Michigan and later earned a law degree from George Washington University. After law school he returned to Kansas to practice law, gaining a reputation for pragmatism and an ability to translate complex issues for clients and civic groups. That combination of legal training and community engagement laid the groundwork for a public life that would span local, national, and international arenas.

Entry into Public Service
Glickman's early professional years coincided with a period when Wichita's identity as the Air Capital of the World was central to the livelihoods of his neighbors. His familiarity with both the needs of manufacturers and the concerns of agricultural producers informed his early positions on economic development, transportation, and trade. Encouraged by civic leaders who saw in him an aptitude for bipartisan problem-solving, he entered electoral politics with a focus on practical results rather than ideological battles.

Congressional Career
In 1976, Glickman was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas's 4th Congressional District, a seat centered on Wichita. Serving from 1977 to 1995, he built a portfolio that reflected the district's priorities: support for general aviation, attention to agricultural producers and rural communities, and a steady interest in trade policy. He served on major committees, including Agriculture and Judiciary, and became known for the ability to work across the aisle with colleagues such as Texas Democrat E. Kika de la Garza, then chair of the House Agriculture Committee, and with members of the Kansas delegation, whose most prominent figure was Senator Bob Dole. In the 103rd Congress, Glickman chaired the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, a role that required oversight of sensitive national security programs and collaboration with executive branch officials and committee leaders from both parties. His tenure in the House concluded after the 1994 election cycle, when he was succeeded by Todd Tiahrt amid a national political shift.

Secretary of Agriculture
President Bill Clinton selected Glickman to serve as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in 1995, following the resignation of Mike Espy. Working closely with Deputy Secretary Richard Rominger and a large department workforce, Glickman oversaw a period of significant change for American agriculture. He was responsible for implementing the 1996 farm legislation commonly known as the Freedom to Farm Act, and for guiding the department through evolving commodity markets and trade negotiations. Food safety and inspection modernization became central themes during his tenure, as did the administration of nutrition assistance programs that supported low-income families and children. He also represented U.S. producers abroad in efforts to expand market access while managing disputes, and worked with Congress on conservation and risk management tools to help producers weather price volatility and natural disasters. Glickman served through the end of the Clinton administration in January 2001, after which Ann Veneman succeeded him under President George W. Bush.

Leadership in Film and Media
In 2004, Glickman succeeded Jack Valenti as chairman and chief executive of the Motion Picture Association. The role drew on his policy experience and his capacity to broker agreements among diverse stakeholders. He worked closely with studio leaders and with members of Congress from both parties, including lawmakers active on intellectual property issues such as Senators Patrick Leahy and Orrin Hatch. His priorities included strengthening industry efforts to combat global piracy, upholding and explaining the film ratings system to parents and policymakers, and promoting the U.S. film industry in international markets. The position required extensive engagement with foreign governments and trade officials, as well as cooperation with state and local partners seeking to grow jobs tied to film and television production. He served at the MPA until 2010.

Policy, Bipartisan Engagement, and Public Service After 2010
After his tenure at the MPA, Glickman returned to the policy arena, taking on leadership and advisory roles that reflected his long-standing interests in agriculture, nutrition, and effective governance. He joined the Aspen Institute's Congressional Program, facilitating substantive dialogue between members of Congress and experts on issues ranging from food security to national security. He also became associated with the Bipartisan Policy Center, working alongside figures such as former Senate leaders Tom Daschle and Bob Dole on initiatives aimed at restoring cross-party cooperation. In these roles, he helped produce reports, convene briefings, and mentor policymakers, keeping a focus on outcomes that marry sound analysis with pragmatic solutions. He remained active in global food and hunger causes, collaborating with nongovernmental and philanthropic organizations that support resilient agricultural systems and emergency food assistance.

Approach to Leadership
Across his positions in Congress, the executive branch, and industry, Glickman emphasized consensus-building and clear communication. Colleagues often cited his willingness to listen to career professionals and to the people most affected by policy decisions, from small producers to studio workers. He cultivated relationships with key figures in each sphere he entered: President Bill Clinton during his cabinet service, Jack Valenti as a predecessor and counsel in Hollywood, and committee chairs and ranking members who trusted his candor and attention to detail. That network of relationships proved instrumental in navigating politically charged issues such as farm support, food safety standards, and intellectual property enforcement.

Personal Life
Glickman's personal and professional lives intersected in his enduring ties to Kansas and his family's interest in the arts and public service. He is married to Rhoda Glickman, who has long worked in arts and cultural policy circles, and their family includes film producer Jonathan Glickman. The coupling of public policy and creative industry present in his family mirrors his own career arc, moving from the farm belt to the film world and back to policy forums where ideas and implementation meet.

Legacy and Impact
Dan Glickman's biography spans an uncommon breadth: a Midwestern lawyer turned legislator, a cabinet secretary navigating global markets and domestic nutrition programs, and a chief advocate for one of America's signature creative industries. His career is marked by an ability to shift between partisan and nonpartisan spaces, maintain credibility with technical experts, and translate complex systems for the public. The people around him at pivotal moments underscore the range of his work: President Bill Clinton and Deputy Secretary Richard Rominger at USDA; Jack Valenti and studio chiefs in Hollywood; lawmakers like E. Kika de la Garza, Patrick Leahy, and Orrin Hatch in Congress; and bipartisan institutional leaders such as Bob Dole and Tom Daschle in the think tank world. Through these alliances and responsibilities, Glickman helped shape policies that influenced what Americans grow and eat, how their stories are told on screen, and how their elected officials can work together in the national interest.

Our collection contains 11 quotes who is written by Dan, under the main topics: Justice - Art - Movie - Business - Food.