A former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Charles T. Manatt, has died at the age of 75. Manatt was chairman of the Democratic Party from 1981 to 1985. A longtime California Democrat, Manatt was credited as Democratic chairman with building the party's finances, modernizing the party through computerization, direct mail and other initiatives, and building a new party headquarters in Washington.
Manatt was co-chairman of Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992. Clinton later appointed Manatt as ambassador to the Dominican Republic, where he served from 1999-2001. Manatt founded the banking and financial services law firm of Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips in Los Angeles. (More Charles Manatt stories.)