Charles Taylor Manatt (June 9, 1936 – July 22, 2011[1]) was a U.S. Democratic Party political figure.

Although born in Chicago, he grew up in Audubon, Iowa, helping his father, a farmer, care for the family farm.

[2] In 1954, Manatt began studying at Iowa State College (later University) and was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity.

It was founded as a general practice and now incorporates litigation, corporate finance, entertainment, health care, real estate, advertising, and lobbying.

In 1981, Manatt became the national chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and oversaw and executed the 1984 party convention, nominating former Vice President Walter Mondale of Minnesota for president, and New York congresswoman Geraldine A. Ferraro, making history as that marked the first time a woman was a major party nominee.

Although the convention was considered a great success, the Mondale-Ferraro ticket could not get traction against the popularity of then-president and Republican Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush.

[3] Manatt served as ambassador to the Dominican Republic from 1999 to 2001, representing the government of President Bill Clinton.

At the time of his death, Manatt resided in Washington, D.C., where he helped run and work at his law firm, and was engaged in numerous civic activities.

He served on various boards of directors, including that of FedEx, the Mayo Clinic, and George Washington University.

He had a granddaughter and grandson, Victoria, and Patrick, the children of his daughter Michele Manatt, a former U.S. State Department and White House Office of National Drug Control Policy official, and her husband Wolfram Anders, an international development investment professional.

[4] Charles Manatt died at age 75 on the evening of July 22, 2011 in Richmond, Virginia, after prolonged illness and hospitalization.