David R. Macdonald
Encyclopedia
David Robert Macdonald was United States
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Enforcement, Operations, and Tariff Affairs) from 1974 to 1976; as Under Secretary of the Navy
from 1976 to 1977; and as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative from 1981 to 1983.
on November 1, 1930. He was educated at Cornell University
, receiving a B.S.
in 1952, and at the University of Michigan Law School
, receiving a J.D.
in 1955. After serving in the United States Army
from 1955 to 1957, Macdonald took a job as an attorney with the Chicago law firm
of Kirkland & Ellis
. He worked at Kirkland & Ellis until 1962, at which point he joined Baker & McKenzie
as a partner
.
Macdonald practiced law
at Baker & McKenzie until 1974, when he left the firm upon being appointed Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Enforcement, Operations, and Tariff Affairs). In 1976, President of the United States
Gerald Ford
nominated Macdonald as Under Secretary of the Navy
and Macdonald held this office from September 14, 1976 to February 4, 1977.
Upon leaving public service in 1977, Macdonald returned to Baker & McKenzie. He also became a member of the board of directors
of the Chicago Crime Commission
at this time. In 1980, he was a member of the executive committee of the World Trade Conference.
From 1979 to 1981, Macdonald was an active member of the Republican National Committee
, serving on its Policy Board, Economic Affairs Council, and as cochairman of its tax subcommittee. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan
named Macdonald as a Deputy U.S. Trade Representative under United States Trade Representative Bill Brock
, and Macdonald served in this capacity until 1983, at which point he again returned to Baker & McKenzie.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Enforcement, Operations, and Tariff Affairs) from 1974 to 1976; as Under Secretary of the Navy
Under Secretary of the Navy
The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy. The Under Secretary, called the "Under" in Pentagon slang, reports to the Secretary of the Navy ....
from 1976 to 1977; and as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative from 1981 to 1983.
Biography
David Robert Macdonald was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
on November 1, 1930. He was educated at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, receiving a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1952, and at the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
, receiving a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1955. After serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1955 to 1957, Macdonald took a job as an attorney with the Chicago law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is an international law firm with headquarters in Chicago, known for its profitability and its litigation, bankruptcy, intellectual property and private equity departments. Kirkland & Ellis is currently ranked as the ninth most prestigious law firm in the United States by...
. He worked at Kirkland & Ellis until 1962, at which point he joined Baker & McKenzie
Baker & McKenzie
Baker & McKenzie is an international law firm, founded in Chicago in 1949 by Russell Baker and John McKenzie. It is home to more than 3,800 lawyers spread over 70 offices in 42 different countries....
as a partner
Partner (business rank)
A partner in a law firm, accounting firm, consulting firm, or financial firm is a highly ranked position. Originally, these businesses were set up as legal partnerships in which the partners were entitled to a share of the profits of the enterprise. The name has remained even though many of these...
.
Macdonald practiced law
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
at Baker & McKenzie until 1974, when he left the firm upon being appointed Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Enforcement, Operations, and Tariff Affairs). In 1976, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
nominated Macdonald as Under Secretary of the Navy
Under Secretary of the Navy
The Under Secretary of the Navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy. The Under Secretary, called the "Under" in Pentagon slang, reports to the Secretary of the Navy ....
and Macdonald held this office from September 14, 1976 to February 4, 1977.
Upon leaving public service in 1977, Macdonald returned to Baker & McKenzie. He also became a member of the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Chicago Crime Commission
Chicago Crime Commission
The Chicago Crime Commission is an independent, non-partisan civic watchdog organization of business leaders dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of organized criminal activity, especially organized crime, street gangs and the tools of their trade: drugs, guns, public corruption,...
at this time. In 1980, he was a member of the executive committee of the World Trade Conference.
From 1979 to 1981, Macdonald was an active member of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
, serving on its Policy Board, Economic Affairs Council, and as cochairman of its tax subcommittee. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
named Macdonald as a Deputy U.S. Trade Representative under United States Trade Representative Bill Brock
Bill Brock
William Emerson "Bill" Brock III is a former Republican United States senator from Tennessee, having served from 1971 to 1977. He is the grandson of William Emerson Brock I, who was a Democratic U.S. senator from Tennessee from 1929 to 1931.-Early life and career:Brock was a native of Chattanooga,...
, and Macdonald served in this capacity until 1983, at which point he again returned to Baker & McKenzie.