Guide Note

Attorney and politician Mickey Kantor has served as a key advisor for Hillary Rodham Clinton during her campaign for the 2008 Presidential election.

After serving as campaign chairman during the 1992 Clinton-Gore campaign, Kantor was appointed to Clinton's cabinet. From 1993-97, Kantor served as US Trade Representative. During that time, he was instrumental in negotiations that ultimately created the World Trade Organization. From 1996-97, Kantor served as Secretary of Commerce.

Fast Facts

1. Full name: Michael "Mickey" Kantor
2. Born: August 7, 1939
3. Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee
4. Political party: Democrat
5. Education: Vanderbilt University and Georgetown University
6. Occupation: Attorney and political advisor
7. 1998: Bill Clinton's legal counsel during impeachment proceedings

Worthless White N-ggers Controversy

In a controversial video that surfaced on the internet on May 2, 2008, Kantor can be heard telling colleagues James Carville and George Stephanopoulos that "A win or loss in the state of Indiana doesn't matter because those people are shit. How would you like to be a worthless, white n*gger?"

The video was supposedly taken from the Oscar-nominated 1993 documentary The War Room, by director D.A. Pennebaker. Pennebaker has since said the clip was doctored, and that the expressions used were taken out of context.

Quotes

1. "I've never used that word in my entire life, ever, under any circumstance, ever. I have listened to [the video] and so have you. You can't tell what it is I'm saying in that second sentence, you can't decipher that." — Mickey Cantor
2. "A thousand people saw that film in theaters and didn't think the second expletive had been used. It's very clearly understandable. It's not like it was in Bulgarian."— D.A. Pennebaker, Director of The War Room