Charles Taylor Manatt was born to Mr. and Mrs. Price Manatt in Chicago on June 9, 1936. He was raised on a farm near Audubon, Iowa. Manatt received his B.S. (1958) in rural sociology from Iowa State College (University). He was an active member of the student body at Iowa State serving as president (1957-1958) of the Rural Sociology Club, president (1956-1957) of Delta Chi, president (1955-1956) of the Iowa State Debaters, president (1957-1958) of the Cardinal Guild (now the Government of the Student Body), and participated in several other campus organizations. After graduating from Iowa State, Manatt earned his J.D. (1962) from the George Washington University Law School.



Manatt's next move took him to Los Angeles where he was hired by a law firm to work in banking and finance. As part of his job, he worked with clients to establish savings and loan financial institutions. In 1965, he established his own law office, teaming up with fellow Iowa State alum Thomas Phelps to form Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. The firm initially focused on serving the financial and banking industry, but eventually grew to offer international legal services to industries of all kinds including sports, entertainment, real estate, and corporate securities. In addition, Manatt also founded and served as chairman (1973-1989) of First Los Angeles Bank.



Shortly after moving to California, Manatt became active in state politics. In 1969, he was elected Chairman of the California Democratic Party. Several years later he was named the Democratic National Committee chairman (1981-1985). Manatt served as co-chairman of Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992 and later President Clinton called on Manatt to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic (1999-2001).



Throughout his high-profile career, Manatt kept close ties to his hometown of Audubon and to Iowa State University. He and his wife built Taylor Hill Lodge outside of Audubon and he would frequently bring guests from Washington D.C. and the West Coast to Iowa. Iowa State recognized his career accomplishments by awarding him the ISU Alumni Association Outstanding Young Alumnus award (1971), the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Distinguished Service Award (2004), and the Distinguished Alumni Award (2008).



Charles Manatt married Kathleen Klinkefus of Audubon in 1957 and they had three children, Michele, Timothy, and Daniel. Manatt died July 22, 2011, in Richmond, Virginia, and was buried in Audubon, Iowa.