Jack Valenti

Jack Joseph Valenti ( born September 5, 1921 in Houston, Texas, † April 26, 2007 in Washington, DC) was an influential American lobbyist for the film industry and a long-time president of the Motion Picture Association of America.

Biography

During the Second World War pilot Valenti was in the United States Army Air Corps. He had the rank of Lieutenant. Valenti received his B. A. from the University of Houston and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

1956, he met Senator Johnson at a meeting of young Democrats in Houston know. 1952 Valenti was a founder of an advertising agency, which was supported by the oil production company Conoco as their first customer. Later he won, you still Congressman Johnson and confidant Albert Thomas added. In the Houston Post, he wrote incidentally PR articles for Johnson. Valenti also helped with a television broadcast of Kennedy's meeting with Protestants on 12 September 1960 soften the anti-Catholic resentment of voters in the presidential campaign in 1960.

Johnson's confidant

The connection to Johnson was even more strengthened by Valenti's marriage in 1962 with Mary Margaret Wiley, a secretary of Johnson. As a close confidant of Lyndon Johnson, he was a participant in the press corps at the White House. The famous picture of Johnson's swearing in as U.S. president on board an aircraft after the assassination of President Kennedy shows Valenti at Johnson's side. There he ( special assistant ) has been set as a personal assistant.

Movie lobbyist

1966 Valenti resigned from his job in the White House and became president of the Motion Picture Association of America. Two years later he introduced the MPAA film rating system. In total he represented for 38 years the interests of the U.S. film industry. He was widely recognized as one of the most influential proponent of copyright protection. In particular, in terms of film piracy, he led several court cases.

Valenti died on 26 April 2007 following a stroke. He leaves behind his wife Mary and their three children, John, Alexandra and Courtenay Valenti, a manager at Warner Bros. For his merits him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was dedicated.

Quotes

"He was the best ambassador Hollywood has ever had. "

"He was a giant in the film business and his contributions are legendary. "