President Gerald R. Ford Spouse(s) Mildred Harrison Dent Preceded by William D. Eberle Name Frederick Dent | Preceded by Peter G. Peterson Role American Politician Party Republican Party | |
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President Richard M. NixonGerald R. Ford Parents Edith Baily Dent, Magruder Dent | ||
Frederick Baily Dent (born August 17, 1922) is a former American politician who served as the United States Secretary of Commerce from February 2, 1973, to March 26, 1975, during the administrations of U.S. Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford, Jr. His assistant secretary, Hastings Wyman, a native of Aiken, South Carolina, became a political consultant and in 1978 the publisher of The Southern Political Report.
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Dent served as the United States Trade Representative from March 26, 1975 until January 20, 1977, during the remainder of President Ford's administration.
Early life and career
Dent was born on August 17, 1922 in Cape May, New Jersey, to Edith (née Baily), and Magruder Dent. He was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. He attended Yale University, where he lettered in football. Dent was an officer in the Navy's ROTC program at Yale. He attended St. Paul School.
Dent served in the United States Navy from 1943 until 1946. In the Navy, Dent was the Lieutenant Junior Grade, where he captained the USS PC 1547 and the USS PCEC 873. From 1958 until 1972 and 1977 until 1988, Dent was the president of Mayfair Mills in Arcadia, South Carolina.
He was appointed by Secretary of Commerce by President Richard Nixon, for serving from February 2, 1973 to March 26, 1975, and was the President Gerald Ford's Trade Representative, from March 26, 1975 to January 20, 1977.
He was inducted into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 1994.
Personal life
On March 11, 1944, Dent married Mildred "Millie" Carrington Harrison. They had five children, Frederick Baily "Rick", Jr., Mildred Dent Hutchinson, Diana Dent Gwynn, Pauline Harrison "Polly" Dent and Magruder Harrison "Mark" Dent. He resides in Spartanburg, South Carolina.