John C. White

John C. White, an adviser to Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign, served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1978 to 1981, a post in which he was the party’s chief spokesman.

He began his career in 1951 when he was elected as Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, making him the youngest statewide official ever elected in the United States. Serving as commissioner through 1977, he established marketing programs that serve as models for other state governments and he was responsible for establishing a close working relationship with Mexican agricultural entities that had expanded markets for both countries.

White later served as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a position in which he was responsible for the implementation of national and international agriculture policy. He also was the chief departmental leader in negotiations with foreign governments, including the Soviet Union, on grain agreements.

Currently, White is president of his own company, the John C. White Co., a consulting firm representing such national and international clients as The Coastal Corp., Louis Dreyfus Corp., and The Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He also is a member of the Board of Governors Mercantile Exchange.