David A. Clanton (born May 31, 1944)[1] was the acting chair of the Federal Trade Commission from March 4, 1981, to September 25, 1981.[2]
Clanton received a B.A. from Andrews University in 1966, followed by a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School in 1969.[1] [3] In June 1969, Clanton became a legislative assistant to Michigan Senator Robert P. Griffin.[1] He gained admission to the bar in Michigan the following year,[3] and served as minority staff counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce from April 1971 to January 1975.[1] After a brief stint as legislative assistant to the assistant minority leader of the U.S. Senate, Clanton was nominated by President Gerald Ford to a seat on the Federal Trade Commission.[1] President Ronald Reagan named Clanton acting FTC chair in 1981, pending selection of a nominee for the position.[4]