From 2001 to 2007, Ambassador Manatt was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The George Washington University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Wesley Foundation, the Meridian International Center, the National Museum of American History, Grinnell College and Red Cloud Indian School in South Dakota. The United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic from 1999 to 2001, Ambassador Manatt is the former President of the California Bankers Association, former Chairman of the California Democratic party and former Chairman of the Democratic party of the United States.

Ambassador Manatt received a B.S. from Iowa State University (Delta Sigma Rho, Phi Delta Phi) and a J.D. from The George Washington University. He was a member of the Board of Editors of The George Washington Law Review. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and in the District of Columbia and California.