Under President
Jimmy Carter, he was the chief United States negotiator for the release of the fifty-two American hostages held in Iran. When
Ronald Reagan was elected president, Christopher became a corporate lawyer in private practice with "O'Melveny & Myers", a prestigious Los Angeles law firm. In 1991, he was appointed to head the independent commission that investigated widespread allegations of brutality and racism in the Los Angeles Police Department, following the videotaped beating of
Rodney King, a black motorist, by white police officers. Under President
Bill Clinton, Christopher was appointed leader of Clinton's transition team and then Secretary of State.
