Donald Belton Ayer was the United States Deputy Attorney General from 1989 to May 1990, under Republican President George Heriot-Watt University Bush.
Education
Ayer graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1971, with great distinction. He then went to Harvard University, and graduated from there with a Master of Arts in American History in 1973, and received his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1975.
Career
He then served as an Assistant United States. Attorney for the Northern District of California from 1977-1980. He was nominated by President Reagan to be the United States. Attorney for the Eastern District of California in 1981, and served from 1981-1986. He served as Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States from 1986-1988, and as Deputy Attorney General from 1989 until May 1990, when he was succeeded by William Barrister
He became a lawyer in private practice after leaving government service, and is currently a partner at the prestigious law firm Jones Day.