Jack Valenti, Dead at 85

saforrest writes: Jack Valenti, a man whose influence in both Washington and Hollywood was profound, died today at age 85. He first became famous as special assistant to Lyndon Johnson: he can even be seen in the famous photo aboard Air Force One; he later recounted some of his experiences with the Johnson administration. In 1966, he quit this job to become what Slashdotters will undoubtedly know him best for: the staunchest promoter of copyright powers in America, as the longtime president of the MPAA, from 1966 to 2004.