WASHINGTON -- Dan Glickman was once known as one of the funniest men in Congress. As a veteran lawmaker, he was known as someone who turned his sense of humor into a tool that could disarm his most vociferous opponents. And a sense of humor is something he will need as the former Kansas congressman and agriculture secretary has to make the transition from corn and sow bellies to Internet piracy and movie stars.

"I like humor," Glickman said. "I don't know how funny I am. I think I'm funny. Too often, people in politics take themselves too seriously."

Behind Glickman's self-deprecating, deadpan wit, however, lies a serious student of public policy, who says his jobs as agriculture secretary under President Clinton and as a moderate Democrat when he once ran the House Intelligence Committee will help him steer the motion picture industry through trying times.

"They're both big parts of the American economy," he said. "Agriculture and creative pursuits -- these are the two big industrial exports of this country. I'm not saying they are exactly the same; they aren't. But I love this industry."

Glickman admits that following MPAA chief Jack Valenti will be one of his most difficult challenges. Valenti's ability to work the halls of power and to speak effectively are legendary. Still, Glickman is comfortable as a public speaker, and while he may not possess Valenti's resonant voice and incredible vocabulary, he's no shrinking violet.

During Thursday's press conference, when asked his favorite movie, he replied: "Any movie my son produces." He then named what seemed like 20 films produced by his son, Jonathan Glickman, a partner in Spyglass Entertainment. Glickman joked that he and his wife, Rhonda, a former staff director of the Congressional Arts Caucus, think the films produced by the younger Glickman are "the greatest movies ever made."

Eventually, however, Glickman named a string of favorite flicks ranging from "The Godfather" parts I and II to "Animal House" to "anything starring Jack Nicholson."

Jonathan Glickman confirms that going to the movies was always a big part of his family life as a kid growing up in Wichita, Kan. It was a particular ritual on Election Day, when his father preferred to wait for the returns in a darkened theater rather than sweating it out in front of a TV set.

"It's not an accident that I ended up in this business," said Jonathan Glickman, who described his father as easygoing, dedicated to his work and having an "extremely amenable personality."

The family ties to the industry are likely to come in handy for the new leader of the MPAA as he takes on a job where the companies often war with the creative talent as much as each other, and all concerned fight over the best way to protect their products from piracy. Glickman also will have to fend off an increasingly energized community that thinks nothing of downloading copyrighted material without paying for it, and a Congress that is increasingly skeptical of the copyright industries' demands.

"It's always been my style not to be a bomb thrower, but a diplomat," he said. "You have to be able to work both sides of the aisle. At the Agriculture Department, I was often referred to as the red state diplomat."

Glickman hopes he can build on the bipartisanship that has been a hallmark of Valenti's career.

"I intend to reach out and let them know that I'll be running this organization the same as Jack has been. Some of my closest friends are Republican."

Glickman is an active Democratic donor, according to the Associated Press. He has given roughly $20,000 to Democratic party committees and candidates this election cycle, including $2,000 to presidential hopeful John Kerry.

Glickman also has Republican connections. He and former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot, chairman of President Bush's re-election campaign and former head of the Republican National Committee, have served as co-chairmen of the U.S. Consensus Council, a panel created by Congress to reach agreement on major national issues, and has donated to GOP candidates as well, including $500 to Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel and $500 to Louisiana House candidate Bobby Jindal this election cycle.

Glickman admitted to a "steep learning curve" when it comes to the arcana of copyright law -- a big battle ground as the industry attempts to stem copyright piracy and make the Internet a profitable distribution system. But he said his experience dealing with trade issues, and especially with agricultural trade with China would help as the industry tries to open up markets around the world.

Glickman represented Kansas in the House from 1977-95. He was principal author of the 1990 farm bill and headed the House Intelligence Committee during its investigation of the Aldrich Ames espionage case inside the CIA. He also served on the House Judiciary Committee, the chief panel on copyright issues.

Policy issues aside, Glickman said he hopes to bring a similar level of energy to the job -- a difficult task, as Valenti is known as a workaholic.

"It's a great honor to be succeeding Jack. One can never replace Jack Valenti as a legend and a great leader," he said. "One of the things Jack has is an incredible energy and vitality," he said. "As long as that is there, I will feel young. I don't know if I can ever match Jack."

Cynthia Littleton in Los Angeles contributed to this report.