Carl Joyce Gilbert was the United States Trade Representative from 1969-71. Gilbert had previously been president and chairman of the board of the Gillette Safety Razor Co. He had "joined Gillette as treasurer in 1948 and served as vice president and president before also becoming board chairman", and lead Gillette "from a domestic operation to one with worldwide branches -- making the name Gillette synonymous in many areas with razors". In 1961, he headed the Committee for a National Trade Policy, opposing import quotas and other barriers to the free exchange of goods, and "led efforts to liberalize reciprocal trade agreements".

After his nomination to the Trade Representative post by President Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon

Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...

 in 1969, the Senate, concerned by Gilbert's earlier stance on trade, deliberated for two months before confirming his appointment.

At the time of his death, Gilbert was president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts.