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American politician and diplomat (1925–2014) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Howard Henry Baker Jr. (November 15, 1925 – June 26, 2014) was an American politician, diplomat, and photographer who served as the United States Senator for Tennessee from 1967 to 1985. Baker was the first Republican to be elected to the Senate in Tennessee since the Reconstruction era. During his tenure he rose to the rank of Senate Majority Leader.
Howard Baker | |
---|---|
26th United States Ambassador to Japan | |
In office July 5, 2001 – February 17, 2005 | |
President | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Tom Foley |
Succeeded by | Tom Schieffer |
12th White House Chief of Staff | |
In office February 27, 1987 – July 3, 1988 | |
President | Ronald Reagan |
Deputy | Kenneth Duberstein |
Preceded by | Donald Regan |
Succeeded by | Kenneth Duberstein |
Senate Majority Leader | |
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1985 | |
Deputy | Ted Stevens |
Preceded by | Robert Byrd |
Succeeded by | Bob Dole |
Senate Minority Leader | |
In office March 5, 1980 – January 3, 1981 | |
Deputy | Ted Stevens |
Preceded by | Ted Stevens (acting) |
Succeeded by | Robert Byrd |
In office January 3, 1977 – November 1, 1979 | |
Deputy | Ted Stevens |
Preceded by | Hugh Scott |
Succeeded by | Ted Stevens (acting) |
Leader of the Senate Republican Conference | |
In office January 3, 1977 – November 1, 1979 | |
Deputy | Ted Stevens |
Preceded by | Hugh Scott |
Succeeded by | Ted Stevens |
In office March 5, 1980 – January 3, 1985 | |
Deputy | Ted Stevens |
Preceded by | Ted Stevens |
Succeeded by | Bob Dole |
United States Senator from Tennessee | |
In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1985 | |
Preceded by | Ross Bass |
Succeeded by | Al Gore |
Personal details | |
Born | Howard Henry Baker Jr. (1925-11-15)November 15, 1925 Huntsville, Tennessee, U.S. |
Died | June 26, 2014(2014-06-26) (aged 88) Huntsville, Tennessee, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) |
Joy Dirksen
(m. 1951; died 1993) |
Relations | Howard Baker Sr. (father) Dora Ladd (mother) Irene Bailey (stepmother) John Sherman Cooper (cousin) |
Children | 2 |
Education | University of the South Tulane University University of Tennessee (LLB) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1943–1946 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Baker speaks at a special bicentennial session of the United States Senate Recorded April 6, 1989 | |
Known as the "Great Conciliator," Baker was a master at brokering comprises, enacting legislation, and maintaining civility. A moderate conservative, he was widely respected by both his Republican and Democratic colleagues.
As the leading Republican on the Senate Watergate Committee, Baker famously asked "What did the President know and when did he know it?"[1]
Baker was a contender for the vice presidency in 1968, 1973 and 1976. Had he been selected in 1968 or 1973 in lieu of Spiro Agnew and Gerald Ford, he would have become president upon the resignation of Richard Nixon. Baker sought the Republican presidential nomination in 1980 but dropped out after the first set of primaries. Baker was planning to run for president again in 1988, but instead decided to serve as White House Chief of Staff as part of an effort to reorganize the Reagan administration following the Iran-Contra scandal. He later served as the United States Ambassador to Japan from 2001 to 2005.