Howard Baker
Howard Henry Baker Jr. (November 15, 1925 – June 26, 2014) was an American politician, diplomat and photographer who served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1967 to 1985. During his tenure, he rose to the rank of Senate Minority Leader and then Senate Majority Leader. A member of the Republican Party, Baker was the first Republican to be elected to the US Senate in Tennessee since the Reconstruction era.
Howard Baker | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2001 | |
| 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 | |
| Whip | Ted Stevens |
| Preceded by | Robert Byrd |
| Succeeded by | Bob Dole |
| Senate Minority Leader | |
| In office March 5, 1980 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Whip | Ted Stevens |
| Preceded by | Ted Stevens (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Robert Byrd |
| In office January 3, 1977 – November 1, 1979 | |
| Whip | 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. November 15, 1925 Huntsville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | June 26, 2014 (aged 88) Huntsville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Joy Dirksen
(m. 1951; died 1993)Nancy Landon (m. 1996) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
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| Education | Tulane University University of the South University of Tennessee (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Watergate scandal |
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| Events |
| People |
Known in Washington, D.C., as the "Great Conciliator", Baker was often regarded as one of the most successful senators in terms of brokering compromises, enacting legislation, and maintaining civility. For example, he had a lead role in the fashioning and passing of the Clean Air Act of 1970 with Democratic senator Edmund Muskie. A moderate conservative, he was also respected by his Democratic colleagues.
Baker sought the Republican presidential nomination in 1980 but dropped out after the first set of primaries. From 1987 to 1988, he served as White House Chief of Staff for President Ronald Reagan. From 2001 to 2005, he was the United States Ambassador to Japan.