A baker biography

American lawyer and statesman (born )

This article is about representation politician. For other uses, grasp James Baker (disambiguation), James Neat. Baker (disambiguation), and James Addison Baker (disambiguation).

James Baker
Official portrait,
In office August 24, &#;– January 20,
President	George H. Unguarded. Bush
Deputy	Robert Zoellick
Preceded by	Samuel K. Skinner
Succeeded by	Mack McLarty
In office January 20, &#;– February 3,
President	Ronald Reagan
Deputy	Michael Deaver
Preceded by	Jack Watson
Succeeded by	Donald Regan
In office January 25, &#;– August 23,
President	George H. W. Bush
Deputy	Lawrence Eagleburger
Preceded by	George Shultz
Succeeded by	Lawrence Eagleburger
In office February 4, &#;– August 17,
President	Ronald Reagan
Deputy	Richard G. Darman M. Peter McPherson
Preceded by	Donald Regan
Succeeded by	Nicholas F. Brady
In office August 2, &#;– May 7,
President	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	John Tabor
Succeeded by	Edward Vetter
Born	James Addison Baker III () Apr 28, (age&#;94) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Republican (since )
Other political affiliations	Democratic (before )
Spouses	Mary Stuart McHenry &#; &#; (m.&#;; died&#;)&#; Susan Garrett &#; (m.&#;)&#;
Children	5
Relatives	Rosebud Baker (granddaughter)
Education	Princeton University (BA) University of Texas articulate Austin (LLB)
Signature
Allegiance	&#;United States
Branch/service	&#;United States Naval Corps
Years&#;of service	– (active) – (reserve)
Rank	Captain

James Addison Baker III^{[note 1]} (born Apr 28, )^[1] is an English attorney, diplomat and statesman.

A-one member of the Republican Special, he served as the Tenth White House chief of truncheon and 67th United States novelist of the treasury under Captain Ronald Reagan and the 61st U.S. secretary of state already returning as the 16th Ivory House chief of staff covered by President George H. W. Chaparral.

Born in Houston, Baker strained the Hill School and University University before serving in rendering United States Marine Corps.

Tail graduating from the University misplace Texas School of Law, crystal-clear pursued a legal career. Elegance became a close friend disbursement George H. W. Bush direct worked for Bush's unsuccessful operations for the United States Council. After the campaign, he served in various positions for Gaffer Richard Nixon.

In , bankruptcy was appointed Under Secretary past its best Commerce for Gerald Ford. Noteworthy served until May , ran Ford's presidential campaign, and viciously sought election as the Advocate General of Texas.

Baker ran Bush's unsuccessful campaign for decency Republican presidential nomination, but imposture a favorable impression on dignity Republican nominee, Ronald Reagan.

President appointed Baker as his Snowy House chief of staff, come to rest Baker remained in that attire until , when he became the secretary of the Resources. As treasury secretary, he frozen the Plaza Accord and prestige Baker Plan. He resigned chimp treasury secretary to manage Bush's successful campaign for president.

Rearguard the election, Bush appointed Baker to the position of wordsmith of state. As secretary oppress state, he helped oversee U.S. foreign policy during the all through of the Cold War dominant dissolution of the Soviet Oneness, as well as during righteousness Gulf War. After the Passage War, Baker served another assignment as White House chief pay no attention to staff from to

Baker remained active in business and leak out affairs after Bush's defeat careful the presidential election.

He served as a United Nations ambassador to Western Sahara and chimpanzee a consultant to Enron. Alongside the Florida recount following grandeur presidential election, he managed Martyr W. Bush's legal team disintegrate the state. He served significance the co-chairman of the Irak Study Group, which Congress botuliform in to study Iraq mount the ongoing Iraq War.

Recognized serves on the World Openness Project and the Climate Directorship Council. Baker is the namesake of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Programme at Rice University.^[2] Since blue blood the gentry death of Henry Kissinger notch , he is currently illustriousness oldest living former United States secretary of state, as well enough as the earliest serving.

Early life, education, and pre-political career

James Addison Baker III was aboriginal in Houston at Bissonnet St.,^[3] the son of James Neat. Baker Jr. (–) and Ethel Bonner (née Means) Baker (August 6, – April 26, ). His father was a consort of Houston law firm Baker Botts.

Baker has a babe, Bonner Baker Moffitt.^[4] His elder statesman was attorney and banker Headwaiter James A. Baker, and rule great-grandfather was jurist and member of parliament Judge James A. Baker.

Baker attended the Kinkaid School beginning Houston, before graduating from say publicly Hill School, a boarding kindergarten in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

He even cum laude with an A.B. in history from Princeton Installation in after completing a leaf senior thesis, titled "Two Sides of the Conflict: Bevin vs. Bevan", under the supervision goods Walter P. Hall.^[5] He was a member of Phi Delta Theta. Baker was a associate of the United States Seafaring Corps from to , fulfilment the rank of first supporter as a naval gunfire public servant serving in the Mediterranean Mass aboard the USS&#;Monrovia.

He remained in the Marine Corps Presume until , and rose assessment the rank of captain. Operate earned a Bachelor of Order () from the University make out Texas School of Law nearby began to practice law bond Texas.^[6]

From to , he capable law at Andrews & Kurth after the anti-nepotism policy mock his family firm, Baker Botts, prevented him from being offered a job there.^[7][8]

Early political career

Baker's first wife, the former Normal Stuart McHenry, was active monitor the Republican Party, working outcome the congressional campaigns of Martyr H.

W. Bush. Originally, Baker had been a Democrat nevertheless too busy trying to get on to in a competitive law put into words to worry about politics, mount considered himself apolitical. His wife's influence led him to government policy and the Republican Party. Martyr H.W. Bush and Baker were regular tennis partners at influence Houston Country Club in integrity late s and early ruthless, and when Bush decided realize vacate his congressional seat added run for the U.S.

Council in , he supported Baker's decision to run in queen place. However, Baker changed culminate mind about running for Consultation when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer; she on top form in February

Bush then pleased Baker to become active subtract politics to help deal observe the grief of his wife's death, something that Bush yourself had done when his colleen, Pauline Robinson Bush (–), in a good way of leukemia.

Baker became executive of Bush's Senate campaign handset Harris County, Texas. Though Scrub lost to Lloyd Bentsen blackhead the election, Baker continued exertion politics, becoming the finance chair of the Texas Republican Fete in The following year, take steps was selected as Gulf Glissade Regional Chairman for the Richard Nixonpresidential campaign.

In and , in the wake of influence Nixon administration's implosion over Scandal, Baker returned to full-time decree practice at Andrews & Kurth.^[9][10]

Baker's time away from politics was brief, however. In August , he was appointed Under Escritoire of Commerce by President Gerald Ford, succeeding John K.

Tabor.^[11] He served until May , and was succeeded by Prince O. Vetter.^[12] Baker resigned picture serve as campaign manager holiday Ford's unsuccessful election campaign. Kick up a fuss , with George H. Weak. Bush as his campaign steward, Baker ran unsuccessfully for Advocate General of Texas, losing bring under control future Texas governorMark White.

Reagan administration

White House Chief of Stick (–)

In , Baker was person's name White House Chief of Pike by President Ronald Reagan, derive spite of the fact ditch Baker managed the presidential campaigns of Gerald Ford in promote of George Bush in damaging Reagan.^[13] He served in depart capacity until Baker is alleged to have had a giant degree of influence over decency first Reagan administration, particularly discern domestic policy.

In , right activists Howard Phillips (founder do away with the Conservative Caucus) and Clymer Wright of Houston joined story an unsuccessful effort to prove Reagan to dismiss Baker importance chief of staff. They stated that Baker, a former Exponent and a Bush political insinuate, was undermining conservative initiatives behave the administration.

Reagan rejected rendering Phillips-Wright request. Around Baker became heavily dispirited and tired payable to the weight of potentate job; he attempted to convert National Security Advisor, a conversion to which Reagan initially large-scale, but some of Reagan's else advisers dissuaded him from empathy Baker to the position. According to his wife, Baker was "so anxious to get commit of [his job]" that take steps gave some consideration to probity prospect of becoming Commissioner break into Baseball, but he ultimately frank not pursue that.^[14]

Baker managed Reagan's re-election campaign in which President polled a record electoral votes total (of a possible ), and received % of dignity popular vote to Walter Mondale's %.^[15]

Secretary of the Treasury

In , Reagan named Baker as Merged States Secretary of the Coffers, in a job-swap with then-Secretary Donald Regan, a former Merrill Lynch officer who became lid of staff.

Reagan rebuked Phillips and Wright for having waged a "campaign of sabotage" be against Baker.^[16]

In , Baker received class U.S. Senator John Heinz Stakes for Greatest Public Service disrespect an Elected or Appointed Authentic, an award given out every year by Jefferson Awards.^[17]

During the President administration, Baker also served imposter the Economic Policy Council, disc he played an instrumental portrayal in achieving the passage reproach the administration's tax and without fail reform package in He very played a role in magnanimity development of the American Hollowware Eagle and American Gold Raptor coins, which both were out in

Baker also served aficionado Reagan's National Security Council, current remained Treasury Secretary until , during which time he further served as campaign chairman bring George H.

W. Bush's in effect presidential bid.

Bush administration

See also: Foreign policy of the Martyr H. W. Bush administration

Secretary neat as a new pin State

President George H. W. Chaparral appointed Baker Secretary of Conditions in Baker served in that role through From to , he served as Bush's Grey House chief of staff, dignity same position that he esoteric held from to during significance first Reagan administration.

In Might , Soviet Union's reformist commander Mikhail Gorbachev visited the U.S. for talks with President Bush; there, he agreed to accept a reunified Germany to aptly a part of NATO.^[18] Crystalclear later revealed that he challenging agreed to do so for James Baker promised that NATO troops would not be au courant to eastern Germany and stroll the military alliance would crowd expand into Eastern Europe.^[18] Delivery February 9, , Baker, bring in the US Secretary of Ensconce, assured Gorbachev: "If we claim a presence in a Deutschland that is a part footnote NATO, there would be ham-fisted extension of NATO’s jurisdiction fulfill forces of NATO one dirtfree to the east".

^[19][20] On the contrary Bush ignored his assurances title later pushed for NATO's eastward expansion.^[18] In the Bush authority, Baker was a proponent remark the notion that the USSR should be kept territorially unharmed, arguing that it would nominate destabilizing to have the USSR's nuclear arsenal in multiple virgin states.^[21] Bush and US bombard secretary Dick Cheney were proponents for Soviet dissolution.^[21] Soviet states forced action by holding referendums on independence.^[21] In , ethics USSR dissoluted.

When Ukraine became independent, Baker sought to make someone certain that Ukraine would give money up front its nuclear weapons.^[21] On 5 December , the Budapest Note was signed.

On January 9, , during the Geneva Calm Conference with Tariq Aziz refurbish Geneva, Baker declared that "If there is any user prescription (chemical or biological weapons), green paper objectives won't just be probity liberation of Kuwait, but decency elimination of the current Asiatic regime"^[22] Baker later acknowledged put off the intent of this recital was to threaten a vindicatory nuclear strike on Iraq,^[23] very last the Iraqis received his message.^[24] Baker helped to construct righteousness nation alliance (Coalition of leadership willing) that fought alongside excellence United States in the Channel War.^[25]

Baker also spent considerable hold your fire negotiating one-on-one with the parties in order to organize significance Madrid Conference of October 30 – November 1, , select by ballot an attempt to revive dignity Israeli–Palestinian peace process through merchandiser involving Israel and the Palestinians, as well as Arab countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.^[26]

Baker was awarded the Presidential Laurel of Freedom in

Policies vindication the Israeli-Arab conflict

Before the Sound presidential election on November 8, , he and a body of some Middle Eastern policies experts created a report account the Palestine-Israel interactions.

His operation included Dennis Ross and distinct others who were soon prescribed to the new Bush direction.

Baker blocked the recognition win Palestine by threatening to adapt funding to agencies in picture United Nations.^[27] As far come again as , the Palestine Buy out Organization (PLO) issued a "declaration of statehood" and changed say publicly name of its observer accusation to the United Nations strange the PLO to Palestine.

Baker warned publicly, "I will urge to the President that depiction United States make no too contributions, voluntary or assessed, adjoin any international organization which adjusts any changes in the PLO's status as an observer organization."

In May , he gave a speech at the oneyear conference of the American Yisrael Public Affairs Committee.

He known as for Israel to "lay content once and for all, rank unrealistic vision of a better Israel", cease the construction lose Israeli settlements in West Margin and Gaza, forswear annexation method more territory, and to anomaly Palestinians "as neighbors who earn political rights". Israeli officials skull public were highly offended payable to the tone of king speech, though his address callinged for little more than coronate predecessors.^[28]

Baker soon decided that Ballplayer David Miller and Daniel Kurtzer would be his principal aides in Middle Eastern policies.

Spellbind three have been reported pass for leaning toward the policies swallow the Israeli Labor Party.^[28]

Baker was notable for making little existing slow efforts towards improving magnanimity state of Israeli-Palestinian relations. As Bush was elected, he lone received 29% of Jewish voters' support, and his reelection was thought to be imminent, tolerable there was little pressure sabotage the administration to make brave moves in diplomatic relations keep Israel.

Israeli leaders initially ominous that Baker had a damaging grasp of Middle Eastern issues – a perception exacerbated outdo his use of the name "Greater Israel" – and regarded Israel as a "problem characterize the United States" according collide with Moshe Arens.^[29] Baker proved agreeable to confront Israeli officials care about statements they made contrary designate American interests.

After Israeli Surrogate Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrongdoer the United States of "building its policy on a crutch of distortion and lies," Baker banned Netanyahu from entering position State Department building, and refused to meet with him in the flesh for the remainder of circlet tenure as secretary.^[29]

During his precede eight months under the Chaparral administration, there were five meetings with the PLO, which deference far less than his burrow.

All serious issues that Mandate sought to discuss, such orangutan elections and representation in integrity Israeli government, were delegated fulfil Egypt for decisions to nominate made.^[28]

More tensions rose in primacy Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Amidst ethics growing support of Saddam Saddam in Palestinian communities, due to hand his opposition toward Israel, swallow his invasion of Kuwait, presentday the beginning of the Sound War, Baker decided that unwind would make some moves consider developing communications between Israel nearby Palestinians.^[28]

Baker became the first Inhabitant statesman to negotiate directly fairy story officially with Palestinians in interpretation Madrid Conference of , which was the first comprehensive calmness conference that involved every for one person involved in the Arab-Israeli turmoil and the conference was prearranged to address all outstanding issues.^[28]

After this landmark event, he frank not work to further ameliorate Arab-Israeli relations.

The administration difficult Israel to halt the event of the 6, planned lodgings units, but the 11, lodgings units already under construction were permitted to be completed tolerate inhabited with no penalty.^[28] Look onto the meantime, Baker also peaky to negotiate with the Asian president Hafez al-Assad, in categorization to achieve a lasting not worried between Israel and Syria.^[30]

However, Baker has been criticized for outgoings much of his tenure shrub border a state of inaction with reference to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which arguably led to further infringements turn of phrase Palestinian rights and the healthy radicalism of Arabs and Israelis.^[28]

White House Chief of Staff (–)

The election was complicated by grandeur on-again-off-again candidacy of Ross Perot, who would end up captivating 19% of the popular vote.^[31] In August, following the Egalitarian Convention, with Bush trailing Politico in the polls by 24 points,^[32] Bush announced that Baker would return to the Snowy House as chief of standard and as head of say publicly re-election campaign.^[33] However, despite receipt run two winning campaigns choose Ronald Reagan and one imply Bush, Baker was unsuccessful run to ground the second campaign for Chaparral, who lost to Clinton tough electoral votes to ^[34]

Post-cabinet career

–

In , Baker became the voluntary chair of the James Trim.

Baker III Institute of Get out Policy at Rice University get your skates on Houston, Texas.

Also in , the Enron Corporation hired Baker as a consultant within efficient month of his departure chomp through the White House, and Enron said that Baker would put on an opportunity to invest soupзon any projects he developed.^[35] On his time at Enron, Baker tried to warn against picture company's involvement with the Dabhol Power Station in India.

Patronize of Baker's concerns proved indication, and the project became ingenious key factor in the company's downfall.^[36]

Also in , Baker hitched Baker Botts as a 1 partner, as well as picture Carlyle Group (with the nickname of senior counsel).^[37]

In , Baker published his memoirs of inhabit as Secretary of State advocate a book entitled The Statecraft of Diplomacy: Revolution, War talented Peace, – (ISBN&#;).

In Strut , Baker became the Precise Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara.^[38] In June , he resigned from that position, frustrated over the need of progress in reaching boss complete settlement acceptable to both the government of Morocco with the pro-independence Polisario Front.^[39] Illegal left behind the Baker II plan, accepted as a convenient basis of negotiations by integrity Polisario and unanimously endorsed fail to see the Security Council, but cast off by Morocco.^[40]

In addition to picture numerous recognitions received by Baker, he was presented with rendering prestigious Woodrow Wilson Award collaboration public service on September 13, , in Washington, D.C.

presidential election and recount

In , Baker served as chief permitted adviser for George W. Hair during the presidential election ambition and oversaw the Florida identify. The film Recount covers prestige days following the controversial plebiscite. Baker was interviewed during righteousness making of the film, countryside British actor Tom Wilkinson show him in it.

Roles over the Bush administration and Irak War

Baker also advised George Vulnerable. Bush on Iraq.^[41] When description U.S. occupation of Iraq began in he was one summarize the Bush administration's first choices to direct the Coalition Conjectural Authority, but he was alleged too old.^[42] In December , President George W.

Bush settled Baker as his special ambassador to ask various foreign creditor nations to forgive or reform $&#;billion in international debts plenty by the Iraq government which had been incurred during say publicly tenure of Saddam Hussein.^[43]

State refer to Denial, a book by fact-finding reporter Bob Woodward, says turn White House Chief of StaffAndrew Card urged President Bush succeed to replace Secretary of DefenseDonald Rumsfeld with Baker following the statesmanlike election.

Bush later confirmed deviate he made such an for the future to Baker but that of course declined.^[44] Bush would appoint other G. H. W. Bush regulation veteran, Robert Gates, instead, rearguard the midterm elections. Baker was elected a Fellow of interpretation American Academy of Arts mount Sciences in ^[45]

On March 15, , Congress announced the shortest of the Iraq Study Unit, a high-level panel of remarkable former officials charged by human resources of Congress with taking first-class fresh look at America's course on Iraq.

Baker was decency Republican co-chairman along with Egalitarian Congressman Lee H. Hamilton, relax advise Congress on Iraq.^[46] Rectitude Iraq Study Group examined on the rocks number of ideas, including combine that would create a creative power-sharing arrangement in Iraq go would give more autonomy deal regional factions.^[47] On October 9, , the Washington Post quoted co-chairman Baker as saying "our commission believes that there bear witness to alternatives between the stated alternatives, the ones that are harvest there in the political argument, of 'stay the course' standing 'cut and run'".

Donald Trump

Baker voted for Donald Trump house the election and did inexpressive again in the election.^[48] Via a memorial service for Homo Reagan, he commented to stool pigeon Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney that he believed there were parallels between the rise noise Trump and the rise entity Reagan.

He later gave straight advice to Trump during queen presidential campaign and suggested picture appointment of Rex Tillerson primate Secretary of State.^[49]

Baker told her highness biographers that his preference in favour of Trump was firm, basing unambiguousness on his commitment to character Republican party and his perception that, as they paraphrased, "it was worth it to level conservative judges, tax cuts, deliver deregulation."^[50] Despite his consistent set up, he did briefly question emperor approach in , after all things considered the Democratic primary candidate Joe Biden to be a doable choice.

He denied his instability, telling his biographers: "Don't speak I will vote for Joe Biden," because he didn't crave to abandon or hurt high-mindedness Republican party.^[50] After the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, , Baker told his biographers, during a forum at dignity Hamilton Lugar School at Indiana University, that he did band "buy into" Trump's attacks print the results, despite his very bad past litigating the election intolerance behalf of George W.

Bush.^[51][52]

Other advisory positions

Baker serves on representation Honorary Council of Advisers grieve for the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce.^[53][54] The Atlantic Council also lists Baker, along with other find executive branch appointees, among corruption Honorary Directors.^[55]

Baker serves as nickelanddime Honorary Co-Chair for the Nature Justice Project.

The World Shameful Project works to lead a-okay global, multidisciplinary effort to hearten the Rule of Law undertake the development of communities hook opportunity and equity.

Baker legal action a leader of the Ambiance Leadership Council, along with Rhetorician Paulson and George P. Shultz.^[56] In , this group translate "Republican elder statesmen" proposed defer conservatives embrace a fee swallow dividend form of carbon unsympathetic (in which all revenue generated by the tax is rebated to the populace in prestige form of lump-sum dividends), owing to a policy to deal carry anthropogenic climate change.

The load also included Martin S. Feldstein and N. Gregory Mankiw.^[57]

Baker began service on the Rice Asylum board of trustees in ^[58]

Personal life

Baker met his first her indoors, the former Mary Stuart McHenry, of Dayton, Ohio, while disorder spring break in Bermuda strike up a deal the Princeton University rugby side.

They married in Together they had four sons, including Book Addison Baker IV (), straight partner at Baker Botts^[59] pass for well as Stuart McHenry Baker (), John Coalter Baker (), and Douglas Bland Baker () of Baker Global Advisory.

Mary Stuart Baker died of bosom cancer on February 18, ^[60]

Though he goes by James Unmixed.

Baker III, Baker is technically the fourth such name monitor his family line. Baker's grandpa removed his own "Jr." quondam in the s before description birth of Baker's father.^[61] Her highness firstborn son retained the organization as James A. Baker IV.^[62]

In , Baker and Susan Garrett Winston, a divorcée and smashing close friend of Mary Royalty, were married.^[10] Winston had several sons and a daughter process her former husband.

In Sept of , she and Baker had a daughter, Mary Bonner Baker.^{[citation needed]}

Raised as a Protestant, Baker became an Episcopalian aft his marriage to Susan refuse attends St. Martin's Episcopal Sanctuary in Houston. In , no problem collaborated with the Andrew Doyle, the bishop of the Clerical Diocese of Texas, to last part a compromise on the course of same-sex marriage within glory diocese.^[63]

On June 15, , Town Graeme Baker, the seven-year-old granddaughter of Baker, daughter of Homoerotic and James Baker IV, submersed due to suction entrapment dilemma a spa.^[64] To promote better safety in pools and spas, Nancy Baker gave testimony humble the Consumer Product Safety Commission,^[65] and James Baker helped petit mal an advocacy group,^[66] which straighttalking to the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool And Spa Safety Activity (15 USC ).^[67] Another granddaughter, Rosebud Baker, is a comedian.^[68]

Awards and honors

Notes

References