June 30, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1097 RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE Born November 15, 1925, in Huntsville, In 1980, was a candidate for BENJAMIN GILMAN , Howard Henry Baker, Jr., the son the Republican presidential nomination won by of Howard Henry Baker, Sr. and Dora Ladd . After retiring from the Senate HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN Baker, was heir to a distinguished political tra- in 1984, he considered a second run for the OF dition. His grandfather was a judge and his presidency but put aside those personal ambi- grandmother was the first woman to serve as tions in 1987 to accept President Reagan’s re- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sheriff in Tennessee. quest to serve as Chief of Staff Monday, June 30, 2014 His father, Howard Henry Baker, Sr., rep- at the nadir of the Reagan Administration Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would resented eastern Tennessee in the U.S. brought on by the Iran-Contra scandal. like to recognize a dear friend and former House of Representatives from 1951 until his As Majority Leader, Howard Baker sup- Congressional colleague, the Honorable Ben- death in 1964, whereupon he was succeeded ported Reagan’s supply-side economic pro- jamin Gilman. by his wife and Howard Baker’s stepmother, gram of massive tax cuts for the wealthy and Ben, ever a true statesman and gentleman, Irene Bailey Baker. draconian cuts to Great Society programs. In served as a mentor to me, especially during Howard Baker was educated at The response to the resulting massive structural his time as Chairman of the House Inter- McCallie School, a military academy in Chat- deficits, Howard Baker helped broker the deal national Relations Committee. His tenure was tanooga, and in New Orle- and shepherd to passage legislation in 1982 marked by a supreme dedication to those in ans. During World War II, he trained at a U.S. that raised taxes. He also worked with Presi- need: the hungry, the oppressed, and the ne- Navy facility on the campus of the University dent Reagan and House Speaker Thomas P. glected around the world. of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in the ‘‘Tip’’ O’Neill to put Social Security on a sound Whether through his work in promoting V–12 Navy College Training Program. financial footing for 75 years. microcredit and micro-enterprise programs, or He was commissioned as a lieutenant, jun- For his lifetime of service to our nation, his leadership investigating religious intoler- ior grade, and served on a PT boat in the Howard Baker was awarded the Medal of ance, Chairman Gilman served as a model for South Pacific as World War II was ending. Freedom by President Reagan in 1984. But After his discharge, Howard Baker attended all of his colleagues. He used his voice and his service to our nation did not stop there. In the College of Law, platform to speak for those the world could not 2001, Howard Baker was nominated by Presi- from which he graduated in 1949 and em- hear. dent George W. Bush and confirmed by the barked upon a highly successful career in the A proud veteran of the Second World War, U.S. Senate as the 27th Ambassador Extraor- private practice of law. dinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan in which Chairman Gilman also focused on returning Howard Baker began his political career in prisoners of war to their homes, the plight of capacity he served until February 17, 2005. 1964 when he sought and won the Republican In 2007, he joined with former congressional the working poor in countries whose econo- nomination to fill the unexpired term of the late leaders , George Mitchell, and mies were paralyzed by international drug Senator but was defeated in to found the Bipartisan Policy Cen- trade, and so very many more. the special election by . Undaunted, ter, a non-partisan organization that promotes To his former constituents in New York, he he came back two years later to capture the bipartisanship solutions to the major chal- was known as ‘‘Gentle Ben,’’ and fortunately Senate seat, this time defeating former Ten- lenges facing the nation. for his former colleagues, Ben is, to this day, nessee Governor Frank Clement, who had de- In 1996, after the death of his first wife, Joy an active participant in our government. feated Senator Bass in the Democratic pri- Dirksen, he married Nancy Landon Kasse- I am grateful to Chairman Gilman for his mary. baum from . In 2001 he was appointed great works, and for the inspiration he gave In winning the race, by the decisive margin U.S. ambassador to Japan and served faith- me years ago when he wielded the gavel of of 56–44 and supported by a coalition of Afri- fully. the International Relations Committee. can Americans, young persons, and mod- Mr. Speaker, Howard Baker was a legisla- I am pleased to also recognize that Chair- erates, Howard Baker became the first Repub- tor’s legislator. Our prayers and condolences man Gilman is still being recognized to this lican elected to the Senate from Tennessee go out to his widow, former U.S. Senator day for his great contributions to our country. since Reconstruction. He was reelected in Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker, to his son In fact, this past Sunday, June 29, Orange 1972 and 1978, serving 18 years in total be- Darek and daughter Cissy, and to his family Hall of Orange County Community College fore retiring from the Senate in 1984 at the and loved ones. held its Paintings for World-Harmony exhibit end of the 98th Congress. Howard Baker touched so many lives in so dedicated to Ben. This heartfelt event con- In the Senate, Howard Baker’s record many helpful ways that he will always be re- tained the renowned works of his longtime marked him, as he described himself, as membered as one of the finest public servants friend, Sri Chinmoy (Deceased—2007). ‘‘moderate to moderate conservative.’’ He sup- of the 20th century. Ben, your portrait hangs in our Committee ported fair housing and voting rights legisla- I ask that the House observe a moment of Hearing room, but truly, we need no such re- tion, and was a leading advocate of the Clean silence in memory of the distinguished senator minder of your tenure. Your work on behalf of Air Act. He also was instrumental in the bitter from Tennessee, Howard Henry Baker, Jr., the all Americans in advancing freedom and jus- but ultimately successful fight to ratify the Pan- ‘‘Great Conciliator of the Senate.’’ tice is ongoing, and ever-present in our minds. ama Canal Treaty. f Howard Baker also was a young man in a f SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS hurry. Upon the death of his father-in-law and IN TRIBUTE TO HOWARD H. mentor, the great Senator Everett McKinley Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, BAKER, JR. ‘‘MAJORITY LEADER, Dirksen, whose daughter, Joy, he had met agreed to by the Senate on February 4, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF, and married in 1951, Howard Baker sought 1977, calls for establishment of a sys- AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN, AND the post of Senate Republican Leader. tem for a computerized schedule of all THE ‘GREAT CONCILIATOR’ OF He was narrowly defeated by Senator Hugh meetings and hearings of Senate com- THE SENATE’’ Scott of Pennsylvania. But after the retirement mittees, subcommittees, joint commit- of Senator Scott in 1976, Howard Baker was tees, and committees of conference. HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE elected by Republican Leader by his col- This title requires all such committees OF leagues and Senate Majority Leader in 1980 to notify the Office of the Senate Daily IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES when Republicans regained the Senate for the Digest—designated by the Rules Com- first time since 1954 in the wake of the 1980 mittee—of the time, place, and purpose Monday, June 30, 2014 landslide election of Ronald Reagan. of the meetings, when scheduled, and Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to Howard Baker is perhaps best known for his any cancellations or changes in the pay tribute to Howard Henry Baker, Jr., a service as the Vice-Chairman of Senate Select meetings as they occur. great American, a man who personified civility Committee on Presidential Campaign Activi- As an additional procedure along and bipartisanship; one of the most passionate ties, better known as the Senate Watergate with the computerization of this infor- advocates for good governance, fiscal respon- Committee. He is remembered for asking the mation, the Office of the Senate Daily sibility, and global security; a man who served question: ‘‘What did the president know and Digest will prepare this information for his body with distinction in the Armed Services when did he know it?’’ printing in the Extensions of Remarks and the Senate. Senator Baker That question would go on to become a na- section of the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD died at his home in Huntsville, Tennessee, tional catchphrase and a part of the nation’s on Monday and Wednesday of each today, June 26, 2014, at the age of 88. cultural lexicon. week.

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