S4236 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 8, 2014 a softball game between the Baker staff and was now firmly established and it set important job to do, and he did it well, the John Tower staff. My favorite photo- the tone for a two-decade run in which but he also kept a healthy distance graph of her is one Howard took at the Baker he would be called upon to deploy his from his work. His photograph of Presi- home when we were celebrating our mar- many other talents and skills to defuse dent Reagan’s inaugural in January riage. Our daughter Leslee was flower girl at Darek and Karen’s wedding. I occupy the tensions, resolve conflicts, repair trust, 1981 illustrates the point. Just behind same Senate office Howard once had in the build consensus, and, frankly, just to the new President we can spot the Dirksen Senate office building. My desk on put people at ease—because sometimes Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill and the Senate floor was once his desk. in this business there is nothing more the new Vice President George Bush. As his legislative assistant, I wrote his important than just that: to just keep Then right there between them is a speeches, prompting him to tell the story at the bearings oiled. man holding up a camera to capture least 100 times of how I once asked to see We have all been recently reminded the moment. It is the new Senate ma- him privately to determine if there was some of how Senator Baker put his own am- jority leader standing there like an or- problem with our relationship because I had learned that he never said in his speeches bitions aside to help rebuild the dinary spectator with a very good seat. any of the words that I had written. Reagan White House after Iran-Contra. It was Howard Baker. ‘‘Lamar,’’ he replied, ‘‘we have a perfect re- It was a great testament to his values Senator ALEXANDER summed up lationship. You write what you want to and to his feel for priorities. What Sen- Baker’s groundedness this way: ‘‘How- write—and I’ll say what I want to say.’’ ator ALEXANDER reminded us last week ard Baker never stopped sounding like Occasionally a young person will ask me, was that these former political rivals— where he grew up.’’ ‘‘How can I become involved in politics?’’ Baker and Reagan—started every day Senator Baker was a fixture here for My answer always is, ‘‘Find someone you in the White House together telling decades, but Huntsville was always respect, volunteer to help him or her do any- each other a little story. They had no home. Perhaps that is also why Sen- thing legal, and learn all you can from them. ator Baker took his stewardship of the That’s what I did.’’ problem putting their past disputes be- How fortunate we were to know, to be in- hind them and building a close working Senate so very seriously. He knew he spired by, and to learn from Tennessee’s fa- friendship based on mutual respect, was not going to be around forever and vorite son and one of our country’s finest common purpose, love of country, and that meant he had a duty to make the leaders, Howard Baker. of course good humor. They were Senate work and to preserve it as a Dan Quayle, when he was a senator, adults, busy about serious business, place where disputes and disagree- summed it up: ‘‘There’s Howard Baker,’’ he and they conducted that business with ments are sifted and sorted out and said, ‘‘and then there’s the rest of us sen- where stable, durable solutions are ators.’’ dignity and with grace. The larger point is that while people slowly but surely achieved. It is how he Mr. MCCONNELL. I would like to talk a lot about the importance of hav- earned the nickname ‘‘the great concil- share some of Senator ALEXANDER’s ob- ing political skill in Washington these iator.’’ servations about Senator Baker be- days, the importance of temperament When Dan Quayle was a Senator cause, as I said, I think they are impor- cannot be overstated. The way Senator here, he used to say: ‘‘There’s Howard tant, timely lessons about the purpose Baker conducted himself here and in Baker, and then there’s the rest of us.’’ and potential of our service. the White House is eloquent testimony Over the past week, we have been re- One of the things that stands out in of that. minded of why that was, and I thank all the tributes to Senator Baker, in- It is not that he was laid back. As Senator ALEXANDER for helping us re- cluding Senator ALEXANDER’s, is the Senator ALEXANDER put it, behind member why his friend and mentor way in which he embodied the rare Baker’s pleasant demeanor was a rest- meant so much to this country and this trait of taking himself lightly even as less ambition that would propel him to institution. he took his duties seriously. the heights of American politics and May the memory of Howard Henry I will give you an example. One of the government for 40 years, but he could Baker inspire us to be our best selves time-honored traditions around here is subordinate that ambition when he felt and even better Senators. for new Senators to labor over their the moment or the country needed him f maiden speeches as if Pericles himself to. He was persistent about achieving a RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME were standing in judgment from the result but never insisted that his way The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Presiding Officer’s chair. Senator was the only way to do it. It is a qual- Baker was no exception. His maiden the previous order, the leadership time ity that required an ability to listen. is reserved. speech was long, thoughtful, and In Baker’s case that meant being an el- dense—so much so that when he asked f oquent listener, a trait Senator ALEX- his father-in-law, then-Senate Repub- ANDER put above all the others in MORNING BUSINESS lican Leader Everett Dirksen, for his Baker’s formidable arsenal. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under reaction, Dirksen is said to have re- Here is how Senator Baker himself the previous order, the Senate will be marked: ‘‘Howard, Howard, perhaps once put it: in a period of morning business for 1 you should occasionally enjoy the lux- There is a difference between hearing and hour, with Senators permitted to speak ury of an unexpressed thought.’’ understanding what people say. You don’t therein for up to 10 minutes each, with It was the kind of comment that have to agree, but you have to hear what the majority controlling the first 30 might have stung a lesser Senator, but they’ve got to say. And if you do, the minutes and the Republicans control- as Senator ALEXANDER pointed out in chances are much better you’ll be able to ling the second 30 minutes. mentioning that last week, Baker was translate that into a useful position and even useful leadership. The Senator from Tennessee. a quick learner. About a week or so Mr. ALEXANDER. Thank you, Mr. later, Howard rose again—this time to Senator ALEXANDER pointed out How- President. I believe it is correct that challenge one of his Democratic col- ard Baker had courage. He helped Senator CORKER and I, before morning leagues to a game of tennis. The Sen- round up the votes to ratify the Pan- business begins, have a few minutes to ator in question had just taken a swipe ama Canal Treaty even though he must reflect on Senator Baker. at the vigor of his Republican col- have known it would not help him The PRESIDING OFFICER. That un- leagues, particularly the new ones, and much in a Republican primary for derstanding is correct. Senator Baker decided to rise to the President, to put it mildly. When the Mr. ALEXANDER. That is correct? challenge, tongue firmly in cheek. integrity of our politics was at stake, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- It was a star performance. The Sen- he did not hesitate to take on a Presi- ate is under morning business right ator that Baker challenged even inter- dent of his own party in a very public now, but the Senator from Tennessee is rupted him at one point to suggest that way—an impulse that one hopes law- recognized. it was ‘‘one of the best maiden speeches makers in both parties could muster Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I that has ever been delivered in this today if the integrity of our system ask consent that before morning busi- chamber.’’ Evidently he had missed called for it again. ness begin that Senator CORKER and I Baker’s actual maiden speech. But Sen- But perhaps most important of all, be permitted to reflect on Senator ator Baker’s legendary ability to adapt Howard Baker was grounded. He had an Baker.

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