vcczar Posted September 10 Share Posted September 10 James Baker of TX got his start with GHW Bush in the late 1960s. Although encouraged by Bush to run for elected office, he never did. He's arguably the most influential politician of the late 20th century to not hold elected office. The Age of Reagan could as easily be the Age of James Baker. Philip Bobbitt (Constitutional Scholar, Democrat, and nephew of LBJ) really highlights Baker's ability in at least one of his books. Here are his actions: Baker, James 1976 Campaign manager for Ford Baker, James 1980 Campaign manager for Bush Baker, James 1981 Appt Chief of Staff, becoming Reagan's most influential advisor Baker, James 1985 Swaps positions with Donald Regan, becoming Sec of Treasury Baker, James 1988 Campaign manager for Bush Baker, James 1989 Appt Sec of State for Bush, overseeing the end of the Cold War and entire Gulf War Baker, James 1990 Convinces Gorbachev to allow a unified Germany to join NATO Baker, James 1992 Appt Chief of Staff for Bush, while also operating as Bush's campaign manager Baker, James 2000 Manages Bush's legal team during Florida vote recount Baker, James 2005 Declines Bush's offer to replace Rumsfeld as Sec of Defense (Bush keeps Rumsfeld in place) Baker, James 2016 Advised Trump to make Tillerson Sec of State Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcczar Posted September 10 Author Share Posted September 10 I find him exceptionally impressive. I think he would have been an amazingly effective president (which I'd find scary considering his ideology), but he's too neocon for me. I also don't like that seemed to be okay with Trump when most Reagan Republicans were distancing themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortKing Posted September 10 Share Posted September 10 3 minutes ago, vcczar said: I find him exceptionally impressive. I think he would have been an amazingly effective president (which I'd find scary considering his ideology), but he's too neocon for me. I also don't like that seemed to be okay with Trump when most Reagan Republicans were distancing themselves. He was the only Secretary of State to endorse Trump in 2016, Peter Baker and Susan Glasser's book The Man Who Ran Washington was a great deep dive on the incredible career he led and while he was very impressive as an operator, he was a party man to his bones. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pringles Posted September 10 Share Posted September 10 31 minutes ago, vcczar said: (which I'd find scary considering his ideology) lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pringles Posted September 10 Share Posted September 10 28 minutes ago, ShortKing said: The Man Who Ran Washington Also, great book. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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