Many people dream about making a difference in the world. But Baker, a man who has worked alongside multiple U. S. presidents, did not grow up dreaming of such things. According to Baker, he just wanted to be a good lawyer like his father. Nevertheless, the former secretary of state has left his fingerprints all over recent American history.
But his impact on the world was not product of aspiration or a burning desire to aid his country.
It was a product of a tennis tournament.
The Archie McDonald Speaker Series, created in honor of a man who has taught at SFA for the last 48 years, presented James A. Baker III Thursday night in the Grand Ballroom of the Baker Pattillo Student Center. Baker is well known for his enduring friendship with former President George H. W. Bush.
McDonald, after whom the series is named and the moderator, was quick to ask how the two partnered up. Baker noted that early in his life he had always honored his grandfather’s advice.
“Work hard. Study hard. And stay out of politics,” Baker said.
However, Baker said that in the late 1950s he was partnered with Bush for a tennis tournament in Houston. Shortly afterward, Baker’s fascination with politics emerged despite the words of wisdom from his elders.
Following the tennis tournament, George H. W. Bush and Baker began enjoying regular tennis matches. However, Baker’s life took a dramatic turn when his wife died of breast cancer at a young age in February of 1970. Baker recalled that George Bush helped get through the tragedy by giving him a job.
“You need to do something about your grief,” Baker recalled Bush saying. “How about helping me run for Senate?”
Despite Bush losing the Senate election to Lloyd Bentsen that year, Baker went on to serve as Gulf Coast regional chairman for Richard Nixon’s presidential campaign. In 1975, he was selected to be undersecretary of commerce for Gerald Ford. In a five-year span, Baker evolved from apolitical lawyer to a powerful influence in White House affairs.
Throughout the night, Baker shared his unexpected and profound political journey.
Despite the fact that Baker helped George H.W. Bush run against Ronald Reagan for the presidency in 1980, Reagan appointed Baker to serve as the White House chief of staff.
Baker described Reagan as an honest man and very straight-forward.
“What you see is what you get,” Baker recalled.
As White House chief of staff, Baker aided Ronald Regan in implementing the same public policies he had once called “voodoo politics.”
In 1989, President George H.W. Bush appointed his long-time friend to be America’s 61st secretary of state. In this position, Baker credited himself to delegating the 34-nation alliance that fought alongside the United States in the Persian Gulf War. He also worked with world leaders to bring down the Berlin Wall.
Baker is often referred to as the “Great Negotiator.”
Baker’s final comments of the night addressed state of the country and drew enthusiastic applause from the standing-room-only crowd.
“We are still the preeminent power of the world,” Baker said. “But we’ve got one big problem. We got to take care of our debt problem. We’re spending like drunken sailors.”
Following the event, SFA President Baker Pattillo honored Baker with SFA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
The speaker series is sponsored by SFA’s Student Government Association and exists to honor McDonald, a prominent scholar, educator and community commentator.
The series is designed to help preserve the tradition of McDonald’s writings and oral presentations. Each year a well-known national figure, which have included iconic businessman George Foreman and Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean, is invited to SFA to speak on current culture issues.
