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James Baker IIIAmerican politician
Date of Birth: 28.04.1930
Country:  USA |
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James Baker
Early Life and EducationJames Baker III, an American politician, was born in Houston, Texas, on April 28, 1930, to James Addison Baker Jr. and Ethel Bonner Means. He attended the private Hill School in Pennsylvania and Princeton University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952.
Military Service and Legal Career
Baker served as a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps for two years and subsequently attended the University of Texas School of Law. He joined the Phi Delta Kappa fraternity and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1957. Baker practiced law at the firm Andrews & Kurth, L.L.P. until 1975.
Political Career
Initially a Democrat, Baker switched to the Republican Party and led the ultimately unsuccessful 1970 Senate campaign of his long-time friend George H. W. Bush. Under President Gerald Ford, he served as Deputy Secretary of Commerce in 1975 and managed Ford's unsuccessful reelection campaign in 1976. In 1978, Baker ran for Texas Attorney General but lost.
In 1981, Ronald Reagan appointed Baker as White House Chief of Staff. He held this position until 1985, when he became Secretary of the Treasury. During his tenure, he signed the Plaza Accords in 1985, leading to the devaluation of the dollar against the Japanese yen and German mark.
Baker played a crucial role in developing the Baker Plan, which aimed to resolve developing countries' foreign debt crisis. He also headed George H. W. Bush's successful 1988 presidential campaign and served as Secretary of State from 1989 to 1992.
Post-Governmental Career
Since leaving office, Baker has remained active in addressing issues related to Iraq, including its debt. He also served as a senior advisor to the Carlyle Group from 1993 to 2005. Baker is married to Susan Garnett, and they have eight children.
