Baker, James A., III

Baker, James A. (Addison), III

(1930– ) lawyer, cabinet member; born in Houston, Tex. A shrewd lawyer and personal friend of George Bush, he was undersecretary of commerce (1975–76) and managed George Bush's 1980 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. He was President Reagan's chief of staff (1981–85), then became treasury secretary (1985–88), stabilizing the dollar overseas. Bush's campaign manager (1988) and secretary of state (1989–92), he achieved his greatest success in advancing Middle Eastern peace negotiations. He resigned in 1992 to take over Bush's flagging presidential campaign and then returned to practicing law.