James Baker's Political Roots
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about his political roots, including the fact that he was a Democrat until 1970, when his friend George Bush told him that, to help get his mind off the grief of losing a wife at thirty-eight, he should...
James Baker's Family Background
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about his family background, explaining that, "...my family was, basically, apolitical."
Post Cold War Foreign Policy
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker explains that, "...it was easy during the Cold War to know what you were for. You were for anything the Soviet Union was against and you were against anything the Soviet Union was for." In the post Cold War e...
Politics of Diplomacy, The
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker recounts his experience joining with the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union to condemn the Iraq invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
Negotiating With Congress
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker explains that his first major negotiation as Secretary of State was not with a foreign power but with the Congress of the United States. Secretary Baker recounts the process of convincing ultra liberal and ul...
Presidential Leadership Qualities
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about the qualities that he believes make a president a good leader. Chief among them is commitment to values and principles, the ability to be decisive, and knowing when to compromise.
Right Turn: Supply-side Economics
Reagan assumes the presidency at a time when the country is in economic crisis. During the campaign he had introduced his solution--supply-side-economics. With conservative backing, the Reagan administration decides to accept unemployment at a certa...
When To Intervene
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker explains that the United States cannot be the policeman of the world, and jump into each and every situation in which there are injustices taking place. Secretary Baker makes the case for intervening when our...
Changing Election Traditions
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker argues against federalizing presidential elections. "Article Two of our Constitution says the state legislatures of each state will determine how presidential electors are selected," Secretary Baker points ou...
Coming of Globalization, The
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about the emergence of globalization as a force on the world stage towards the end of the George H.W. Bush administration. He explains that the impact was broad-based, affecting both foreign affairs and...