Jim Baker
The Diplomat
People, composure and the difficult conversation held well.
Jim Baker is a seasoned political leader known for his significant roles in U.S. government, including as Secretary of State under George H.W. Bush. This interview reveals his emphasis on coalition-building and strategic diplomacy, showcasing his capacity to navigate complex political landscapes.
“This is the United Germany, and President Bush wrote a note up there. Jim, thanks for all your effective work in making this map possible. I'm really proud of this because I think it was a significant diplomatic achievement. We had a very narrow window of opportunity to unify Germany after the collapse of the Soviet Union.”
“In fact, I expressly had been advised by my grandfather's mantra, if you want to be a good lawyer, work hard, study, and stay out of politics. For 40 years of my life, I stayed out of politics. And then my wife got sick.”
“No, no, we haven't, and that's what I said earlier is regrettable about our polity now. But Ed was on that legislative strategy group. I was, there were other people. And so when stuff would, you know, you operate in a very short time.”
“Sure, do, and it's not just by the way I said a minute ago redistricting, but there's other reasons that you could pinpoint to. One, you know, our representatives no longer take their families up to Washington. When I was up there, there was a lot of socializing across party lines. You don't have that anymore. That's regrettable.”
The Axe Files with David Axelrod — Ep. 176 - Jim Baker
LISTEN AT THE SOURCE ↗THE RECORD IS CHECKABLE