James Baker

Politician

The Honorable James A. Baker, III, 61st U.S. Secretary of State

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About

Gender: Male

Nationality: United States

Languages: English

Travels from: United States

Engagement Types

Themes

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Biography Highlights

61st U.S. Secretary of State: Led U.S. foreign policy during pivotal moments, including the fall of the Iron Curtain and the Gulf War.
Former Treasury Secretary & White House Chief of Staff: Oversaw major economic expansions and global financial policy.
Global Affairs Expert: Offers deep insights into diplomacy, leadership, and economic challenges drawn from decades of experience at the highest levels of government.

Biography

As secretary of state, James Baker stood at the center of an international revolution that saw the fall of the Iron Curtain, led the expulsion of Iraq from Kuwait and peace efforts in the Middle East. He provides incomparable insight into today’s headline-making global and domestic issues. As secretary of the treasury and White House chief of staff to President Reagan, Baker oversaw one of the longest peacetime economic expansions in history. He brings that experience to bear on world economics, offering his audiences an understanding of the complexities of the global economy and the delicate issues that must be addressed by businesses and governments. Named special presidential envoy to Iraq tasked with handling and restructuring Iraqi debt, Baker possesses firsthand knowledge of the Iraqi political, economic and infrastructure challenges. Baker has counseled and dealt with some of the most prominent leaders on the world stage as they handled both crisis and conflict. He shares his understanding of leadership with audiences, underscoring the necessary qualities that make leaders effective.

Topics

World Events

Mr. Baker served as secretary of state as the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War ended, leaving the United States in a uniquely preeminent position – diplomatically, militarily and economically. Now, he says, terrorism and the development and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction have summoned the United States to a new and more difficult kind of leadership, both for our nation’s own protection and to preserve peace and stability around the world. Mr. Baker reviews these and other global challenges, such as turmoil in Ukraine and the Middle East, North Korea’s nuclear challenge, the need to integrate China into the international system, and the continuing battle for free trade and investment.

Available: In person, Virtually

Economic Challenges

Wearing his hat as a former secretary of the treasury, Baker provides valuable insights on the current economic situation. Baker is an advocate for low taxes, restrained federal spending, deregulation, sound money and other policies that sparked two decades of economic growth and worldwide economic liberalization. He offers his perspective on which steps should be taken to ensure the economy is headed in the right direction and the financial markets thrive.

Available: In person, Virtually

Leadership

Using examples from history and from his own experiences in politics and public service, Mr. Baker offers unique insights into what it takes to be an effective leader.

Available: In person, Virtually

And More . . .

On special request, Mr. Baker is also willing to speak about a number of other issues, including religious faith, corporate governance and ethics, personal responsibility, the need to restore civility to public life and the American constitutional principles that produced our nation’s power and prosperity.

Available: In person, Virtually

James'S

TESTIMONIALS

Secretary Baker was a fantastic speaker. He was funny, warm, humble, and very fair in his remarks.

Universities and Colleges

James Baker’s presentation was a complete success. He provided our group with an incisive look at today’s geopolitical landscape. Everyone enjoyed the time with him.

Real Estate

Books

The Politics of Diplomacy: Revolution, War and Peace 1989-1992

The Secretary of State in the Bush Administration recounts his efforts at diplomacy during the extraordinary events of his time in office, from the fall of the U.S.S.R. to the Israeli-Palestinian peace accord. 150,000 first printing. $150,000 ad/promo. First serial, Newsweek.

'Work Hard, Study...and Keep Out of Politics!': Adventures and Lessons from an Unexpected Public Life

The real inside story of why Gerald Ford did not ask Ronald Reagan to be his running mate in 1976−and why Reagan did not pick Ford in 1980; the battle over Florida 2000; the aborted White House job switch that inadvertently opened the door to the Iran-Contra scandal; the Bush campaign’s wish that Dan Quayle would offer to resign from the ticket in 1992; the White House turmoil in the dark days following the Reagan assassination attempt; and a great deal more…. White House Chief of Staff (twice), Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, and campaign chairman for three different candidates in five successive presidential campaigns−few people have lived and breathed politics as deeply as James Baker. Now, with candor and Texas-style storytelling, and not a few surprises, he takes us into his thirty-five years behind the scenes. None of it was planned. His grandfather, the “Captain,” drilled this advice into him: “Work hard, study…and keep out of politics!” Then a personal tragedy changed the life of a forty-year-old Texas Democratic lawyer and he never looked back. From campaign horsetrading, which sometimes got rough (“Politics ain’t beanbag,” says Baker), to the inner councils of the Reagan and Bush administrations and the controversies beyond, Baker offers frank talk and spellbinding narratives, along with personal appraisals of six presidents and a constellation of others. It was a long, unexpected journey from Houston, Texas, to Washington, D.C.−and you’ll want to travel it with him.

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