Political Quotes

“I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to one of Tennessee's most distinguished and respected citizens, Mrs. Irene Baker, who passed away last weekend at the age of 92. Although she may have been best known as the wife of the late Congressman Howard Baker, Sr., and the stepmother of former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker Jr., Irene Baker was a dedicated public servant and community leader in her own right. Throughout her life, she devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy to serving the people of east Tennessee, and her many contributions to the State will not soon be forgotten. Mrs. Baker got an early start in politics, working in the Sevier County court clerk's office and the Chancery Court office as a teenager in the 1920's. After marrying Howard Baker, Sr., in 1935, she served as Republican National Committeewoman for Tennessee for 4 years, from 1960-64. Following her husband's death in 1964, Mrs. Baker was elected to serve the remaining 9 months of his term in the House of Representatives, where she upheld his legacy of dedicated service to the citizens of the Second District. At the conclusion of that term, Mrs. Baker became the city of Knoxville's welfare director, a position she held until 1971. In each of these endeavors, Irene Baker was a credit not only to herself and her family, but to her State and the people that she served.”