[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 39 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE IRENE BAILEY BAKER

  (Mr. QUILLEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and great sorrow 
that I rise to inform the House that our esteemed former colleague, 
Irene Bailey Baker, passed away on Saturday, April 2, 1994, at the age 
of 92. Mrs. Baker succeeded her husband, Howard H. Baker, Sr., as a 
Member of this body upon his untimely death and served out the 
remainder of his term from March 10, 1964, to January 3, 1965.
  In her public and private life, Mrs. Baker carried on the proud 
family tradition of representing the people and their best interests. I 
had the distinct privilege and honor of serving alongside Howard Baker, 
Sr., until his death, alongside Mrs. Baker, and at the same time as 
their son Howard Baker, Jr., during his 18 years in the Senate, and as 
Senator Baker's father-in-law, Senator Everett Dirksen, a giant leader 
in that body.
  Edith Irene Bailey was born on November 17, 1901, in the hills on 
Sevier County, TN, and was educated there. She began her public service 
at age 17 as an employee in the local court system where her father was 
a judge. In 1935 she married Howard Baker, a local attorney general and 
widower, and stood by his side steadfastly as he made several 
unsuccessful attempts to run for public office before his ultimate 
success. They had two wonderful daughters together, and she also took 
his son, Howard, Jr., to raise as her own. The values and determination 
that she helped instill in her stepson became evident as he later grew 
to be one of the most distinguished U.S. Senators in the history of 
that body, and served as its Republican leader from 1977 to 1985, 
afterward serving as White House Chief of Staff at a most difficult 
time under President Reagan.

  Although there are only 12 of us remaining in the House who served 
alongside Mrs. Baker, we cannot forget the effort and tireless devotion 
she brought to her congressional duties. Her service on the Committee 
on Government Operations was exemplary. She constantly gave her all to 
represent the interests and meet the needs of her constituents and her 
State. Mrs. Baker and I worked closely together in the House during my 
first term, not only as a friend but as a legislator on the floor of 
the House as well. She also was a proud standard bearer of the 
principles of the Republican Party, which she loved and of which she 
was national committeewoman for Tennessee from 1960 to 1964.
  After her departure from the House of Representatives in 1965, Mrs. 
Baker put her skills and her extraordinary compassion to good use as 
the director of public welfare for the city of Knoxville from 1965 to 
1971, and thus continued her public service in helping the neediest 
Tennesseans and showing through her example that no obstacle is 
insurmountable. After her retirement, she lived a long and full life at 
her east Tennessee home and was devoted to her extensive family and her 
numerous friends. Her passion for her community was legendary, and she 
remained active and outgoing up until the day she was taken from us. 
She was laid to her final rest on April 4 beside her husband at 
Sherwood Memorial Gardens in Knoxville, TN.
  Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Baker is survived by Senator Baker, her two 
daughters, Mary Baker Stuart and Beverly Baker Patestides, six 
grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. 
She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, 
Member of Congress, and community leader, and a dear friend. I know 
that all my colleagues and all of the people of Tennessee join me in 
extending our heartfelt sympathy to the entire family in their time of 
sorrow, which I am certain we all share.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Second Congressional 
District, the Honorable John Duncan, Jr.
  (Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, 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. I know I speak for all east Tennesseans in saluting her 
distinguished service and in offering my sincerest condolences to the 
entire Baker family.
  Mr. Speaker, I will attach to my remarks an article concerning Mrs. 
Baker and her life that ran in the Knoxville News Sentinel following 
her death.

         Graveside Services Today at 2:30 p.m. for Irene Baker

       Graveside services and burial for Irene Baker, widow of 
     Howard Baker Sr., will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at Sherwood 
     Memorial Gardens.
       Memorials may be made to the Knoxville Zoological Gardens 
     or the American Heart Association and friends may call 12:30 
     to 2 p.m. today at Mann's Heritage Chapel, 6200 Kingston 
     Pike.
       Baker, 92, had a massive heart attack while dining with 
     friends Saturday at the Dinner Bell Restaurant in Loudon 
     County and was pronounced dead at Fort Sanders Loudon Medical 
     Center.
       She was a native of Sevierville who became familiar with 
     politics as a teenager, holding a job in the Sevier County 
     court clerk's office and the Chancery Court office during the 
     1920s
       She was Republican national committeewoman for Tennessee 
     from 1960 to 1964 and married Howard Baker Sr. in 1935.
       After her husband's death in 1964, Mrs. Baker won a special 
     election to serve the remaining nine months of his term in 
     Congress. She was noted as a ``common-sense Republican'' who 
     favored a sound economy and individual freedom.
       After leaving Congress, Mrs. Baker was welfare director for 
     the city of Knoxville from 1965 until 1971.
       She was the stepmother of Howard Baker Jr., who represented 
     Tennessee in the U.S. Senate and was former President Ronald 
     Reagan's chief of staff.
       Survivors include: Howard H. Baker Jr., Huntsville, Tenn.; 
     Mary Baker Stuart, Abingdon, Va.; Beverly Baker Patestides, 
     New York City; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, 
     two nieces and three nephews.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield to the gentlewoman from 
Chattanooga, TN, the Honorable Marilyn Lloyd.
  (Mrs. LLOYD asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. LLOYD. Mr. Speaker, the people of Tennessee and the Nation 
suffered a great loss last week with the passing of Mrs. Irene Bailey 
Baker on April 2.
  Mrs. Baker, a native of Sevier County in east Tennessee, is perhaps 
best known as the wife of Rep. Howard Baker and the mother of Senator 
Howard Baker, Jr.
  But Mrs. Baker also led a unique career in public service herself. At 
age 17, she began her career in the Sevier County court system. Mrs. 
Baker then married and devoted herself to her family, and their call to 
serve the people of east Tennessee. She later served as a Member of 
this body after her husband's untimely death. After serving out the 
remainder of her husband's term, Mrs. Baker returned to her home in 
east Tennessee to serve as director of public welfare for the city of 
Knoxville.
  Mrs. Baker touched many people through her role as a public servant 
and as a caring, compassionate person. I know that my colleagues join 
me in extending their deepest sympathy to the Baker family in their 
time of sorrow.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the Honorable Don Sundquist from 
the Seventh Congressional District.
  (Mr. SUNDQUIST asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. SUNDQUIST. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues from 
Tennessee, Mr. Quillen and Mr. Duncan, in saluting the life and service 
of the late Irene Bailey Baker.
  In her brief service in this House in 1964 and 1965, she represented 
the people of Tennessee with diligence and dignity, as her husband, 
Howard Baker Senior, did before her.
  Mr. Quillen has recounted Mrs. Baker's exemplary public service in 
Congress, for the city of Knoxville, and for the people of Tennessee.
  I came to know her through my long friendship with her stepson, 
Howard Baker Junior. Howard has often credited her example and 
encouragement for his own interest in public service, which of course, 
carried him to the positions of Senate majority leader and White House 
chief of staff.
  Mrs. Baker was a kind and gracious woman, a person of genuine warmth, 
delightful company, and a true example of a life well and fully lived.
  This House is richer for her service, however brief. And the State of 
Tennessee is richer for her life and example. I offer my condolences to 
her children and grandchildren, and trust that they will be comforted 
by the knowledge her legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew 
her.
  Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee, 
John Tanner.
  (Mr. TANNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to the memory of Mrs. 
Irene Baker.

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