The Bush
Batch

A look at the key
men and women
advising
George Bush.

ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM/ASSISTANT EDITOR

James Baker. Key friend and advisor.

ames Baker chews Red Man tobacco,
graduated from Princeton, has a rep-
utation for telling it like it 'Us ("He
doesn't lie" a Life profile reported) and
hunts wild turkey. His game plan for
the hunt: "Get them where you want them, on
your terms."
He also is heading the George Bush for Pres-
ident campaign. He is said to be the most pow-
erful figure in the campaign — one who has and
will continue to wield great influence over Mr.
Bush. In a new Bush administration, Mr. Baker
will take on the title Economic Czar.
"They are as close to being equals as any pres-
ident and a subordinate have ever been," writer
Victor Gold told Time magazine. The president
reportedly regards Mr. Baker as a younger broth-
er.
A man said to have great ambitions — ob-
servers don't rule out a presidential campaign in
the near future — Mr. Baker is described as a
bright and formidable, if dispassionate, politi-
cian.
"Smooth, shrewd, tough and coolly ambitious,"
is what the Washington Post called him.
"He'll stomp on anyone in his way, even a
friend" former new Hampshire Gov. Hugh Gregg
said. "Probe a bit, and you'll find that he doesn't
really have much compassion for people."
"Frugal" others label Mr. Baker, whose net
worth is said to top the $4 million mark. Non-
materialistic some say, though Mr. Baker admits
a consuming passion for land. He is called loyal
and decisive, a quick decision maker. How Mr.
Baker describes himself: well planned. His mot-
to is, "Proper preparation prevents poor perfor-
mance," an axiom he learned from his father.
James Baker III was born in Houston in 1930.
His father was a strict disciplinarian who woke
his son by throwing cold water in his face. Af-
ter college, James III returned to Texas and be-
gan work in corporate law, practicing until 1975.
Among his neighbors was George Bush, with
whom he often played tennis at the Houston
Country Club.
In 1975, President Gerald Ford named Mr.
Baker undersecretary of commerce. In 1980, Mr.
Baker helped secure Mr. Bush's position as run-
ning mate for Ronald Reagan. In the Reagan ad-
ministration, Mr. Baker worked as White House
chief of staff and as treasury secretary. In 1989,
he was sworn in as the 61st secretary of state,
under President George Bush.
Mr. Baker has made his share of enemies while
serving in public office (leading women's activists
label Mr. Baker anti-ERA). Probably his most
stiff opposition has come from Jewish groups.
"It's no secret that the secretary of state is no
great fan of Israel," writes National Review
Washington bureau chief William McGurn.
Since Bush — and, therefore, Baker — came
to power, the United States has made numerous
decisions generally looked on with disfavor by
the Jewish community. In 1989, the United
States recognized the Palestine Liberation Or-
ganization, ostensibly after the PLO recognized

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