In the legacy of Senator Howard H. Baker Jr.
Senator Howard H. Baker Jr.’s career modeled a vision of leadership and democracy based on being an eloquent listener, thoughtful learner, and committed public servant. These elements build the foundation of the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs.
Next week will mark what would have been Baker’s 99th birthday, and after a polarized presidential election season, it is essential to remember one of the late Senator’s favorite lines – “the Republic will survive.”
This past spring, at dedication events honoring Baker’s legacy and the transformation of the school, his former legislative assistant, Lamar Alexander, tried to explain what Baker meant by that line and how the school will contribute to continuing his legacy.
“Whether it was an obstinate senator, war, or a presidential election,” said Alexander, former Tennessee Governor and Senator with his own dedicated public service career. “Howard would often say the Republic will survive. He used the term republic and not democracy because democracy is a government by the majority, while a republic is governed by an elected body according to a constitution, one with checks and balances.”
These past few years have shown how divided our country is, but Alexander believes that is where the Baker School has a role to fill by grounding the next generation of public problem solvers in the legacy of Senator Baker and preparing them to lead.
Baker students at all levels are rooted in the understanding of America’s institutions, respect for opposing viewpoints, and mastering the art of the possible to solve complex problems by finding common ground. Those principles shaped Baker’s career and are the bedrock of the Baker student experience.
The Baker School’s curriculum isn’t the only thing rooted in the legacy of Baker. The Center for National Security and Foreign Affairs (NSFA) follows Baker’s footsteps when he was Ambassador to Japan. NSFA’s research and scholarly activity has a heavy emphasis on the Indo-Pacific region, taking students to Japan for an extensive foreign affairs experience. The Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy (CETEP) continues Baker’s work in the energy and environmental policy fields. Baker School students gain hands-on experience in local government in Knoxville, state government in Nashville, and federal government in Washington, D.C.
Another one of Baker’s favorite phrases—“the other fellow might be right”—is the framework for the Baker School’s podcast You Might Be Right, hosted by former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam. The podcast brings opposing views together for civil conversations on challenging topics, such as the Electoral College, national debt, and gun control—something else that defined Baker’s career.
Baker believed that public service is among the highest callings in human society, and here at the Baker School, we are educating the next generation to take up that calling and the pressing national need for individuals committed to Baker’s vision of public service and democracy.