Howard Baker Dies At 88

Above, Howard Baker in 1989.

Former U.S. Senator, U.S. Ambassador to Japan and White House Chief-of-Staff Howard H. Baker of Tennessee died at age 88.

According to an article in Japan Today:

Baker, who served in Tokyo from 2001 until early 2005, died Thursday at his home, according to an email distributed at the law firm where Baker was senior counsel. He died as a result of complications from a stroke suffered Saturday, the email said.

Baker was a member of the Senate Select Committee investigating the Watergate break-in and came up with the memorable question, "What did the president know and when did he know it?"

I met Baker at a dinner at the Hollywood Palladium in 1973 and photographed him at the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas as we both stood in line to buy rolls of film. Baker was a well-known shutterbug.

Baker served as President Reagan's Chief-of-Staff during the last two years of the Reagan Administration.