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[Public Mail File Congratulations: 03/11/1987] (7)
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[Public Mail File Congratulations: 03/11/1987] (7)
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Records of the Office of the Chief of Staff (Reagan Administration)
Howard Baker's Congratulations Files
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual
collections.
Collection: Baker, Howard H. Jr.: Files
Folder Title: [Public Mail File
Congratulations: 03/11/1987] (7)
Box: 12
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
March 11, 1987
Dear Mr. Blair:
Thank you for your kind message. I
appreciate your warm words of support
and confidence.
With best wishes,
Sincerely,
Howard H. Baker, Jr.
Chief of Staff to the President
Mr. W. Robert Blair
39 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60603
HHB/SW/WJB/ckbf7
HHB-1
HHB
W. ROBERT BLAIR, LTD.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
39 SOUTH LASALLE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
312-372-2375
March 3, 1987
Honorable Howard H. Baker, Jr.
Chief of Staff
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Senator:
In prevailing upon you to become his Chief of Staff, the President
made the right move at the right time. No one could have summed
it up better than the Chicago Tribune did in its March 1 editorial
where it stated
"In persuading Howard Baker, former Senate Majority
Leader to replace Regan, he put into the key job
the most qualified man in America to hold it".
While the White House clipping service undoubtedly picked up the
Tribune editorial as well as the Sun-Times editorial of March 1,
which was also laudatory, I am enclosing copies of both of them
for your perusal just in case you missed them.
I can certainly understand your feeling that your duties and re-
sponsibilities as Chief of Staff would preclude you from running
for President, but I wouldn't shut the door too firmly on this.
By this time next year, no potential candidate is going to be as
knowledgeable as you in running the country and this will be
apparent to the Congress, the media and to the people. A genuine
draft movement might be started and you could end up being the
nominee of the Republican Party.
In any event, if I can be of help or assistance to you in your
new role or with regard to the politics of 1988 please don't hes-
itate to call upon me.
Sincerely,
Bob
W. Robert Blair
WRB:ek
Enclosures
Chicago Tribune
FOUNDED June 10. 1847
STANTON R. COOK. Publisher
CHARLES T. BRUMBACK. President
JAMES D. SQUIRES. Editor
F. RICHARD CICCONE. Managing Editor
JACK FULLER, Editorial Page Editor
COLLEEN DISHON, Associate Editor
LOIS WILLE, Associate Editorial Page Editor
DENIS GOSSELIN, Associate Editor
2
Section 4
Sunday, March 1, 1987
Reagan must rescue his presidency
This never would have happened to Gary Cooper.
were and what they were doing on the day he alleg-
The leading man, which Mr. Cooper epitomized and
edly approved the arms for hostage swap.
fellow movie actor Ronald Reagan always wanted and
On Friday the President finally dumped Donald
finally became in the ultimate real-life drama, is not
Regan, years too late, and took the first step in a long
supposed to lose it all in the end. He is supposed to
time that suggests he hasn't played one scene too
ride off to glory in the sunset, having overcome the
many. In persuading Howard Baker, former Senate
greatest of odds and the fiercest of enemies.
Majority Leader, to replace Regan, he put into the key
But in his most important role, that of President of
job the most qualified man in America to hold it.
the United States, Ronald Reagan's final act may be
Now if Mr. Reagan decides to hand off presidential
stumbling off toward the horizon. With less than two
responsibility now, he will at least be passing it to the
years left, what had been a rather outstanding per-
most capable hands in Washington.
formance is bordering dangerously on the pathetic, an
It might not be a bad idea if Mr. Baker is only the
ending so sad and out of character that even the har-
beginning. In recent weeks the Reagan inner circle
shest of critics would rather not watch.
had been reduced to two-Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese
Ronald Reagan, the President if not the actor, de-
and the First Lady. Both are fine and loyal friends
serves better than finishing up a tired and confused
but neither has nor deserves the confidence of the
figure, tortured by a failing memory, a failed staff and
American people as a Svengali on the affairs of
a defensive wife meddling in the affairs of state.
state.
Incredibly, that was the picture of the President that
There is still plenty of room in this administration
emerged this last week in the wake of the Irangate
for people of stature, experience and expertise. And
scandal which has decimated his administration at
there is still plenty of time for them to come on board
home, tarnished his once-brilliant image abroad and,
and put the Reagan presidency back on track.
perhaps most important, sapped his own strength and
The next step should be the return of Gen. Brent
confidence.
Scowcroft, a member of the Tower Commission, to
the White House as the national security adviser, a
In less than a week, Mr. Reagan has been embar-
post he held under President Ford. No one ever did
rassed by his own faulty recollections about whether he
the job better.
ordered the delivery of U.S. arms to Iran in exchange
If Secretary of State George Shultz has lost his credi-
for hostages; endured the humiliation of a silly public
bility and zeal, as he may have, then he too should be
spat between his wife, Nancy, and former Chief of
replaced. Treasury Secretary James Baker, who ap-
Staff Donald Regan; received diplomatic insults from
pears to be our most effective foreign envoy at the
ungrateful and opportunistic Middle East allies; suf-
moment, or former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger,
fered the polite but forceful rebukes of a commission
could fill the void.
he had appointed to tell him what went wrong with
Even former President Nixon could be enlisted on a
his 'foreign policy; and heard scandalous reports of
special emissary basis to help deal with the Soviet
possible criminal indictments against a wide array of
Union and re-establish some sense of strength and
close friends and former White House insiders.
stability abroad, where Mr. Nixon's reputation was
Beneath it all, a terribly difficult but unavoidable
never damaged the way it was at home. And he might
question is nagging the nation and begging to be an-
have some good advice on other matters, too. No
swered: Is Ronald Reagan still capably in charge?
president alive has suffered so deeply from scandal. If
The reasons for asking it are both legitimate and
anyone knows the mistakes that must be avoided, it is
compelling. For starters, the President is 76 years
Richard Nixon.
old and plagued with health problems. Even more
All these people have qualifications the Reagan ad-
alarming was the miserable performance of his ad-
ministration sorely needs. They are all battle-hardened
ministration at Reykjavik last October in a poten-
veterans in the wars of public policy. And they are
tially disastrous confrontation with Soviet General
patriotic enough to answer as Howard Baker did the
Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. And most recently, as
call of a U.S. President in dire trouble, which this one
the Tower Commission report proved, the handling
seems to be whether he realizes or not.
of the Irangate policy scandal has been positively
This country is tired of watching its presidents
abysmal, topped last week when the President finally
limp from office. And if there is one who ought to
met with a few reporters and explained his loss of
go marching off stage proudly it is Ronald Reagan,
memory on a major policy decision by asking them,
even if he has to do it firmly in the grasp of such a
cast
Chicago Sun-Times
An Independent Newspaper
Kenneth D. Towers, Managing Editor
K. K. Gaur, Editor of the Editorial Pages
Reagan must
do two things
The damaging Tower Commission report should force
vengeance. All bureaucracies-in government and in the
President Reagan to do two things:
private sector-tend to run rampant if not kept under
Modify his style of detached management in a way that
constant scrutiny. The NSC is particularly vulnerable to
demonstrates he is firmly in charge.
this tendency because it is so isolated from the outside
Fill in whatever gaps of information he can in his speech
world.
to the nation later this week, with a commitment that
Dealing in secrets of the highest order, it has the
more will follow.
capability of getting away with secret doings. Apparently
Reagan's first major action following the report was
even the topmost officials of the Reagan administration
commendable. He chose former Senate Republican leader
were not always fully aware of what the NSC was up to. A
Howard Baker to replace the discredited Don Regan as
White House chief of staff more attuned to the problems
White House chief of staff. Capitol Hill reaction to that
that secrecy can help create would have been more alert.
news ranged from praiseworthy to descriptions of it as
Baker in that role can be of inestimable value to the
"brilliant" and a "masterstroke."
president. Baker can be trusted to advise Reagan fully on
But it would be a mistake to exaggerate Baker's
the political and public-opinion fallout-and the ethical
potential for shaping changes. His popularity with Con-
implications-from proposed options which other aides
gress, of course, will help the president with a Senate and
bring to the Oval Office.
House now fully controlled by the Democrats, and the
As it is, military people like Poindexter and Oliver
Tennessean's credibility among the media will bring new
North, taking upon themselves the responsibility of
respect for operations at the center of government power.
achieving the president's compassionate aim of gaining
However, that appointment does not relieve No. 1 of
the freedom of American hostages held by Iran's friends
responsibility for what has gone wrong, nor will it allow
in Lebanon, went seemingly beserk.
Reagan to continue to rule without immersing himself in
And the president either did not quite understand what
the detailed grunt work of running the government.
they were doing or did not care what methods they were
It does not really matter whether Reagan actually uses
using-in either case a disastrous situation. This merely
the word "sorry" in his speech Wednesday. His actions
emboldened them to do something for another cause the
will tell whether he truly is or not. Surely, there is plenty
president passionately espoused-the contras.
to be sorry about.
One must remember that the Tower Commission did its
As forceful as the language is in the Tower Commis-
diligent digging in the narrowly prescribed framework
sion's report on the Iran and contras affair, it still seems
traditional to presidential panels. The president had
to soft-pedal the fundamental fact that when all is said
asked it to look into the working of the National Security
and done, the man to ultimately blame is not Regan, or
John Poindexter, or Robert McFarlane, but Ronald
Reagan. No amount of finger-pointing by anyone can-or
Council and to come up with recommendations for im-
should-obscure that central fact.
provement. It did not have, nor was it supposed to have,
We are not sure the president realizes the ridicule he
the tools or the power of a prosecutor. Other investiga-
has invited by seeking to make light of the fact that he
tions therefore will go into greater details and other areas,
does not remember whether he authorized the shipment
especially the contra connection, the alleged diversion of
of arms to Iran in August, 1985-if inability to recall is
proceeds from the sale of U.S. weapons to Iran. Wherever
indeed the reason for two contradictory responses he gave
the trail of possible illegality leads-in the Iran affair or
the Tower Commission on this crucial question.
the contra connection-it must be followed.
Nor are we sure the president has, as yet, taken the
In dealing with those inquiries, Baker again will be of
kind of aggressive approach in ferreting out the truth that
enormous help. He draws on his experience as a member
an angry chief executive should on learning his trusted
of the Senate Watergate Committee that probed abuses of
subordinates have misled and deceived him. One is
power in the Nixon administration. He is fully aware of
entitled to wonder why.
the line between presidential and congressional authority
No changes in the White House staff or in the Cabinet
that must be observed in maintaining our system of
will help if the Reagan style does not change. We don't
checks and balances.
agree with partisan critics who say Reagan is incapable of
But once again, the point needs to be stressed that
demonstrating mastery of governmental mechanisms. A
Reagan's performance is what really matters. It remains a
number of past actions have proved otherwise.
sad irony, indeed, that a president who restored the
Irangate does not represent the first time high-level
shattered credibility of the country in world affairs, gave
presidential aides operating from their bureaucratic for-
the people cause to rejoice and lifted their morale with
tress have created a monumental mess. And this will not
firm and vigorous leadership has now, in the final years of
be the last time, either.
his presidency, managed to inflict such grievous damage
Only a president alert to the need of those sensitivities
on the same restored credibility and rejuvenated spirit.
will be able to avoid such debacles. And if a president is,
The president must demonstrate that he appreciates
like Reagan, not given to attending to details, he needs to
the gravity of what happened. Charm and amiability,
be doubly careful.
which he has in plenty and has put to good use before in
The same thing applies to the National Security Coun-
getting out of bad situations, will no more suffice.
cil, the advisory agency that went operational with a
Reagan cannot afford-and the country cannot afford
and the free world cannot afford-to have a wounded,
discredited administration for two years.
March 11, 1987
Dear Mr. Nunley:
Thank you for your kind message. I
appreciate your warm words of support
and confidence.
With best wishes,
Sincerely,
Howard H. Baker, Jr.
Chief of Staff to the President
Mr. Harry H. Nunley
Route 5, Box 444
North Chattanooga, TN 37405
HHB/SW/WJB/ckbf7
HHB-1
us
AAB-1
Harry H. Nunley
Route #5, Box 444
N. Chattanooga, TN 37405
(Proud American)
March 1, 1987
Honorable Howard
Baker
Just a Word of
Congragulations
Ifeel like Presdent
decision Reagan Made a Wise
Mr. Baker I am an
INvalid, but still take
Time to Watch the News
Harry Respectfully, N. nunley
PhoNe 1-615 658- 6098
March 11, 1987
Dear Mr. Wilkins:
Thank you for your kind message. I
appreciate your warm words of support
and-confidence.
With best wishes,
Sincerely,
Howard H. Baker, Jr.
Chief of Staff to the President
Mr. Roger Wilkins
Institute for Policy Studies
1901 Q Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
HHB/SW/WJB/ckbf7
HHB-1
HAB-1
Institute for Policy Studies
March 2, 1987
Senator Howard Baker
The White House
Washington, DC 20009
Dear Senator Baker--
Once when I was writing for The Washington Star, you gave me
a splendid telephone interview about Senator Dirksen. I thought
you were a good guy before that and I thought you were a wonderful
guy after that.
As a liberal black Democrat--long before we ever knew about
the arms sales to Iran--I believed all the things about your new
boss that the Tower Board said about him. BUT, I think the nation
surely doesn't need the spectacle or the ordeal of a presidency
disintegrating over 22 months. So, this is all to say that I think
you're a great fellow and a real patriot and that we all owe you
a large debt of thanks-Evans & Novak notwithstanding.
Sincerely,
Of Din
P.S. Don't ever let Novak know you got congratulations from IPS
or you're dead.
1901 Que Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. 20009 (202) 234-9382
Paulus Potterstraat 20, 1071 DA Amsterdam, Holland (020) 72 66 08
134
March 11, 1987
Dear Reverend O'Brien:
Thank you for your kind message. I
appreciate your warm words of support
and confidence.
With best wishes,
Sincerely,
Howard H. Baker, Jr.
Chief of Staff to the President
The Reverend Chester O'Brien
First Baptist Church
Tyler and 13th
Amarillo, TX 79101-4296
HHB/SW/WJB/ckbf7
HHB-1
65
First Baptist Church
TYLER AND THIRTEENTH
HHB-1
Amarillo, Texas 79101-4296
CHESTER O'BRIEN
MINISTER TO SENIOR ADULTS
AND EVANGELISM
Senator Howard Baker
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Senator Baker:
You have no idea how relieved I
am since you came on board as
Chief of Staff.
We're pulling for you and the
Reagans.
Sincerely,
A Window
Toward Heaven
Chester O'Brien, Jr.
REAGAN_
Besr
" his windows being open... he kneeled
three times a day, and prayed, and gave
thanks before God..."
Daniel 6:10
A devotional study of prayer...
1