James Baker to speak at forum on American presidency

Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, a leading figure in American politics for two decades, will speak at a public forum on "Making History: A View From Inside the White House" at 4 p.m. Jan. 28, in Old Cabell Hall Auditorium.

Baker, a Texas lawyer now involved in international trade and finance, has an intimate knowledge of world affairs, finance and politics. He has held senior positions under three presidents. He served as secretary of state from 1989 to 1992 under President Bush and also as White House chief of staff and senior counselor to Bush from 1992 to 1993. He was secretary of the treasury and chair of the President's Economic Policy Council from 1985 to 1988 under President Reagan and before was Reagan's chief of staff. His career in public service began in 1975 as undersecretary of commerce in the Ford administration. Baker also helped run Republican presidential campaigns between 1976 and 1992.

The forum, sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs, is in conjunction with the opening of the photographic exhibit, "Time and The Presidency," featuring Time magazine's best photographs of presidents from Roosevelt to Clinton. Philip D. Zelikow, director of the Miller Center and White Burkett Miller Professor of History, will moderate the forum. Zelikow served on the National Security Council staff during the Bush administration.