Baker Breaks the Fever

A casual country boy is off to a fast start as chief of staff

Wearing a grin almost as wide as the Tennessee River, a relaxed Howard Baker sailed through his first full week as President Reagan's chief of staff, leaving warm feelings in his wake. "Are you having more fun than if you were running for President?" he was asked. "Anything's more fun than running for President," replied the man who passed up one more try at the top job to settle for what many consider the second most powerful post in Washington. The former Senate majority leader's calm, quip-filled manner contrasted sharply with that of Don Regan, his tightly wound, autocratic predecessor. Said...

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