Secretary of the Treasury James Baker is a far piece from the muddy Illinois caravan of George Bush, but he is the most important figure in the Vice President's campaign. How Baker tunes the economy will, more than any other factor besides the nature of Bush himself, determine the Republican future, not to mention Ronald Reagan's rendezvous with history.
Baker presides in a glorious, bright office with a log fire that cuts the late-winter chill. He looks out one tall window on the White House gardens, out another toward Alexander Hamilton in the splendor of bronze and new cherry buds. Pity...