BAKER SHOWS LIGHT TOUCH IN NEW JOB

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP90-00965R000201010005-6
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
1
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
January 20, 2012
Sequence Number: 
5
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 3, 1987
Content Type: 
OPEN SOURCE
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PDF icon CIA-RDP90-00965R000201010005-6.pdf103.01 KB
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Si Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000201010005-6 II i R 'tiASHINGTCN POST 3 ''.arch 1987 Baker Shows Light Touch in New Job Staff Chiefs Debut Contrasts With Stvle of `Prime Minister' Regan i By Lou Cannon . Washington Post Staff Writer Former senator Howard H. Bak- er Jr., making his first appearance in the White House briefing room as President Reagan's chief of staff, demonstrated yesterday that he takes his new job more seriously than he takes himself. Displaying the comfort of an ac- complished political performer who knows that he is following an unpop- ular act, Baker assured reporters that he has no intention of becom- ing "prime minister," the unofficial title bestowed on and accepted by his fallen predecessor, Donald T. Regan. "I am acutely aware of the fact that Ronald Reagan is president and I am not, and that my role and re- sponsibility is to serve as his chief of staff, to carry out his programs and proposals and to serve him in whatever capacity I can in that role," Baker said. The contrast with Regan could not have been more stark. In the infrequent public appearances of his last months, Regan invariably was surrounded by a retinue of aides and Secret Service agents. He also used the imperial "we" when refer- ring to himself and the president. Baker arrived yesterday with a single aide and without pomp and circumstance. He said he intended to brief reporters regularly and, in the relaxed manner of a man who does not mind new challenges, he confessed that the job is more chal- lenging than he had anticipated. "I may not have to brief any- more," White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater quipped after Bak- er departed. Despite the self-deprecation, Bak- er gave every appearance of being in charge. He came to the briefing armed with the announcement that Robert M. Gates had withdrawn as the president's nominee to be direc- tor of central intelligence and a mut- ed apology that Reagan has not cho- sen a replacement. Baker also came prepared to deal with the sensitive question of Nan- cy Reagan, the nemesis of Regan in his fall frdm power. On a plane ride to Miami last week before he was tapped to become chief of staff, Baker had discussed the first lady with an editor of The Miami Herald, saying that "when she gets her hackles up, she can be a dragon." Baker blandly acknowledged the accuracy of the quotation and called Nancy Reagan "a distinguished cit- izen" and "obviously a lady of strong convictions. That's what I meant." When a reporter pursued this by asking Baker what he intended to talk about when he met the first lady later in the day, he said, "What- ever she wants to talk about." Baker's mission yesterday was to defend the proposition that the president is healthy, vigorous and alert in the face of numerous sug- gestions-some by members of the Tower special review board-that Reagan is anything but that. Even in this difficult venture, Baker tried not to overdo it. In the talk with the editor in which he had discussed Nancy Rea- gan, Baker had said that the pres- ident sometimes bore a "blank ex- pression" when conversation turned to matters that had been discussed two weeks earlier. Baker acknowledged the accura- cy of this quotation, then tried to turn it to Reagan's advantage. "In my experience as majority leader, I found that the president was as good as anybody in the give- and-take discussion on sensitive, important and complex issues but that, when you approached him about it two weeks or two months later, you found that the half-life of the memory was short," Baker told a reporter. "But so is mine. And so is yours, I suspect." The absence of tension that char- acterized the briefing was even more prevalent behind the scenes, according to White House officials. Baker started the day by meeting with holdover officials and telling them that there will be no blanket firings. He asked departing political director Mitchell E. Daniels to stay on for another month. And he met with Fitzwater and said, "I want you to stay and take the blame." "Thank you," replied Fitzwater, who took over a month ago from Lar- ry Speakes and has displayed the light touch apparently valued by Bak- er. "You can almost feel that a heavy hand has been lifted from the White House," a senior White House official said of Baker's first-day performance. But Baker also made his weight felt. Officials said he decided before coming to the White House that Regan ally Peter J. Wallison, the White House counsel whose resigna- tion was announced yesterday, should be replaced. Other Regan aides, known as "the mice," also are expect- ed to be replaced. Sources said Baker is participat- ing actively in selecting_ a replace- , ment for Gates. ~ rr has been f' distrustful of the __Central Inter gence Agency's performance since Watergate days, wien he once re- ferred_to the CIA as anima mals crash- ing_ around in the fnrest" that he "could hear but not see." Baker did not~ispTay these con- victions publicly yesterday, appar- ently content to draw the contrast with the departed Regan and exer- cise his influence behind the scenes. Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000201010005-6