For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 26, 2001

President Bush to Nominate Baker as Ambassador to Japan

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate Senator Howard Baker, Jr. to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Japan.

"In the tradition of other great leaders who have served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Howard Baker will represent our country with honor and distinction. Howard Baker is a true statesman and the appointment of a man of his experience and expertise exemplifies the importance I place on the relationship between the U.S. and Japan," said President Bush.

Baker is currently with the law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman and Caldwell in Washington, D.C.  He served as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee for 3 terms, including four years as Senate Majority Leader from 1981 to 1985.  He was Chief of Staff to former President Ronald Reagan and was a member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board from 1985 to 1987 and from 1988 to 1990. A native of Huntsville, Tennessee, he is a graduate of Tulane University and received his law degree from the University of Tennessee.