Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, who has served over the years as troubleshooter for former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, looks set to jump on the bandwagon for former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., as he nears running for president in 2016.
Promoting James Baker: The Man Who Made Washington Work, a new PBS documentary on him, the former secretary will appear on Ora.TVs Politicking with Larry King on Tuesday night.
King pointed to reports that former first lady Barbara Bush was opposed to the former Florida governor running in 2016 but Baker said that was mistaken.
I dont think its right to say that Barbaras opposed to his running, she was a couple years ago, but I think shes changed her views on that, and I think shes 100 percent supportive, Baker said.
Baker added he was for Bush in 2016 and praised his efforts so far in the campaign. Back in December, Bush launched an exploratory committee for a presidential bid.
Im very hopeful that hes going to run, I think hes done a really good job so far in the invisible primary, and locking up a lot of financial support and political support, Baker told King.
I certainly am strongly supportive of Jebs candidacy, Baker added. I think, and Ive said before, I think he would make an excellent president.
Baker certainly knows something of politics at the national level. He led President Gerald Fords unsuccessful campaign back in 1976 and the elder Bushs 1980 effort. Despite running against Ford in 1976 and Bush in 1980, President Ronald Reagan named Baker as White House chief of staff, though conservatives tried to oust Baker during Reagans first term. Baker led Reagans successful re-election effort in 1984 before taking over as treasury secretary. In 1988, Baker returned to the Bush camp, leading his successful presidential campaign. Baker played a lesser role in Bushs unsuccessful bid for a second term in 1992.
King asked Baker about Jeb Bush bringing former U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, a prominent hawk and neoconservative, on as an adviser. Baker replied that he was also advising the former Florida governor.
I have talked to Gov. Bush a little bit about foreign policy and he talked to me about listing me as one of his advisers, and I said Id be honored to be listed, and I said, But you know, Governor, its important to you, as you begin to face these Republican primary contests, that you not seem to be pigeonholed on either side of the political divide on foreign policy between either idealists, or realists. The fact of the matter is, in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy, youve got to have a healthy dose of realism, national interest, but you also have to remember that Americas foreign policy is based in large part on our principles and values, Baker told King. So, dont let yourself get pigeonholed on one side or the other of that divide, as long as youre trying to be elected president. Once youre elected, then youll have to make a decision of where you come down.
So you have advisers on both sides of issues? King asked.
So he has a healthy staple of advisers on both sides, yes indeed, Baker replied.
King turned to another former secretary of state considering running for president in 2016: former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who is the favorite for the Democratic nomination.
I guess you expect her to run, King said.
I think its almost a given that shes going to run, Baker replied.
Baker told King he expected the economy to remain the most important issue in 2016 and looked ahead toward the primaries.
The Republican Party this year has taken some steps to see to it that we dont have so many of these debates, Larry, that were detrimental and harmful to Mitt Romney -- who, by the way, wouldve been an excellent president, Baker said. And were not going to have as many as those, theyre going to put a limit on that; were not going to have states try to seek to advance their ranking in the primary date and when they can hold their primaries The RNC, I think, has got a handle on that. So, you know, itll be a healthy primary, its wide open, we dont necessarily have an heir apparent; if we have one, its Jeb Bush. And, but you know, its not always the best thing in the world to be, the heir apparent. Although it usually is for the Republicans, but you dont want to be the front-runner in presidential primaries, necessarily.
I have great confidence in Gov. Bush, though, and I think that ... hes a man of some enormous capacity, and he will handle himself very well, Baker added.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
