November 13-15: In commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Senator Howard H. Baker
A ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of late Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr. (U.S. Ambassador to Japan) was held at the Baker School at the University of Tennessee, Senator Baker’s alma mater. I was affiliated with University of Tennessee from 1990 to 1992 as Special Assistant to the President (initially to President Alexander Lamar, who later became Governor of Tennessee and a Republican Senator, and subsequently to President Johnson). The Baker School has the Toyota Auditorium, donated by Honorary Chaiman Shoichiro Toyoda (Toyota Motor Corporation), who had a close relation with Senator Baker. A program of US -Japan relation was held on November 13.
Although I was unable to attend this event, I would like to share part of the message I sent to Baker School and convey that it is a place that carries on Senator Baker’s great achievements and the bonds between Japan and the United States.
＜a part of my message for the students of the Baker School at UT＞
It is with deep regret that I cannot be present today in Knoxville, TN to celebrate the centennial of late Senator Howard Baker’s birth. I had hoped very much to join you in person. As I could not arrange my schedule in time, my wife and I plan to visit soon, to express together our sincere gratitude and respect for this remarkable statesman—and to convey my message today with the hope that it might be shared at this commemorative gathering.
I first met Senator Baker just before he retired from the U.S. Senate. A mutual friend told me, “There’s a senator who wants to meet you.” Somewhat surprised, I went to the Hay-Adams Hotel near the White House for an early breakfast—and there began a long and formative relationship.
That morning, I still recall his words clearly: “I will not run for re-election—I want to devote my life to U.S.–Japan relations.” I replied without hesitation: “Please do.” That marked the beginning of our friendship—and more importantly for me, a long period of learning from him. I was not just a friend, but a student.
After stepping down from the Senate, he visited Japan multiple times to meet with our political and industry leaders. At the time, Japan was still in many ways a closed society. He played a vital role in encouraging openness—not through pressure, but through quiet advice, as a trusted friend.
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What I valued most was his way of listening—deeply, patiently—and his gentle wisdom. He once told me: “First, ask questions.” On one occasion, he explained the importance of first decisions by quoting, “Fortune has hair on her forehead but none on the back”—meaning that once an opportunity passes, it cannot be caught. This philosophy guided much of my thinking thereafter.
When I became a senior advisor to the UTK President, he welcomed me and my wife with great warmth. On three occasions, we stayed in the guest house at his Huntsville residence—the same house where President Reagan had once stayed. In the evenings, we would speak for hours with his close staff, discussing politics, science, energy, and diplomacy.
Even after his ambassadorship, I continued to support his vision through the Baker Forum and the founding of the Baker Institute. I remember when Chairman Toyoda and others contributed to its foundation—and the Toyoda Auditorium remains as a symbol of that partnership. Senator Baker introduced me to Dr. Alvin Weinberg at Oak Ridge and others in TVA, always emphasizing the importance of collaborative, forward-looking research.
Today, as a Japanese citizen, I want the students of the Baker School to know how much we learned from Senator Baker. He believed that democracy meant dialogue, that alliances required trust, and that leadership was about humility and listening. He was a statesman in the truest sense—one who brought people together not with force, but with decency.
As Japan enters a new era under the leadership of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who I believe will lead the country with vision and optimism, I am reminded of Senator Baker’s belief in democratic partnership and shared values. I am hopeful that, just as he guided us with wisdom, today’s leaders will carry his spirit forward in shaping the future of the U.S.–Japan alliance. As one Japanese citizen among many, I learned a great deal from Senator Baker, and I believe the Baker School will continue to serve as a guiding light for the next generation of leaders. I hope that this centennial serves not only as a tribute, but also as a renewed call for deeper ties between UTK, Oak Ridge, TVA, and Japan’s universities and institutions.
Let us honor Ambassador Baker by nurturing the values he stood for: bipartisanship, fairness, and global understanding.
Shuzaburo Takeda, Ph.D.
