Baker, Howard Henry, Jr. (1925-...), a Republican from Tennessee, served as majority leader of the United States Senate from 1981 to 1985. He was a member of the Senate from 1967 to 1985. In 1987 and 1988, he served as President Ronald Reagan's chief of staff. Baker was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Baker U.S. ambassador to Japan.