Irene Baker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromTennessee's2nd district | |
| In office March 10, 1964 – January 3, 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Howard Baker Sr. |
| Succeeded by | John Duncan Sr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edith Irene Bailey November 17, 1901 (1901-11-17) |
| Died | April 2, 1994(1994-04-02) (aged 92) |
| Citizenship |  United States |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Howard Baker Sr. |
| Children |
|
| Profession | politician |
Edith Irene Bailey Baker (November 17, 1901 – April 2, 1994) was an American politician and aUnited States Representative fromTennessee. She was the widow ofHoward Baker Sr. and the stepmother ofHoward Baker Jr.
Baker was born inSevierville, Tennessee, on November 17, 1901, and attended public schools in Sevierville andMaryville.
Baker served as Deputy County Court Clerk ofSevier County from 1918 to 1922 and as Deputy Clerk and Master of Chancery Court from 1922 to 1924.
After her first husband's death, Baker went to work for theTennessee Valley Authority (TVA). On September 15, 1935, she married Howard Baker Sr., who was a widower with two children. The couple raised Baker's two children from his first marriage, Howard H. Baker Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Baker, as well as a daughter of their own, Beverly Irene Baker. She served on theRepublican National Committee from 1960 to 1964.[1]
When her husband died suddenly in office on January 7, 1964, Baker ran as a Republican in the specialelection to fill the remainder of his term, defeatingDemocrat Willard Yarbrough, a Knoxville journalist. As a candidate for the seat, she promised to serve only as acaretaker who would not seek further election; and she fulfilled that promise, and served from March 10, 1964, to January 3, 1965.[2] While in Congress, she served on theHouse Committee on Government Operations and advocated for a balanced federal budget. She also championedcoal mining interests, the TVA,U.S. Atomic Energy Commission programs inOak Ridge, Tennessee, and cost of living increases inSocial Security pensions.[3] As one of ten Republicans from the South, she voted against theCivil Rights Act.[4]
After leaving Congress in 1965, Baker became Director of Public Welfare inKnoxville, Tennessee, a position she held until 1971.[5]
Baker died inLoudon, Tennessee on April 2, 1994 (age 92 years, 136 days). She isinterred at Sherwood Memorial Gardens, inLoudon, Tennessee.[6]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromTennessee's 2nd congressional district 1964–1965 | Succeeded by |
| People | |
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| Other | |
