Charles D. Baker (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Charles Duane Baker is an American businessman and former U.S. government official. He served in several departmental roles in the Richard Nixon
and Ronald Reagan
administrations, including Under Secretary of Health and Human Services (1984–1985). He is a resident of Needham, Massachusetts
, and is the father of Massachusetts politician Charles D. Baker, Jr.
. He was the son of Charles D. Baker, Jr. (?–1971), a prominent Republican
politician from Newburyport, Massachusetts
, and Eleanor (Little) Baker. His grandfather was another Charles D. Baker
(1846–1984), a United States Attorney
and member of the New York State Assembly
. The young Baker had two sisters, Caroline R. Baker and a "Mrs. David Kobik". He attended Baldwin High School in Baldwin, New York
, and graduated in 1945. He went on to attend Harvard College
, and graduated in 1951 with an A.B.
He spent 1946 to 1948 in the United States Navy
in aviation, and returned from 1951 to 1953. In the Navy he achieved the rank of lieutenant (junior grade). He then returned to Harvard, receiving an M.B.A.
from Harvard Business School
in 1955.
He married Elizabeth "Betty" Ghormley of Rochester, Minnesota
on June 4, 1955. They moved to Elmira, New York
, where he became a buyer for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation
. They had three sons, Charles Duane, Jr.
, Jonathan, and Alex. While at Westinghouse he moved to New Jersey in 1957. Baker moved back to Massachusetts to serve as vice president of United Research, an economic research firm, from 1961 to 1965.
In 1965 Baker became vice president of Harbridge House, a management consulting firm, part of whose client base included the United States Department of Defense
, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Transportation
. He was United States Deputy Under Secretary of Transportation
(1969), Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Policy and International Affairs
(1970–1971), and Under Secretary of Health and Human Services (1984–1985). In 1985 he became a professor at the Northeastern University College of Business Administration
.
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
administrations, including Under Secretary of Health and Human Services (1984–1985). He is a resident of Needham, Massachusetts
Needham, Massachusetts
Needham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb of Boston, its population was 28,886 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, and is the father of Massachusetts politician Charles D. Baker, Jr.
Charles D. Baker, Jr.
Charles Duane "Charlie" Baker, Jr. , is an American businessman and politician from Massachusetts. He was a cabinet official under two Massachusetts governors, spent ten years as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and was the Republican candidate in the 2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial...
Biography
Baker was born June 21, 1928, in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was the son of Charles D. Baker, Jr. (?–1971), a prominent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, 35 miles northeast of Boston. The population was 21,189 at the 2000 census. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island...
, and Eleanor (Little) Baker. His grandfather was another Charles D. Baker
Charles D. Baker (attorney)
Charles Duane Baker was an Assistant United States Attorney and a member of the New York State Assembly . He was the grandfather and great-grandfather of Massachusetts politicians Charles D. Baker and Charles D. Baker, Jr...
(1846–1984), a United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
and member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
. The young Baker had two sisters, Caroline R. Baker and a "Mrs. David Kobik". He attended Baldwin High School in Baldwin, New York
Baldwin, New York
Baldwin is the name of some places in the U.S. state of New York:*Baldwin, Chemung County, New York *Baldwin, Nassau County, New York...
, and graduated in 1945. He went on to attend Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, and graduated in 1951 with an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
He spent 1946 to 1948 in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in aviation, and returned from 1951 to 1953. In the Navy he achieved the rank of lieutenant (junior grade). He then returned to Harvard, receiving an M.B.A.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
in 1955.
He married Elizabeth "Betty" Ghormley of Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
on June 4, 1955. They moved to Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, where he became a buyer for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
. They had three sons, Charles Duane, Jr.
Charles D. Baker, Jr.
Charles Duane "Charlie" Baker, Jr. , is an American businessman and politician from Massachusetts. He was a cabinet official under two Massachusetts governors, spent ten years as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and was the Republican candidate in the 2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial...
, Jonathan, and Alex. While at Westinghouse he moved to New Jersey in 1957. Baker moved back to Massachusetts to serve as vice president of United Research, an economic research firm, from 1961 to 1965.
In 1965 Baker became vice president of Harbridge House, a management consulting firm, part of whose client base included the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Transportation
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
. He was United States Deputy Under Secretary of Transportation
United States Secretary of Transportation
The United States Secretary of Transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fourteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Transportation on October 15, 1966,...
(1969), Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Policy and International Affairs
United States Secretary of Transportation
The United States Secretary of Transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fourteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Transportation on October 15, 1966,...
(1970–1971), and Under Secretary of Health and Human Services (1984–1985). In 1985 he became a professor at the Northeastern University College of Business Administration
Northeastern University College of Business Administration
The Northeastern University College of Business Administration was founded in 1922 and the Graduate School of Business Administration in 1952. The College of Business Administration is accredited by AACSB International-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The Co-op M.B.A....
.