Sen. Howard Baker Jr.

WASHINGTON, June 26—U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) released the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker, Jr., of Tennessee:

“Howard Baker was Tennessee’s favorite son, one of America’s finest leaders and for Honey and me an indispensable friend. He built our state’s two-party political system and inspired three generations to try to build a better state and country. It is difficult to express how much we honor his life and how much we will miss him.”

Alexander was Sen. Baker’s first legislative assistant in 1967 and 1968. Baker served the state of Tennessee in the U.S. Senate, where he eventually was elected Majority Leader, from 1967 to 1985. Baker subsequently served as chief of staff to President Reagan and U.S. Ambassador to Japan. Alexander met his wife Honey when he worked for Baker and she for Texas senator John Tower.