I was at CPAC in ‘78 and ‘79 and in one of those I remember Congressman John Ashbrook from Ohio saying...”And if you’re from Tennessee you should tell Howard Baker, “I’ll never vote for you again.”” I was from Tennessee and Ashbrook seemed to look right at me. This was in the wake of the Panama Canal giveaway led by Howard Baker. Soon Ashbrook died suddenly and mysteriously while Baker went on to be the toast of the establishment GOP.
Howard Baker also was a good part of the reason why President Reagan was unable to abolish the Department of Education, which had been established during President Carter’s term of office.
Baker & the late Congressman John Duncan Sr made a lot of East Tennessee people mad too over a late night bill authorizing completion and final land acquisition of Tellico Dam.
The federal government forced sale of total parcels if even so much as a square foot of land was on the lakes boundaries and the other 100 acres were not. TVA instead of doing as in year past buying up to flood stage and offering to buy people out completely took the 100 acres or however the person owned at county appraisal price. This was some of the states best farm land.
What happened next rubbed salt in the wounds far worse. That land was practically given away to high dollar developers for planned communities in some cases with million dollar lots. Even TVA had admitted that Tellico Lake was not needed & was not cost effective or cost justifiable for what increase it would give to Ft Loudon Dam. By then nuclear was the future.
Somebody with lots of clout and political connections in DC had big plans and said I want it so make it happen. Baker like Duncan SR likely started out working for the people. It seems after folk stay in DC so long in office they forget where they came from, {Baker and Duncan grew up in the same rural community} who put them there, and who they are supposed to represent. Sad ending to what could have been a great statesman's career.