The Legacy of Secretary James A. Baker III

In this episode, Dan Runde sits down with Dr. Diana Negroponte who is a current Global Fellow at the Wilson Center. Dan and Dr. Negroponte begin their conversation by discussing her new book, Master Negotiator: the Role of James A. Baker, III at the End of the Cold War. They talk about why Dr. Negroponte wrote the book and in particular, how she decided to write about his legacy during the end of the Cold War. Dan and Dr. Negroponte discuss Baker’s open-mindedness, intellect, and determination, and how these personal attributes, in addition to his close friendship with President George H.W. Bush, ultimately shaped his success as Secretary of State. They move on and talk through the landmark events that occurred during the Cold War era as well as the history of the U.S. relationship with the Soviet Union. Finally, they discuss the important legacy that Baker will leave behind.