My two great college loves were political philosophy and practical politics. Attending Claremont allowed me to indulge both passions. Dr. Harry Jaffa, Dr. Marlo Lewis, and Dr. Charles Kesler were engaging and thoughtful philosophy professors. Working for four years at the Rose Institute was the highlight of my practical political college experience. I am especially grateful to Florence Adams, Bob Walters, and Dr. Alan Heslop for all of the opportunities that they gave young students. I am also truly grateful for all the friendships that were fostered while digitizing maps. Who can forget Cassie Arnold, Pat Powers, Henry Olsen, Jon Cofer, Blake Isaacson, Noah Messel, or George and Janelle Blanco?
It is almost stunning to recount the opportunities for engagement offered at the Rose Institute. We hosted several important conferences, with top-notch speakers. Dr. Heslop also trusted me to lead the Rose Institute’s study on Women and Policy research project. I traveled to Houston to work with pollster Lance Tarrance to conduct focus groups on issues affecting women. Perhaps the most important opportunity came when I answered the phone early one morning when David Dreier was looking for a student to serve as his 1980 campaign secretary. This was the beginning of a ten-year career managing political campaigns in California while concurrently serving as the Minority Consultant to the Assembly Republican Caucus on the Human Services Committee.
In 1988, I managed the successful registration efforts for the GOP in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. This put California in play for the Bush campaign and afforded me the opportunity to meet several members of the Bush family and staff. In 1989, I was appointed by President Bush to serve in the Office of Policy, Planning, and Legislation at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Leaving Sacramento to work in the Bush Administration was also a boon to my personal life.
At the Bush Inaugural Ball, Dr. Marlo Lewis introduced me to Miller Baker, my husband of thirty-three years. He was then a young lawyer at the Reagan Justice Department and is currently a judge at the US Court of International Trade. We have five children: Lt. Commander William Baker, USN (Notre Dame 2014), Marjorie Baker (UVA 2014), Pierce Baker (VT Corps of Cadets 2016, Captain US Army 2016-2021), Emily Baker (William and Mary 2019) and Victoria Baker (Cornell 2025).