Letter: U.S. needs a new kind of leader

Sunday, Aug. 12, 2007 | 7:39 a.m.

Where is Howard Baker? First, who is Howard Baker?

For those younger than 50 or so, Howard Baker was the Republican on the Senate Watergate Committee who made it respectable to criticize someone of his own party for lapses in judg ment and ethics.

Howard Baker rose above partisanship to demand ethics and responsibility in our elected leaders. Howard Baker in my memory is the reason we were able to, as a nation, understand the excesses of Richard Nixon's administration and condemn them for what they were.

Yes, Sam Ervin led the committee, but without Howard Baker's active participation and support, that committee would have divided the nation in a time of crisis. Howard Baker made it clear to everyone, regardless of political orientation, that Watergate was a crisis in government, without regard to politics.

We need a Howard Baker today, a leader who will stand above political affiliations to admit to our government's excesses, and take a lead in removing them. We need an end to the partisanship dividing us.

Where are you, today's Howard Baker?

Carl Kaun, Henderson