Irene Bailey Baker

Republican Representative of Tennessee's 2nd district

Congresses Served

House Terms

November 17, 1901 (92 years old)

Birthday

April 2, 1994

Death

Served as a United States Representative from Tennessee
Widow of Howard Baker Sr. and stepmother of Howard Baker Jr.
Held positions as Deputy County Court Clerk and Deputy Clerk and Master of Chancery Court in Sevier County before entering politics
Worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) after her first husband’s death
Served on the Republican National Committee from 1960 to 1964
Elected to Congress in a special election in 1964, serving as a caretaker and not seeking re-election
Advocated for a balanced federal budget, coal mining interests, the TVA, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission programs, and Social Security pension increases while in Congress
Voted against the Civil Rights Act
Became Director of Public Welfare in Knoxville after leaving Congress, serving until 1971
Died in 1994 and is interred at Sherwood Memorial Gardens in Loudon, Tennessee