“ Conferral of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers upon Ambassador Howard Henry Baker, Jr.

Embassy of Japan

May 13, 2008

On April 29, 2008, the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2008 Spring Imperial Decorations, and Ambassador Howard Henry Baker, Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to Japan received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, one of the highest Japanese Imperial Decorations. The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers was awarded to Ambassador Baker in recognition of his contributions to the enhancement of goodwill and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. Ambassador Baker is the only foreign citizen to be awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers this spring. Family and friends will be invited to the conferral ceremony and reception to be held at Japanese Ambassador Kato’s residence on Thursday, May 22.

Former Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr. currently serves as Senior Counsel at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C and is also a member of Citigroup’s International Advisory Board. He was appointed the 26th U.S. Ambassador to Japan by President George W. Bush, and served in that role from 2001 to 2005. The appointment was yet another milestone in a public service career that began in 1966, when Senator Baker became the first Republican popularly elected to the U.S. Senate from Tennessee. Senator Baker gained national recognition in 1973 as Vice Chairman of the Senate Watergate Committee. Three years later, he was keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention and was a 1980 candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. He concluded his Senate career in 1985 after two terms as Minority Leader (1977 to 1981) and two terms as Majority Leader (1981 to 1985). He was President Reagan’s Chief of Staff from February 1987 to July 1988.

In addition to the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, Senator Baker was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984, the United States’ highest civilian award, and the Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service Performed by an Elected or Appointed Official, which he received in 1982.

Senator Baker is married to former Senator Nancy Kassebaum. Senator Baker has 2 children by his first wife, Joy Dirksen Baker (deceased 1993). Nancy Kassebaum has 4 children. Between them, Senator and Mrs. Baker have 11 grandchildren. The Bakers reside in Tennessee and Kansas.