Changes

Baker was narrowly elected to the House in the 1950 midterms, defeating Democrat opponent Frank W. Wilson by less than five percentage points in what was otherwise a consistent stronghold for the Republican Party since the late 1800s.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=310777 TN - District 02 Race - Nov 07, 1950]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> His following re-elections faced no serious opponents in the general elections, always managing to garner at least 58% of the vote.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=37216 Candidate - Howard H. Baker]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref>

Baker was narrowly elected to the House in the 1950 midterms, defeating Democrat opponent Frank W. Wilson by less than five percentage points in what was otherwise a consistent stronghold for the Republican Party since the late 1800s.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=310777 TN - District 02 Race - Nov 07, 1950]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> His following re-elections faced no serious opponents in the general elections, always managing to garner at least 58% of the vote.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=37216 Candidate - Howard H. Baker]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref>

Baker was considered a strong [[conservative]] in the House<ref name=tennesseeencyclopediabio>[https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/howard-baker-sr/ Howard H. Baker Sr.]. ''Tennessee Encyclopedia''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> though supported some programs such as [[Social Security]] and voted with Democrats on several issues.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/08/archives/howard-h-baker-representative-tennessee-republican-dies-supporter.html HOWARD H. BAKER, REPRESENTATIVE; Tennessee Republican Dies —Supporter of T.V.A.]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> He was also a strong supporter of the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]], an agency established under President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in the 1930s.

Baker was considered a strong [[conservative]] in the House<ref name=tennesseeencyclopediabio>[https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/howard-baker-sr/ Howard H. Baker Sr.]. ''Tennessee Encyclopedia''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> though supported some programs such as [[Social Security]] and voted with Democrats on several issues.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/08/archives/howard-h-baker-representative-tennessee-republican-dies-supporter.html HOWARD H. BAKER, REPRESENTATIVE; Tennessee Republican Dies —Supporter of T.V.A.]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> He was also adamantly backed the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]], an agency established under President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in the 1930s.

A supporter of [[civil rights]] who maintained strong relationships with black leaders including [[Memphis]] businessman George Washington Lee (also known as "Lieutenant Lee"<ref>[https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/george-washington-lee/ George Washington Lee]. ''Tennessee Encyclopedia''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref>), Baker refused to sign the 1956 [[Southern Manifesto]] which opposed the [[United States Supreme Court]] decision in ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' that ordered the desegregation of all U.S. public schools.<ref name=tennesseeencyclopediabio/><ref>[https://www.congress.gov/84/crecb/1956/03/12/GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf]. ''Congressional Record''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> He voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1960<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h106 HR 8601. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960. APPROVAL BY THE HOUSE OF THE SENATE'S AMENDMENTS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> and the [[24th Amendment]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1962/h193 S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> which abolished the [[poll tax]] in all federal-level elections.

A supporter of [[civil rights]] who maintained strong relationships with black leaders including [[Memphis]] businessman George Washington Lee (also known as "Lieutenant Lee"<ref>[https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/george-washington-lee/ George Washington Lee]. ''Tennessee Encyclopedia''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref>), Baker refused to sign the 1956 [[Southern Manifesto]] which opposed the [[United States Supreme Court]] decision in ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' that ordered the desegregation of all U.S. public schools.<ref name=tennesseeencyclopediabio/><ref>[https://www.congress.gov/84/crecb/1956/03/12/GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf]. ''Congressional Record''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> He voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1960<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h106 HR 8601. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960. APPROVAL BY THE HOUSE OF THE SENATE'S AMENDMENTS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> and the [[24th Amendment]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1962/h193 S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 28, 2021.</ref> which abolished the [[poll tax]] in all federal-level elections.