Iowa State University


3-20-97

Contacts:
Dianne Bystrom, Catt Center, (515) 294-3181
Steve Sullivan, News Service, (515) 294-3720

KASSEBAUM BAKER RETURNS TO ISU

AMES, Iowa -- Former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker, holder of the Mary Louise Smith Endowed Chair in the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, will make her second visit to campus April 2-3. Kassebaum Baker was recently appointed by President Bill Clinton to co-chair a campaign finance reform effort.

Kassebaum Baker will make a public address at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, following the Catt Center's Strong Minded Women dinner and awards ceremony in the Brunnier Museum, Scheman Building. She will speak on women, politics and campaign finance reform.

During her visit, Kassebaum Baker will meet with more than 500 students in sociology, journalism, English and political science classes, and with the ISU Women's Network, the League of Women Voters and the Story County Bull Moose Club.

Kassebaum Baker, a Republican from Kansas, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978. She retired in 1996. She was named the first holder of the Smith chair in April 1996 and made her first campus visit last October.

Kassebaum Baker focused much of her Congressional career on improving education and health care reform. She was chairperson of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee and a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. She also was an advocate for greater government coordination of family and children's programs. Kassebaum Baker was a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

She recently married former U.S. Sen. Howard Baker Jr., a Republican from Tennesee, who also served as White House Chief of Staff for President Ronald Reagan.

Kassebaum Baker was just appointed to co-chair a bipartisan commission on campaign finance reform with former Democratic vice president Walter Mondale. The goal of the commission is to work at the grassroots level to promote public interest in campaign finance reform.

Mary Louise Smith, a native of Eddyville, Iowa, is the only woman to chair the National Committee of the Republican Party, a position she held from 1974 through 1977. In 1976, she became the first woman to organize and call to order the National Convention of a major U.S. political party. Smith was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 1977 and is a founding member of the Iowa Women's Political Caucus.

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Note to media: Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker will be available to speak with media on Wednesday, April 2, from 2 to 3 p.m. in 302 Catt Hall. A schedule for public events during Kassebaum Baker's visit is below.

Wednesday, April 2

11 - 11:50 a.m.: Meet with combined classes in Introduction to Sociology and Political Behavior, Kildee Auditorium.

12:15 - 1:30 p.m. Meet with women faculty during a box/brown bag lunch, 302 Catt Hall

2 - 3 p.m.: Media availability, 302 Catt Hall

6 - 8 p.m.: Strong-Minded Women Dinner and Awards, Brunnier Museum, Scheman Building

Thursday, April 3

10:30 - 11:15 a.m.: In-class interview session with students in Reporting and Writing for the News Media class, 10B Hamilton Hall

1:15 - 2 p.m. - Meet with Women & Politics class, 256 Carver

2:10-3:30 p.m. - Meet with English 105 class, 37 Ross

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Diana Pounds, University Relations, dpounds@iastate.edu
Copyright © 1997, Iowa State University, all rights reserved
URL: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~nscentral/releases/3.21baker.html
Revised 3/21/97