Gülen Institute Hosts Former US Secretary of State James Baker
The latest guest of honor at one of the Houston-based Gülen Institute's traditional luncheons was James Baker, former US secretary of state and secretary of the treasury.
Baker delivered a speech on Tuesday to some 250 community leaders from the world of academia, business and government at the Gülen Institute, founded through the joint efforts of Houston University and the Institute for Interreligious Dialogue (IID). Among the guests were also religious officials and journalists.
Baker said he was grateful to the Gülen Institute for the contributions it made to the promotion of a culture of living together and for tireless efforts to foster mutual understanding between the people of different religions, cultures and civilizations.
"The Gülen Institute rigorously and very rightly advocates prayer, interfaith dialogue and helping ease tension between peoples in our very complicated world," he noted, adding that if respect to all religions and views could be spread globally, the world's problems could be solved much more easily.
"In fact I believe spiritual values are important in the pursuit of world peace. And I agree with something that Pope Paul VI once said at the United Nations. He said, 'The problems of the world are so great and perhaps the leaders of the world would have to learn how to pray together.' The problems of the world would be easier to address if only at global level we develop ways of sharing respect for each other's religious perspectives. It is in this manner that the Gülen Institute and those who promote shared vision of interfaith dialogue provide truly invaluable leadership," Baker said.
The former secretary of state also emphasized that he believed spiritual values would play a major role in building peace all around the world, noting that he appreciated the Gülen Institute's efforts to give prominence to spiritual practices such as praying. "I have learned that, through prayer, each of us can help find our way in a difficult and sometimes very confusing world," he said adding that prayer really transcended the individual quest to improve oneself on an individual level.
Baker also stressed that prayer, when shared among earnest people, was a critical component required in building a cohesive society. "As members of a community, I think we should share certain spiritual responsibilities, regardless of our particular religious background," he said.
Kemal Öksüz, the chairman of the Gülen Institute, delivered a speech after Baker and emphasized the importance of working patiently in building friendship and dialogue between people with different backgrounds. Öksüz presented Baker with a finely woven carpet bearing a portrait of the former secretary of state.
Who is James Baker?
James Addison Baker served as undersecretary of commerce under President Gerald Ford in 1975 and ran Ford's unsuccessful re-election campaign in 1976. After serving as George H.W. Bush's campaign manager in the 1980 Republican primaries, Baker was named White House chief of staff by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. He served in that capacity until 1985. Baker managed the president's 1984 re-election campaign. In the new administration, Baker "switched roles" with Secretary of the Treasury Donald Regan, who replaced Baker as chief of staff. Baker served on Reagan's National Security Council and remained Treasury secretary through 1988, during which year he also served as campaign chairman for Bush's successful presidential bid.
George H.W. Bush appointed Baker secretary of state in 1989. Baker served in this role through 1992. From 1992 to 1993, he served as Bush's White House chief of staff, the same position that he had held during the first Reagan administration.
In 2006, The Washington Post reported that Baker is "the Republican co-chairman of a bipartisan commission tasked by Congress with assessing US options in Iraq." Baker is married and the father of six sons and two daughters.
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