Nancy Kassebaum Baker, former U.S. senator from Kansas, dies at 94
Former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker of Kansas was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate without following a spouse into office.
Nancy Kassebaum Baker, a former U.S. senator from Kansas, passed away at the age of 94, according to her son, Bill Kassebaum, who informed CBS News. Kassebaum Baker became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate without following a spouse into office, making her an independent voice willing to do what was right for Kansas and the country, despite going against her party at times.
She was elected to the Senate in 1978 and served three terms, earning a reputation as a modest and approachable senator who could work with colleagues of all political philosophies. Kassebaum Baker's political career began with a modest campaign budget, but she quickly gained popularity and won re-election in 1984 and 1990 with high percentages of the vote.
Her moderate politics and willingness to address contentious issues, such as the assault weapons ban, earned her both praise and criticism. After leaving the Senate in 1997, she continued to serve in various public service roles and married Howard Baker in 1996, becoming the first husband-wife pair to both serve in the Senate.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
