European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 4, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse August Howard Baker with wife by Barbara Gamarekian new Vork hum t is All Row Jot Baker remembers on an August morning last year in Kansas she had just Learned Hal president Ford had passed Over tar Senate minority Leader Howard Baker of Tennessee to choose Robert As his running a couple of Davs who was among those being considered for the vice presidential had been asked if there were anything potentially embarrassing in his personal or Wilh his wife Baker mentioned jobs Long time problem with at hat she had not had a drink in More Ihnn six now it is almost 18 months since the 48yearold mrs Baker has touched trim and Clear she talked bout her social Del Kinq had always been a part of her she and grown up in As the Only child of Everett in kind of she said but not when t was drinking 1 could go out and lick now that i look Back on i can see it was just an excuse for it was the death of her father in the fall of 1969 that precipitated the really heavy i sort of my apart shortly after my father died and drank a whole she she became re avoided the Washington social scent drinking in the there were Days when she would not leave her there were a series of hospitalizations one lasting eight months contacts with alcoholics Anonymous and periods of sobriety when i would do relatively but then i would have a bad drinking bout 1 knew i was ruining the lives of a lot of number my because he was at he end of his strength about what to do about and my kids were on their own they come and t have a because morn had a bigger problem than they there were times when i was not really sure what t said to Baker when Howard was on the intelligence and watergate he never discussed it with he needed an outlet a sounding Board but he want sure who i might Tell he talked about them to the children and they were All very close but t was kind of an but last her 20yearold gave up a super Job at pry and in Nashville to stay with her Rao Lher in she knew i was going to be alone far an extended period of time and knew How determined i was she really wanted to help and no have me fall on evil ways explained who now has Tost 30 taken up Tennis again and feels Good about when you Are gains through those episodes and trying to she your whole life is Man it lakes just one Good look in a full length the balloon the bulbous body that has no it bits Joy Baker a still not sure How she finally put it All to 1 wanted to be a Good a Good a Good recovered alcoholic f modern living she added with a a i always was a Good even through the whole f Donl know whether i could have achieved what i have without being hospitalized without knowing that a friends were behind even though i didst go to their meetings on a regular i just decided this is something i am going us change All by but it was that Guy up she gesturing i said can help me i am not sure that anyone else it takes Pluck and guts to go said John Loffus head of the alcoholic unit at Washington Hospital ii will give other women Hope Tor said former Harold a recovered Al it is time that alcoholism came out of the Roset ii has been hidden for so Many Yean especially for women who have been Able to hide in the behind and Wilbur who has Wen his Battle with alcoholism and Speaks of it t feel sorry for those people who try to shield u they Are perfectly will ing to have people see them dead but they dont want to talk about 11 when they Are though Baker sees no correlation in her some suggest that the pressures of Washington life style produce More than that cites share of Hughes disagrees drinking Here is about the tame As anywhere i think the a Boob people think Washington i different is became people Here have an Impact on the lives of More factors that Are believed to be linked to alcoholism in clude time and and there an ingredients in Washington work habits or those of any business life to Tofle can contrib Ute to those Loffl but ambassador Ardeshir an indefatigable figure on the diplomatic and social said youd be surprised at the number of people who Are drinking water rather Ian no one is surprised if you ask simple Glass of soda water your presence is what is not your r Bakers Days of being a Washington Recluse Are she travels with her goes to Senate ladies red Cross and i not Only off la cocktail Par i give bringer per Jer water and a squeeze of when i go to dinner parties where they serve the wallers see me and As hey go around the Thev will say the Bakers 14yearolil son who Al Waw shied away from was Unglo Braase it was painful Tat him to see Roe like that1 co tag now from College Aid Mug meat with urn this Taring Tinam Lanm Joy Baker is no longer the outsider to her maybe i am but i think they Are proud of their suddenly it hits you exal Coholic Baker with husbands photograph in his
