[Ben Ficklin]

I don't know if you saw it in the news this past week, but GW Bush said in his book that he first offered the SecDef job to James Baker but had to go with Gates after Baker turned him down.

Bush expressed his amazement that Baker turned him down because that would have given Baker the distinction of having served as Sec of Treasury( Reagan), Sec of State(GHW Bush), and Sec of Def(under GW Bush)

[The Sons of Liberty]

No. I didn’t see that. Too bad, because Baker would’ve been an excellent SECDEF. I guess he had his reasons, but I’m sorry he didn’t accept.