GOP Group Hears Baker Tell of Support for Bork

White House Chief of Staff Howard Baker Tuesday told a group of more than 40 Republicans that several former attorneys general would support President Reagan’s nomination of conservative jurist Robert H. Bork to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Baker made the statements at a luncheon sponsored by Citizens for America, a grass-roots lobbying effort founded in 1983 to rally public support for Reagan’s programs. The $1,000-per-person event at the Center Club in Costa Mesa benefitted that group.

According to those attending the closed-door luncheon, Baker said he estimated that about one-third of the Senate favored Bork, one-third opposed promoting the federal appellate judge and the remainder was undecided. Senate confirmation hearings on Bork’s nomination begin Sept. 15.

Baker “said he thought he (Bork) would get confirmed,” said Nathan Rosenberg of Corona del Mar, who attended.

According to Rosenberg, Baker also said Reagan would take the role of an educator and advocate for certain issues during his remaining tenure, including the line-item veto for the President.

Larry Williamson of Huntington Beach, who also attended, said Baker urged those present to “look for ways to point out that this President has done things no other President has done since (President Franklin) Roosevelt--he changed the direction of the presidency, and the nation prospered throughout the two terms of his presidency.”