The Nation - News from April 5, 1989

William M. Baker, a key aide to CIA Director William H. Webster, is taking the rare step of returning to the FBI as assistant director in charge of the criminal investigative division. The move by Baker, a 22-year FBI veteran, who went from the bureau to the CIA with Webster in 1987, is designed to strengthen the FBI’s management team, which has been drawing criticism from some Justice Department officials. Baker, who served as the FBI’s No. 2 man in Los Angeles and headed the bureau’s Portland office before moving to Washington as assistant FBI director for congressional and public affairs, will succeed Floyd Clarke. Clarke has been elevated to executive assistant director. Intelligence sources, saying that Baker’s move does not indicate Webster plans to leave the CIA, noted that the CIA director is looking for a replacement for Baker.