“When public leaders turn public debates into words of war - 'enemies' 'go to hell' 'attack' - they are enabling the edgiest of their followers to take things into their hands, and unfortunately, some of them do.”

American politician and businessman

Charlie Baker is an American politician and businessman. Born Charles Duane Baker Jr., he has been president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association since 2023. He is a Republican and served as governor of Massachusetts from 2015 to 2023. Before that, Baker held two cabinet positions under earlier Massachusetts governors and spent ten years as chief executive of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. His career spans public office and business leadership, which places him among the better known figures in Massachusetts politics and higher education administration.