One more act of service

Regarding “Out of the back room,” (A17, Oct. 4): The new biography of James Baker III illuminates his distinguished career in public service, capped by his tenure as both secretary of the treasury and secretary of state, and as chief of staff to two presidents. By any measure, Baker has amply served his country.

But there is one more act of service that America needs from Baker now, and that is to add his voice and prestige to the many former government officials, including countless Republicans, who are urging Americans to vote Donald Trump out of office. And here, Baker — adhering to his party affiliation despite his own reported misgivings about Trump — is falling short.

There is a reasonwhymany prominent, lifelong Republicans are putting aside their historical party allegiance and supporting Joe Biden for president. They know that Trump has been a debacle for America. They are disturbed by his deadly mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic, his incitement of white supremacists, his efforts to suppress the votes of millions of Americans and his refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. They are embarrassed by Trump’s mishandling of U.S. foreign policy and national security affairs.

These Republicans understand the dire urgency of this moment in our nation’s history. They understand the need to put country over party. They understand the damage — perhaps irreparable — that another four years under Trump would mean for America. James Baker understands all of this, too, and he should step up and say it.

David H. Laufman, a Houston native, served as a CIA analyst, chief of staff to the deputy attorney general and a senior career official in the Justice Department’s National Security Division