Howard Baker’s ‘mid-century modern’ mansion goes up for auction, furniture included

Up for auction next month: the Tennessee estate of the late Sen. Howard H. Baker Jr., consisting of a 6,175-square-foot main home, plus cottage, guesthouse, pool and more, all on 11 acres in Huntsville. The home is unmistakably “mid-century modern” in style, with grand river and mountain vistas beyond the huge windows, some streamlined expanses of brick and sumptuous, old school-style drapes of the era. Baker called this sprawling property his “center of the universe,” and for good reason.

Among the former Senate Majority Leader’s many guests: President Reagan and wife Nancy, Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia, Egypt President Anwar Sadat and countless lawmakers and officials from the great state of Tennessee. Baker died almost a year ago at the age of 88. Furniture, china, artwork, a piano and other personal property will also be available for auction.

Baker’s collection of six antique cars was auctioned off in March - including a 1951 Hudson Hornet Convertible which fetched $85,000; a 1941 Lincoln Continental two-door coupe that went for $46,000 and a 1937 Cord 812 Beverly Custom which came in at $69,000.

Among other things, Baker was co-chairman of the Senate committee investigating Watergate scandal - and the man who asked what turned out to be a historic question: “What did the President know and when did he know it?”

Baker also ran unsuccessfully for the 1980 Republican presidential nomination and later became chief of staff for the man who won - Ronald Reagan - he also served as ambassador to Japan during the George W. Bush administration

“Senator Baker was a true diplomat, and he leaves behind a tremendous legacy,” says Rob Strickland, spokesman for the Furrow Auction Company, which is taking care of the particulars. See it all here: HowardBakerAuction.com.