NEWS

Former Sen. Howard Baker's estate sells for $701K

WBIR-Knoxville

The estate of the late U.S. Sen. Howard Baker Jr. now has a new owner.

Back porch of the guest house of the late Senator Howard Baker, Jr. in Huntsville, Tenn. that will be sold at an absolute auction.

The 11.5-acre property in Scott County includes a 6,000 square-foot main house, guest house, swimming pool and tennis court.

It sold for $701,000 to an unnamed buyer, Furrow Auction Company said.

Baker spent 18 years in the U.S. Senate — the last four as majority leader.

The Tennessee Republican then served as President Ronald Reagan's chief of staff and later as U.S. ambassador to Japan.

Many famous people have visited the home, including former President Reagan and his wife, Nancy. An Air Force One helicopter landed in the Bakers' yard. To this day, one of the guest house bedrooms is known as the Reagan room, because it's where the president and the first lady stayed.

Baker had the house built in Huntsville in 1953 and lived there until his death almost a year ago at age 88.