Will Lamar Alexander turn on Trump?

For all their similarities, Alexander has eclipsed Baker. Alexander was a popular two-term governor, university president, U.S. secretary of education, and presidential candidate. But his ability to talk about the country with the country is what truly separates him from other political leaders. A jaded Harvard grad student, I was surprised to find myself inspired when a conservative from East Tennessee connected the intricacies of election reform to the national narrative and the strengths of the American character. With candid optimism, he bridged our differences.

Alexander has the stature to help Congress and the country navigate through possible impeachment and removal proceedings. And, as luck would have it, he’s retiring at the end of his term, so he doesn’t have to worry about repercussions from the still Trump-infatuated Republican base.

Of course, the fact that Alexander is right for the job doesn’t mean he wants it. In recent interviews, he has dismissed the idea that retirement offers a chance to play a mediating role in Washington. “They took Trump and they didn’t take me,” he told Vox.