'Flaming Moderate' author Bo Roberts fights for democracy and honors Howard Baker's legacy

The memory of the late U.S. Sen. Howard Baker has been evoked regularly in recent times by Tennessee political leaders who long for the days of meaningful disagreement, compromise, listening and being persuaded to think differently.

Former Govs. Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam modeled their "You Might Be Right" podcast after Baker's famous saying that "the other fellow might be right."

In his final guest opinion column, which was published posthumously, the late Gov. Don Sundquist made an urgent call for Americans to embrace Baker's magnanimity if they want to save their republic. He died in 2014.

Baker served as senator from 1967 to 1985 and was the Republican leader, and he worked as an aide to President Ronald Reagan.

Bo Roberts, a military veteran, former newspaper editor and University of Tennessee administrator, 1982 World's Fair CEO, author, advocate and political consultant, considers Baker his hero. He was also a Cabinet member for Democratic Volunteer State Gov. Buford Ellington.

"If we're going to survive, we're going to have to listen to each other," Roberts said on Episode 381 of the Tennessee Voices video podcast.

Roberts' new book is called "Flaming Moderate: A Riveting Journey and Quest to Save Democracy."

The tome is a collection of newspaper essays he wrote over the last 20 years.

At the age of 84, he believes the battle to preserve democracy is more important than ever and he is still in the fight.

The avid sports fan wants to find a way to persuade more Americans to communicate and meet the challenges that threaten the  United States.

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The Tennessee Voices videocast is a 20-minute program, which started in March 2020 and invites leaders, thinkers and innovators who have written guest columns for a USA TODAY Network Tennessee publication to share their insights and wisdom with me and our viewers.

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David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063 or email him at dplazas@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Voices: 'Flaming Moderate' Bo Roberts fights for democracy