The investigation included allegations of bribery and arranging sexual favors in exchange for Congressional votes and government contracts.
Baker was born in Pickens, South Carolina, the son of the town postmaster, and lived in a house on Hampton Avenue.
He was a founder and eventual treasurer of the Quorum Club, located in the Carroll Arms Hotel adjacent to the Senate office building.
[6] The society was a place for lawmakers and other influential men to meet for networking and illicit carousing away from the press who hung around the hotel lobby.
"[7] Baker alleged that one of "President Kennedy's best friends and his wingman, [lobbyist] Bill Thompson was there too, and he came over to me and he said, 'where in the hell did you get this beautiful girl?'
As a youth, she had been a Socialist Unity Party member in East Germany before fleeing with her parents and then coming to the United States.
Though a part of numerous other deals involving both politics and private financial affairs, this particular business venture would cause a scandal.
[11] In November 1962, electronic microphones ("bugs") in Ed Levinson's office at the Fremont Hotel in Las Vegas picked up references to Baker.
"[12] Levinson and Benjamin Seigelbaum arranged with an Oklahoma City bank for a $400,000 start-up loan for the Serv-U Corporation to buy equipment and supplies.
[13] The Serv-U Corporation deal became the subject of allegations of conflict of interest and corruption after a disgruntled former government contractor, represented by David Carliner, sued Baker and Black in civil court.
[11] In September 1963, an investigation was begun by the Republican-led Senate Rules Committee into Baker's business and political activities.
[14] Baker was investigated for allegations of bribery using money allocated by Congress and arranging sexual favors in exchange for votes and government contracts.
In exchange for this favor, Robert Kennedy assured Hoover that his job as FBI Director was secure.
[17] Even though Lyndon Johnson was not involved in Baker's business dealings after 1960, the Senate investigation looked into their questionable financial activities in the 1950s.