Richard Allan Baker (born March 18, 1940) was the first Historian of the United States Senate, serving through August 2009.

[2] He wrote a weekly column on Senate history for a Washington newspaper (The Hill) and is the co-author (with Neil MacNeil) of the D.B.

[1][5] Following the Watergate scandal, the US Congress established the office of Senate historian to encourage and formalize record-keeping.

These short essays were wide-ranging in topic and highlight recurring themes in the Senate's institutional development.

"[2] In 2009, at the time of Baker's retirement, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell initiated a similar program for his party's members.