Thirty Years Ago This Week: In a stunning announcement, Colorado Springs KVOR talk show host Chuck Baker told his listeners, “Let me sum this all up for you quickly. I’m leaving. Gonna go away for a while and I’m sure that will make some of you left-wing liberals very happy.”

The “On the Carpet” host had become so frustrated with insidious rumors that he and his show had been responsible for causing a man to shoot at the White House that he had decided to speak with a Colorado Statesman reporter to deny the claim.

Francisco Duran was alleged to have fired nearly 30 rounds of ammunition at the White House. Critics pointed their fingers at Baker, claiming his remarks had radicalized Duran to attempt to assassinate President Bill Clinton.

Baker also denied rumors that federal agents had requested access to tapes of past shows and that he might become subject to charges of conspiracy against the government.

“Three hours a day, five days a week can be trying …” Baker told his listeners. “The most ungodly story started out there after Francisco Duran went out there and shot up the White House and that I and Rush Limbaugh were the reasons he went out there … The television stations all tried to contact me and ask me, ‘Did the FBI come by there and pick up your tapes and review them?’ No. ‘Have you talked to the Secret Service?’ No.”

Although Baker said that he’d wanted to quit, KVOR station manager, Don Siedholz suggested a leave of absence. Baker told Leslie Jorgensen of The Statesman that he had been forced to build a fence around his house, buy more safety locks on doors and had even purchased a German Shepherd guard dog.

Siedholz released a statement stating that mistakes had been made in the choice of guests like “a goofy minister who attacked Jews” and while they did not always agree with Baker’s remarks on air, he had a right to make them.

“I know what Chuck is going through,” said Bill Cory, publisher of Patriot News, who was worried about being interviewed by Newsweek magazine in connection with Duran. “We had to scramble around to find past issues of The Patriot to clear our good name. We expect our phones are bugged.”

A recent caller to “On the Carpet” who gave his name only as “John” had said, “[Baker] wouldn’t let me on the air. He said there is no liberal group in Colorado Springs. Don’t let him call himself the ‘voice of the people.’ He wasn’t. He advocated for the overthrow of the American government. He’s promoted violence.”

Another guest told stand-in host Jim Arthur that Baker was fuming during commercial breaks over a substantial drop in his listening audience and suggested Baker had fabricated the controversy to boost ratings.

“This is not a publicity stunt,” said Siedholz. “This is truly a beleaguered man. He’s scared. He’s confused.”

Twenty Years Ago: After choosing not to seek reelection, state Rep. Gayle Berry, R-Grand Junction, officially resigned her seat and confirmed that she had been offered a position on the staff of Democratic U.S. Rep-elect John Salazar, CD-3.

“We were very close colleagues in the legislature,” Berry said. “We were aligned on a lot of issues.”

But in a surprising decision, Berry did not join Salazar, instead going into private sector work and forming a lobbying firm with Jessica Kirscht, called Berry & Kirscht. They were quick to procure offices in Brownleigh Court across from the state Capitol building.

Berry had resigned her position after potential clients began soliciting her, and she wanted to make sure she was in compliance with state statute that stipulated that an incumbent couldn’t start a lobbying firm nor solicit clients while in office.

To fill the short vacancy between Berry and her successor, Democrat Bernie Buescher, Gov. Bill Owens appointed Riecke Claussen of Grand Junction. Claussen was a long-time West Slope resident and had served three terms as Mesa County Sheriff.

Rachael Wright is the author of several novels including The Twins of Strathnaver, with degrees in Political Science and History from Colorado Mesa University, and is a contributing writer to Colorado Politics and The Colorado Springs Gazette.