Former Sec. of State seeking girl he met on Zakynthos in 1953
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
In August 1953, James Baker was a young marine who found himself on Zakynthos in the framework of the humanitarian mission after the deadly earthquake. It has been many decades since, but he never forgot a little girl. And now, he wants to find her.
The years that followed Baker had a long political career. He served as White House Chief of Staff and United States Secretary of the Treasury under President Ronald Reagan, and as U.S. Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff under President George H. W. Bush.
But he never forgot the Zante Girl, a girl who he had photographed on Zakynthos and offered humanitarian aid after the devastating earthquake that left thousands of people homeless. He never knew the name of this girl, but he wants to find out who she is and maybe meet her again. In this effort he has the help of a family of Greek expatriates in Houston.
Their mission is of course not easy. Many left Zakynthos after the earthquake, and so many years have passed that perhaps this girl will be approaching 80 if she is still alive. But the three daughters of the Christi family, Roula, Maria and Kathy, have made this quest ... their personal mission.
James Baker has been familiar with the family for many decades since he's been eating at their restaurant since he was young. In fact, he visits them with his friends, such as former US President George W. Bush. Maria and Kathy Christie often travel to Greece in efforts to find the trail of the girl from Zakynthos.
Related items
- Zakynthos: Famous Navagio beach is officially closed to all
- Zakynthos Shipwreck: Navagio Βeach shut down again for safety reasons
- Greece: Moderate quake in Ionian Sea, near Cephalonia
- Zakynthos in shock over latest femicide
- Mike Pompeo's statement: The United States Sanctions Turkey Under CAATSA 231
Latest from E.Tsiliopoulos
- Holy Wednesday tragedy: Car hits five - three children
- Lone black swan spotted in Evros
- Greek police release the details of 8 people accused of homicide and arson
- Deputy FM Kotsiras: Bringing young college students and researchers of the diaspora closer to Greece
- Visa express now available on five more Greek islands for Turkish citizens