Max Sieben Baucus (born December 11, 1941) is an American politician and diplomat who represented the state of Montana for more than three decades. A member of the Democratic Party, he is best known for his long tenure in the U.S. Senate and for later serving as the United States Ambassador to China.
United States Senate
Baucus served as a United States Senator from Montana from December 15, 1978, until February 6, 2014. During his time in the Senate he rose to senior committee positions, including leadership of the Senate Finance Committee. He was actively involved in major fiscal and health-care policy debates and played a prominent role in the negotiations that produced the 2010 health-care legislation.
Ambassador to China
In early 2014 Baucus resigned his Senate seat to accept appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to China. He served in Beijing from 2014 through 2017, representing American diplomatic and economic interests until the end of that administration.
Significance and later life
At the time of his departure from the Senate, Baucus was Montana’s longest-serving U.S. senator. After completing his diplomatic assignment, he stepped back from elected office. His career is often noted for its influence on tax, trade and health-care policy during a period of significant legislative activity in Washington.