Sam Aaron Baker began his career in manual labor before earning two bachelor's degrees, one in pedagogy. He transitioned into education, holding various principal and superintendent positions, culminating in his role as Missouri's Superintendent of Public Schools. During his tenure, he secured significant funding for school improvements and teacher training. After his defeat in the 1922 election, Baker was elected governor in 1924, where he focused on school improvements, economic reforms, and infrastructure development, despite legislative challenges.

Sam Aaron Baker's political career reveals a unique blend of progressive educational reforms and conservative fiscal measures. His tenure as Missouri's Superintendent of Public Schools and Governor saw him champion vocational education and teacher training while simultaneously advocating for banking reforms and restrained government spending. Baker's approach to infrastructure, marked by a significant bond issue for road improvements, contrasts with his limited success in pushing through broader legislative agendas, hinting at a calculated strategy to balance ambitious goals with political realities. His surprising support for state parks development amidst a generally conservative fiscal stance further underscores an ideologically nuanced approach.