Re “Is Baker Republican enough for Republicans?’’ (Page A1, July 22): In my six-decade lifetime, the best governors of Massachusetts have been Republicans: John Volpe, Francis Sargent, William Weld, and now Charlie Baker, to name a few.

Why have they been so good? Because they knew how to reach across the aisle and compromise. No one gets anywhere in this country by moving doggedly left or doggedly right. Everyone has to be flexible, to some extent.

So why is Baker the most popular governor in the country? Because he is a reasonable Republican, who respects his political opponents and realizes there is more than one way to get many things done. To get anywhere in our political system, players have to be willing to give in order to receive.

I am proud to call him my governor.

Dwight Shepard

Duxbury