Ex-budget director dies

WASHINGTON -- Richard Darman, a former White House budget director who helped convince former President George H.W. Bush to renege on his no new taxes pledge, died Friday. He was 64. Darman was deputy chief of staff to President Reagan while Howard Baker was running the staff. Baker became his mentor, which helped Darman survive in the Bush White House. When Baker switched jobs to become Treasury secretary, Darman went with him, becoming deputy Treasury secretary.