Robert H. Michel

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Robert Henry "Bob" Michel
18th Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1995
Deputy	Trent Lott (1981-1989) Dick Cheney (1989) Newt Gingrich (1989-1995) (whips)
Preceded by	John Rhodes
Succeeded by	Dick Gephardt
Constituency	Illinois' 18th congressional district
13th Minority Whip of the United States House of Representatives
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Leslie C. Arends
Succeeded by	Trent Lott
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois' 18th district
In office January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Harold Himmel Velde
Succeeded by	Ray LaHood
Born	March 2, 1923 (1923-03-02) (age 86) Peoria, Illinois
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Corinne Woodruff (1948-2003)
Children	Scott, Bruce, Robin, Laurie
Religion	Presbyterian

Robert Henry "Bob" Michel (born March 2, 1923 in Peoria, Illinois) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois.

Michel grew up in Peoria. When the Second World War broke out, he joined the United States Army and served with the 39th Infantry regiment as an infantryman in England, France, Belgium, and Germany from February 10, 1943, to January 26, 1946. He was wounded by machine gun fire and awarded two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, and four battle stars.

After the war, he attended Bradley University in Peoria, and graduated in 1948. From 1949 to 1956, he worked as an administrative assistant to U.S. Representative Harold Velde.

He was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1956 and served until his retirement on January 3, 1995. Michel served as Minority Whip from 94th Congress through the 96th Congress. Later, he served as Minority Leader from the 97th Congress through 103rd Congresses. A moderate, Michel was criticized by Newt Gingrich and other young, aggressive conservative congressmen for being too easy-going and not fighting hard enough for Republican goals in the House during its long period of Democratic control. Michel had one of the most ill-timed retirements in history in 1995. Had he run and been re-elected (which he almost certainly would have been) he would have become Speaker of the House in the next Congress. In addition, had he run in 1994 and won, Michel would have served in a Republican-controlled House for the first time in his entire Congressional career. Republicans held a majority in the House from 1953-54, lost control in the 1954 mid-term elections, and then remained in the minority until they regained control in the 1994 mid-term elections. Because Michel chose to retire that year, the Democratic Party controlled the House of Representative during all of his 38 years there.

On January 18, 1989, outgoing president Ronald Reagan conferred upon him the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian award given, making him the 7th recipient of the honor. On August 8, 1994, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, by President Clinton.

Michel stirred a minor controversy in the early 1990s when he fondly recalled minstrel shows in which he had participated in blackface as a young man, expressing his regret that they had fallen out of fashion.

While in Congress, Michel was the usual pitcher in the annual Democrats vs. Republicans baseball game.

[edit] Namesakes and honors

The Bob Michel Bridge, carrying Route 40 across the Illinois River in Peoria, is named after Robert H. Michel, as is the Robert H. Michel Student Center at Bradley University.

In the Capitol, the second-floor suite of offices occupied by the Speaker were designated the Robert H. Michel Rooms by the House in 1995.

[edit] External links

• Robert H. Michel at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Information about Michel's Leadership positions (PDF File)

v • d • e Minority Leaders of the United States House of Representatives Richardson • Williams • Clark • Mann • Clark • Kitchin • Garrett • Garner • Snell • Martin • Rayburn • Martin • Rayburn • Martin • Halleck • Ford • Rhodes • Michel • Gephardt • Pelosi • Boehner

v • d • e Minority Whips of the United States House of Representatives Underwood • Lloyd • Dwight • Burke • Hamilton • Oldfield • McDuffie • Bachmann • Englebright • Arends • McCormack • Arends • McCormack • Arends • Michel • Lott • Cheney • Gingrich • Bonior • Pelosi • Hoyer • Blunt • Cantor