Dick Armey

Richard Keith "Dick" Armey (born July 7, 1940 in Cando, North Dakota) is a former U.S. Representative and House Majority Leader from Texas. He was one of the architects of the conservative revolution of the 1990s, in which Republicans were elected to majorities of both houses of Congress.

From academia to Congress

Armey, a member of the United States Republican Party and former economics professor at North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) in Denton, Texas, was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984.

Related Topics:
United States Republican Party - University of North Texas - Denton, Texas - U.S. House of Representatives - 1984

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During his time in Congress, he conceived the independent nonpolitical commission that became responsible for identifying those military bases to be closed as a cost-cutting measure. Armey, an ally of Newt Gingrich, has been one of Congress's fervent supporters of privatization of Social Security and phasing-out of farm subsidies.

Related Topics:
Independent nonpolitical commission - Military base - Newt Gingrich - Privatization - Social Security - Farm subsidies

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In 1994, Armey, then House Republican Conference Chairman, joined Minority Whip Newt Gingrich in drafting the Contract with America. Republican members credited this election platform with the Republican takeover of Congress, rewarding Gingrich with the position of Speaker and Armey with the number two position of House Majority Leader. Gingrich delegated to Armey an unprecedented level of authority over scheduling legislation on the House floor, a power traditionally reserved to the Speaker. However, some charge that Armey was involved in a 1997 attempt to oust Gingrich as Speaker http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/gingrich/gingrich.htm, something Armey has strongly denied.

Related Topics:
1994 - Contract with America - Republican takeover of Congress - House Majority Leader

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In 1995 Armey also wrote a book, Freedom Revolution (ISBN 0895264692).

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In 1998, during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, a reporter asked him what he would do if he were in President Bill Clinton's position. He replied "If I were in the President's place I would not have gotten a chance to resign. I would be laying in a pool of my own blood, hearing Mrs. Armey standing over me saying, 'How do I reload this damn thing?'" http://snopes.com/quotes/armey.htm

Related Topics:
1998 - Monica Lewinsky scandal - Bill Clinton

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Armey announced his retirement in 2002 and did not run for re-election that year. On May 1, 2002, during an interview on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews (transcript), Rep. Armey got into hot water when he called for a homeland for the Palestinians outside of Israel. He also got into controversy when he called openly homosexual Congressman Barney Frank, 'Barney Fag', although he said it was a slip of the tongue. But Armey appeared to oppose the Iraq War: on August 8, 2002, he claimed that an "unprovoked" American attack would be illegal. Fellow Texan and Republican Tom DeLay, then House Majority Whip, was elevated to hold Armey's Majority Leader position.

Related Topics:
2002 - May 1 - MSNBC - Hardball - Chris Matthews - Palestinians - Homosexual - Barney Frank - Fag - Iraq War - August 8 - Tom DeLay - House Majority Whip

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