Dick Armey
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Richard Keith "Dick" Armey (born July 7, 1940 in Cando, ) is a former U.S. Representative from Texas' 26th Congressional District (1985–2003) and House Majority Leader (1995–2003). He was one of the architects of the "Republican Revolution" of the 1990s, in which Republicans were elected to majorities of both houses of Congress, and the chief author of the Republican Contract with America.
From academia to Congress
Armey, a member of the Republican Party and former economics professor at North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) in Denton, was first elected to the House in 1984, defeating freshman congressman Tom Vandergriff in a considerable upset (Vandergriff is well-known in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, most notable for bringing the Texas Rangers to the area) to represent the relatively new 26th District (created in 1980).
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. He is a strong supporter of replacing the progressive tax levels with a single or flat tax rate. However, Armey is very critical of a competing tax reform proposal that would replace the current system with a national sales tax, the FairTax.
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 [link], something Armey has strongly denied.
In 1995 Armey also wrote a book, Freedom Revolution (ISBN 0895264692).
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?'" [link] That same year, after Gingrich was forced to resign from the House after heavy Republican losses in the midterm elections, Armey had to fend off a bruising challenge for his majority leader post from Steve Largent of Oklahoma. Still, Armey served another four years before announcing his retirement in 2002. In his last legislative effort, he was named chairman of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security and was the primary sponsor of the legislation that created the Department of Homeland Security.
Armey's words would sometimes get him in trouble. On May 1, 2002, during an interview on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews [(transcript)], Armey called for a homeland for the Palestinians outside of Israel, which the American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee interpreted as a call for ethnic cleansing. He was also criticized when he called openly homosexual Congressman Barney Frank, 'Barney Fag', although he said it was a slip of the tongue.
After Armey's retirement, fellow Texan and Republican Tom DeLay, then House Majority Whip, was elevated to hold Armey's Majority Leader position. Armey's son, Scott, ran for his father's seat in the 2002 election, but lost in the Republican Party runoff to Michael C. Burgess, who would go on to hold the strongly Republican 26th District for the GOP in November.
After Congress
Recently, Armey joined the Washington office of the law firm DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary (formerly Piper Rudnick) as a senior policy advisor. [link] Armey is also the firm's co-chairman of its Homeland Security Task Force. [link]
In 2003, Armey became co-chairman of Citizens for A Sound Economy, which in 2004 merged with Empower America to become FreedomWorks. "FreedomWorks" is a common Armey saying and the organization is dedicated to advancing a "Freedom Agenda" of "lower taxes, less government, and more freedom." FreedomWorks claims 700,000 members nationwide and full time staff in 10 states. In his role as Chairman, Armey continues to be a national political figure and grassroots leader. He travels widely, meeting with activists and legislators. In 2005, for example, he testified before the President's Advisory Panel on Tax Reform and debated Colorado Gov. Bill Owens on a tax increase ballot measure.
Also in 2003, Armey published "Armey's Axioms."
Quotes
- "I've been to Europe once. I don't have to go again."
Comic references
- In the Family Guy episode Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington, Peter finds Armey's name hilarious and asks him if his wife is called "Vagina Coastguard."
External links
- [Christian Science Monitor, December 13, 2001, "Armey's Exit Triggers Fight for GOP Direction"]
- [Retiring House GOP leader speaks out against Iraq war]
- [Rep. Dick Armey Calls for Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinians]
- [Salon.com, May 24, 2004], "House Divided: GOP Enforcer Tom DeLay and His Former Partner Dick Armey Are Locked in a Nasty Dispute Over the Future of the Republican Party"
- [Dick Armey on UFM, Guatemala]
- [Dick Armey: The Size of Government and Growth]
- [record maintained by the Washington Post]
- [Interview with Dick Armey by Carlisle Johnson - Dick Armey at UFM, Guatemala]
- [Dr. at UFM, Guatemala]
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