Robert H. Michel

Robert Henry Michel (/maɪkɛl/; March 2, 1923 – February 17, 2017) was an American Republican Party politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives for 38 years. He represented central Illinois' 18th congressional district, and was the GOP leader in the House, serving as House Minority Leader during his last 14 years in Congress (1981–1995).

Michel's tenure as GOP House leader occurred during the latter part of the decades-long era in which the Democratic Party held a majority in the House of Representatives. Well known for his bipartisanship and friendship with prominent Democrats in the House, Michel was eventually eclipsed by Newt Gingrich and other younger Republicans who favored a more confrontational style. Michel did not seek re-election in the 1994 midterm elections, where Gingrich led the Republican Revolution that resulted in the GOP taking control of the House for the first time in 40 years.

Michel was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Anna (Baer) and Charles Jean Michel. His father was an immigrant from Alsace^{[citation needed]} and his mother was the daughter of German immigrants.^{[citation needed]} He attended Peoria High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Bradley University.

When the U.S. entered the Second World War, Michel 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, while also participating in the Invasion of Normandy in 1944. He was wounded by machine gun fire and awarded two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, and four battle stars.

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

Although Michel was never part of the majority party, during his 38 years in the House he was noted for his bipartisanship in striking bargains. ^{[citation needed]} Michel was well respected across the aisle and was good friends with Democrats such as Speaker Thomas "Tip" O'Neill and Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski.

Michel was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1956 and served until his retirement on January 3, 1995. He served as Minority Whip from 94th Congress through the 96th Congress. Michel served from 1959 to 1980 as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, including 12 years as the ranking Republican on the Labor, Health, Education and Welfare Subcommittee. Later, he served as House Minority Leader from the 97th Congress through 103rd Congresses. Michel voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Michel voted in favor of the House amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 on July 9, 1965, but voted against the joint conference committee report on August 3, 1965.

Michel's most difficult re-election was probably during the 1982 midterms, when he was in a tight race due to dissatisfaction over U.S. President Ronald Reagan's economic policies and the early 1980s recession. Reagan travelled to Peoria to campaign for him.