Bob Michel | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 1993 | |
| House Minority Leader | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1995 | |
| Whip | Trent Lott Dick Cheney Newt Gingrich |
| Preceded by | John Rhodes |
| Succeeded by | Dick Gephardt |
| Leader of the House Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | John Rhodes |
| Succeeded by | Newt Gingrich |
| House Minority Whip | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Leader | John Rhodes |
| Preceded by | Leslie C. Arends |
| Succeeded by | Trent Lott |
| Chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975 | |
| Leader | Gerald Ford John Rhodes |
| Preceded by | Bob Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Guy Vander Jagt |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 18th district | |
| In office January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Harold H. Velde |
| Succeeded by | Ray LaHood |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Henry Michel March 2, 1923 Peoria, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | February 17, 2017 (aged 93) Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Corinne Woodruff
(m. 1948; died 2003) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Bradley University (BS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 39th Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart with battle stars (4) |
Robert Henry Michel[1][2] (/maɪkɛl/;[1] 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).
His tenure in leadership 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 hardball style. Michel did not seek re-election in the 1994 mid-term elections, where Gingrich led the Republican Revolution that resulted in the GOP taking control of the House for the first time in 40 years.