Robert H. Michel

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 (1923-03-02)March 2, 1923 Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
Died	February 17, 2017(2017-02-17) (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 H. Michel's voice Robert H. Michel speaks on reforming Congress Recorded June 18, 1992

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.