William Reynolds Archer, Jr.

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William Reynolds Archer, Jr.
United States Representative from Texas's 7th district
In office January 1971 - January 2001
Preceded by	George H.W. Bush
Succeeded by	John Culberson
Born	March 2, 1928 Houston, Texas
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Sharon Sawyer

William Reynolds Archer, Jr. (born on March 2, 1928 in Houston, Texas) is a former American lawyer and politician. Archer, a Republican, served in the Texas House of Representatives, and later represented Texas in the United States House for 30 years, lasting from 1971 until 2001.

[edit] Background

After graduating from St. Thomas High School, Archer attended Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin for his bachelor's (B.B.A.) and law degrees (L.L.B.). Upon graduating from law school in 1951, Archer was admitted to the State Bar of Texas and started up his practice in Houston, Texas. Within months, Archer was drafted and served as a captain in the United States Air Force after the onset of the Korean War. Upon returning from service in 1953, Archer became the president of Uncle Johnny Mills, Inc. and stayed there until 1963.

[edit] Politics

Meanwhile, Archer started to develop as a politician. He served as a councilman and mayor pro tempore for the city of Hunters Creek Village from 1955 to 1962. Five years later, Archer became director of Heights State Bank. During the same year, he became a member of the Texas House of Representatives and served until he ran and became elected to be successor for Republican George H.W. Bush as the U.S. Congressman for the 7th District of Texas.

So began the 30-year stay as a member of the House of Representatives. During his political career in the U.S. Congress, Archer served as the chairman of the United States House Committee on Ways and Means from 1995 until the end of his political career in 2001. As chairman, he was known to be a "tough fiscal conservative"[1] Archer believed that the government had been taking too much from the United States citizens, and as the chairman he sought to downsize Washington by reducing the money it takes away from the people (in reference to taxes).

Archer was not a candidate for re-election to the 107th United States Congress and subsequently retired from politics on January 2, 2001.

Archer has taken a politically and socially conservative stance on a variety of issues; among other stances, he supports the death penalty, opposes gay adoption, and has called for cuts in welfare funding. [2]

[edit] External links

• Biography at U.S. Congress website
• Voting record maintained by the Washington Post
• Political Graveyard profile for William Reynolds Archer, Jr.

Preceded by George H.W. Bush

U.S. Congressman for the 7th District of Texas 1971 – 2001

Succeeded by John Culberson