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About
Richard Keith 'Dick' Armey (born July 7, 1940) is an American economist and politician renowned for his role in the Republican Party's resurgence in the 1990s. He served as a U.S. Representative for Texas's 26th congressional district from 1985 to 2003, rising to House Majority Leader from 1995 to 2003. Armey was a key architect of the 'Republican Revolution' following the 1994 midterm elections and a primary author of the Contract with America, shaping the party's policy priorities around conservative economic principles.
Before entering politics, he had a distinguished academic career as an economics professor at institutions including the University of North Texas and West Texas A&M University, and authored several books on economics and public policy. After retiring from Congress in 2003, Armey transitioned into the private sector as a consultant, advisor, and lobbyist. He became chairman of FreedomWorks, a conservative advocacy group formed from the merger of Citizens for a Sound Economy and other entities, where he influenced grassroots conservative movements, including the Tea Party, and where FreedomWorks served as the primary organizational partner for the 9/12 Project's Taxpayer March on Washington. His post-Congress work has focused on promoting limited government, tax cuts, and deregulation, often in alignment with libertarian-leaning networks.
Armey's career included internal party leadership challenges, such as helping thwart a brief 1997 coup attempt against Speaker Newt Gingrich. Throughout his public life, he has been a vocal advocate for fiscal conservatism and has maintained a significant presence in conservative think tanks and lobbying circles.