Richard Keith Armey, known as Dick Armey, is an American economist and politician who was a member of the U.S. [[House of Representatives]] from Texas's 26th district from 1985 to 2003. A member of the [Republican Party](https://doctorparadox.net/the-gop-is-3-cults-in-a-trenchcoat/), Armey was a leading figure in the [[conservative]] movement in the 1990s and early 2000s. Armey was born on July 7, 1940, in Cando, North Dakota. He earned a B.A. from Jamestown College, an M.A. from the University of North Dakota, and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Oklahoma. Before entering politics, he worked as an economics professor at the University of Montana, West Texas A&M University, and Austin College. Armey was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984, representing a district in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Republican Party, serving as chairman of the Republican Conference from 1992 to 1994. In 1994, he was one of the key architects of the "[[Contract With America]]," a policy manifesto that is credited with helping Republicans win control of the [[House of Representatives]] for the first time in forty years. ## House Majority Leader Following the 1994 election, Armey was elected Majority Leader, the second-highest position in the House Republican leadership, a post he held until 2003. As Majority Leader, Armey was a leading advocate for conservative economic policies, including tax cuts and [[deregulation]]. After retiring from [[Congress]] in 2003, Armey remained active in conservative politics. He became chairman of FreedomWorks, a conservative advocacy group associated with the [[Tea Party]], although he left the organization in 2012. Over the course of his career, Armey was known for his colorful personality and his commitment to conservative principles. He has been a vocal critic of government regulation and a strong supporter of free-market economic policies.