Bill Archer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Archer
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| Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Sam Gibbons |
| Succeeded by | Bill Thomas |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 7th district |
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| In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | George H. W. Bush |
| Succeeded by | John Culberson |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 22nd district Seat 5 |
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| In office January 10, 1967 – January 12, 1971 |
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| Preceded by | Wallace Miller |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Reynolds Archer Jr.
March 22, 1928 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | July 4, 2026 (aged 98) Stanley, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 1967) Republican (1967–2026) |
| Spouse | Sharon Sawyer |
| Education | Rice University (attended) University of Texas, Austin (BBA, LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Rank | Captain |
| Conflict | Korean War |
William Reynolds Archer Jr. (March 22, 1928 – July 4, 2026) was an American lawyer and politician. He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1967 to 1971. Later, he represented Texas in the United States House of Representatives for 30 years. He was a Republican from 1971 until 2001. For his last six years in Congress, he led the important House Ways and Means Committee.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up in Texas
William Archer was born in Houston, Texas, on March 22, 1928. He attended St. Thomas High School. After high school, he went to Rice University. He then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin. There, he earned degrees in business and law. He was also a member of a college fraternity called Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
College and Military Service
After finishing law school in 1951, Archer became a lawyer in Houston. Soon after, he joined the United States Air Force. He served as a Captain during the Korean War. He returned from his service in 1953. For the next ten years, he was the president of a company called Uncle Johnny Mills, Inc.
A Career in Public Service
Local Government and State Politics
Archer began his political journey in his local community. He served as a councilman for Hunters Creek Village. He was also the mayor pro tempore (a temporary mayor) from 1955 to 1962. In 1967, he became a director at Heights State Bank. That same year, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. He served there until 1971.
Representing Texas in Congress
In 1971, Archer was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He took over the seat from George H. W. Bush, who later became president. Archer represented the 7th District of Texas. He was reelected 14 times, serving for 30 years. His district became very supportive of the Republican Party. He often won elections with a large majority of votes. Sometimes, he even ran without any major opponents.
Leading the Ways and Means Committee
From 1995 until he retired in 2001, Archer chaired the United States House Committee on Ways and Means. This committee is very powerful. It handles laws about taxes and government spending. Archer was known for being a "tough fiscal conservative". This means he believed in careful government spending. He wanted to reduce the amount of money the government collected from citizens. This idea is sometimes called "starving the beast". It means reducing government income to encourage less spending.
Important Decisions in Congress
In 1999, Archer played a key role in a trade decision. He helped give temporary "Most Favored Nation" (MFN) status to the People's Republic of China. This was done with the support of President Bill Clinton. There were some concerns about how people were treated in China. However, the goal was to open up trade. In 2000, this trade status became permanent. This was important for American farmers and businesses. It gave them better access to China's large market.
Archer retired from politics on January 2, 2001. He did not seek reelection to Congress.
Life After Congress
After leaving Congress, Archer remained involved in public life. In 2002, some people thought he might become the Secretary of the Treasury. This position manages the country's money.
He also helped create the Archer Fellowship Program. This program brings students from the University of Texas System to Washington, D.C. They get to take classes and intern in the nation's capital. This helps them learn about politics and government. From 2006 to 2009, he was chairman of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation. He also worked as a Senior Policy Analyst for PricewaterhouseCoopers. Sometimes, he gave lectures as a guest speaker.
William Archer passed away at his farm in Stanley, Virginia, on July 4, 2026. He was 98 years old.
See also
- List of American politicians who switched parties in office
