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Robert Fleming Rich (June 23, 1883 – April 28, 1968) was aRepublican member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania.
Robert F. Rich was born inWoolrich, Pennsylvania. He attendedDickinson Seminary inWilliamsport, PA, and the Williamsport Commercial College. He graduated from theMercersburg Academy in 1902 and attendedDickinson College inCarlisle, PA, from 1903 to 1906.
Rich was engaged in the woolen-mills business in 1906. He was also engaged inbanking and became financially interested in various business and manufacturing enterprises. He was a delegate to theRepublican National Conventions in 1924, 1952, and 1956. He was a member of the board of trustees of Dickinson College from 1912 to 1958, of theLock Haven Teachers College from 1918 to 1928, and of theLock Haven Hospital from 1920 to 1951. He was an important supporter ofLycoming College and a member of its board of trustees from 1931 to 1963.[1]
Rich was against allying the USA with the USSR, saying that it would akin to 'get in bed with a rattlesnake and a skunk'.[2]
Rich was elected as a Republican to the71st Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death ofEdgar R. Kiess. He was reelected to the72nd Congress and to the five succeeding Congresses. He did not seek renomination in 1942. He was again elected to theSeventy-ninth,Eightieth, andEighty-first Congresses. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1950. According to Christopher Manion, Rich:
became famous – and wildly popular – during the New Deal for one question, which he insisted on asking on the floor of the House of Representatives every time a new spending bill was taken up: "Where are we going to get the money," he would roar. It was such a constant refrain that the other members of the House would often join in like a chorus – alas, only in jest: they knew where they would get the money – they would print it.[3]
He served as general manager of theWoolrich Woolen Mills from 1930 to 1959, president from 1959 to 1964, and chairman of the board from 1964 until 1966 when he became honorary chairman. He died atJersey Shore, Pennsylvania,[4] and is interred in Woolrich Cemetery.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 16th congressional district 1930–1943 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 15th congressional district 1945–1951 | Succeeded by |
