Robert H . Michel Robert Henry " Bob " Michel ( pronounced " Michael " ; born March 2 , 1923 ) is an American Republican Party politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives for 38 years . He represented central Illinois ' 18th congressional district , and was the GOP leader in Congress , serving as Minority Leader for 14 years ( 1981 – 1995 ) during an era of Democratic Party House dominance . He was also Minority Whip for 6 years ( 1975 – 1981 ) . A graduate of Bradley University in Illinois , he was born and raised in Peoria , Illinois . Early life . Michel was born and raised in Peoria , Illinois , where he attended Peoria High School . Military service . When the Second World War broke out , he joined the United States Army and served with the 39th Infantry regiment as an infantry man in England , France , Belgium , and Germany from February 10 , 1943 , to January 26 , 1946 , while also participating in the Invasion of Normandy in 1944 . He was wounded by machine gun fire and awarded two Bronze Stars , the Purple Heart , and four battle star s . Education and early career . After the war , he attended Bradley University in Peoria , graduating in 1948 . From 1949 to 1956 , he worked as an administrative assistant to U . S . Representative Harold Velde . Electoral career . During his 38 years in the House , although Michel was never part of the majority party , he nonetheless was noted for his bipartisanship in striking bargains . Michel was well respected across the aisle and was good friends with Democrats such as Speaker Thomas " Tip " O ' Neill and Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski . He was elected as a Republican to the U . S . House of Representatives in 1956 and served until his retirement on January 3 , 1995 . Michel served as Minority Whip from 94th Congress through the 96th Congress . Michel served from 1959 to 1980 as a member of the House Appropriations Committee , including 12 years as the ranking Republican on the Labor , Health , Education and Welfare Subcommittee . Later , he served as Minority Leader from the 97th Congress through 103rd Congresses . His toughest re - election was probably during the 1982 midterms , when he was in a tight race due to dissatisfaction over President Ronald Reagan ' s economic policies and the 1982 recession . Reagan traveled to speak for him . Michel stirred a controversy in 1988 when he recalled enjoying and participating in blackface minstrel shows as a young man , and said he missed the shows . He also compared the removal of racially offensive words in songs such as " Old Man River " to the Soviet re - writing of history . He later apologized for having given offense , explaining that he was honestly attempting to understand and accept changes in U . S . culture . In the early 1990s , Michel was criticized by Newt Gingrich and other young , aggressive conservative congressmen for being too easy - going and not fighting hard enough for Republican goals in the House . Supporters said Michel ' s practice of socializing with Democrats over a game of golf or card resulted in deals that moved bills through the legislative process . It was also noted that Michel ' s voting was nearly as conservative as Gingrich ' s . In 1993 Michel gave the rebuttal to President Bill Clinton ' s first State of the Union speech , criticizing the economic policies of the newly inaugurated president . " The Clinton spin doctors have even given us a new political vocabulary , if you will - investment now means big government spending your tax dollars . Patriotism now means agreeing with the Clinton program . The powerful evocative word , sacrifice , has been reduced to the level of a bumper sticker slogan " , he said . He was later criticized for obstructing Clinton ' s economic stimulus plan . As a result of Gingrich ' s rising prominence which gradually attracted support from the caucus , Michel decided not to seek re - election in the 1994 mid - term elections . Had Michel run in the 1994 elections and won , he would have served in a Republican - controlled House for the first time in his entire Congressional career . However the caucus would have likely favored Gingrich over Michel as Speaker of the House , due to Gingrich ' s central role in the Republican Revolution that saw the party gain a net 54 seats . In announcing his retirement , Michel complained that some of his fellow congressmen were more interested in picking fights than in passing laws . Gingrich had a confrontational style , which contrasted sharply with Michel ' s bipartisanship , but Republicans retained the majority during his term . Gingrich ' s successor as Speaker , Dennis Hastert , had stated his desire to return to Michel ' s style . Several years after Michel retired from Congress , his successor , Ray LaHood , praised him . Michel " knew warfare first hand " , he said . " That is the reason he never used the macho phrases like ' warfare ' and ' take no prisoners ' when discussing politics with his staff . To Bob , the harsh , personal rhetoric of ideological warfare had no place in his office , no place in the House , and no place in American politics . " Namesakes and honors . On January 18 , 1989 , outgoing president Ronald Reagan conferred upon him the Presidential Citizens Medal , the second highest civilian award given , making him the 7th recipient of the honor . On August 8 , 1994 , he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom , the highest civilian award in the United States , by President Bill Clinton . He received of the first Congressional Distinguished Service Award in 2000 , along with John Rhodes , Louis Stokes , and Don Edwards . This honor was created by then - Speaker Dennis Hastert and then - Minority Leader Dick Gephardt . In 2010 , he was given the Schachman Award by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology . The Society commended him for his post - congressional work in increasing public and congressional support for the National Institutes of Health which contributed to the doubling of the NIH ' s budget . During the 1960s Michel was a frequent winning pitcher in the annual Democrats vs . Republicans baseball game , and in 1993 , the Capitol Hill publication " Roll Call " , named him to its Baseball Hall of Fame . In 1994 , Michel received the U . S . Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official , an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards . The Bob Michel Bridge , carrying Illinois Route 40 across the Illinois River at Peoria , is named after Robert H . Michel as is the Robert H . Michel Student Center at Bradley University . In the United States Capitol , the second - floor suite of offices occupied by the Speaker were designated the Robert H . Michel Rooms by the House in 1995 . At the Capitol Hill Club located adjacent to the Republican National Committee , the cloak room is named for Bob Michel . In Peoria , Illinois , the VA Clinic is named the Bob Michel Community Based Outpatient Clinic . The Robert H . Michel Lifetime Achievement Award is presented by the Creve Coeur Club of Peoria each year at the Club ' s Washington Day Banquet to recognize community leadership . Personal life . Michel was married Corinne Woodruff ( Michel ) from 1948 until her death in 2003 . The couple had four children , Scott , Bruce , Robin , and Laurie . In 1978 he required hospital treatment after he was robbed and beaten by youths outside his Washington , D . C . home . One perpetrator was caught and convicted in juvenile court of assault on a member of Congress and assault with intent to rob .