Preceded by Pat Roberts Preceded by Denny Smith Education Willamette University Succeeded by Larry Combest Succeeded by Wes Cooley Party Republican Party | Preceded by Wes Cooley Name Robert Smith Succeeded by Greg Walden Role American Politician | |
Previous offices Representative (OR 2nd District) 1997–1999, Representative (OR 2nd District) 1983–1995 | ||
Member of congress start date January 3, 1983 | ||
Robert Freeman Smith (born June 16, 1931 in Portland, Oregon), is an American politician.
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Early life
Smith grew up in Burns, Oregon. He attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, graduating in 1953 with an agricultural degree. He worked as a rancher until his election to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1960.
Career
He served in the state House until he retired in 1972 to return to his ranch, and was Speaker of the House for the 1969 and 1971 sessions. Between 1965 and 1969, Smith was the president of the Oregon Public Land Commission.
Smith, a Republican, was a United States Congressman from Oregon's 2nd congressional district from 1983 to 1995. After a brief retirement, he returned to Congress in 1997. Wes Cooley, the Republican who had succeeded Smith in the House, had been caught in several lies about his military service and Smith was persuaded to come out of retirement. The Republicans promised him the chairmanship of the House Agriculture Committee if he won. He won easily and was duly appointed Chairman, but only served one term before retiring for good.