Biography
Representative from Georgia; born in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pa., June 17, 1943; attended school at various military installations; graduated from Baker High School, Columbus, Ga., 1961; B.A., Emory University, Atlanta, Ga., 1965; M.A., Tulane University, New Orleans, La., 1968; Ph.D., Tulane University, New Orleans, La., 1971; teacher, West Georgia College, Carrollton, Ga., 1970-1978; unsuccessful candidate for election to the Ninety-fourth Congress in 1974; unsuccessful candidate for election to the Ninety-fifth Congress in 1976; elected as a Republican to the Ninety-sixth and to the nine succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1979-January 3, 1999); reprimanded by the U.S. House of Representatives on January 21, 1997, for allowing a Member-affiliated tax-exempt organization to be used for political purposes and for providing inaccurate information to the Ethics Committee; minority whip (One Hundred First through One Hundred Third Congresses); Speaker of the House (One Hundred Fourth and One Hundred Fifth Congresses); reelected to the One Hundred Sixth Congress but declined his seat; unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 2012.
Courtesy of Biographical Directory of the United States Congress