# Robert F. Rich

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American politician (1883–1968)

For other people with the same name, see [Robert Rich (disambiguation)](/source/Robert_Rich_(disambiguation)).

From 1949's *Pictorial Directory of the 81st Congress*.

**Robert Fleming Rich** (June 23, 1883 – April 28, 1968) was a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) member of the [U.S. House of Representatives](/source/U.S._House_of_Representatives) from [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania).

## Early life and education

Robert F. Rich was born in [Woolrich, Pennsylvania](/source/Woolrich%2C_Pennsylvania). He attended [Dickinson Seminary](/source/Dickinson_Seminary) in [Williamsport, PA](/source/Williamsport%2C_Pennsylvania), and the Williamsport Commercial College. He graduated from the [Mercersburg Academy](/source/Mercersburg_Academy) in 1902 and attended [Dickinson College](/source/Dickinson_College) in [Carlisle, PA](/source/Carlisle%2C_PA), from 1903 to 1906.

## Commercial enterprises

Rich was engaged in the woolen-mills business in 1906. He was also engaged in [banking](/source/Banking) and became financially interested in various business and manufacturing enterprises. He was a delegate to the [Republican National Conventions](/source/Republican_National_Conventions) in 1924, 1952, and 1956. He was a member of the board of trustees of Dickinson College from 1912 to 1958, of the [Lock Haven Teachers College](/source/Lock_Haven_University_of_Pennsylvania) from 1918 to 1928, and of the [Lock Haven Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lock_Haven_Hospital&action=edit&redlink=1) from 1920 to 1951. He was an important supporter of [Lycoming College](/source/Lycoming_College) and a member of its board of trustees from 1931 to 1963.[1]

## United States House of Representatives

Rich was against allying the US 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 the [71st Congress](/source/71st_Congress) to fill the vacancy caused by the death of [Edgar R. Kiess](/source/Edgar_R._Kiess). He was reelected to the [72nd Congress](/source/72nd_Congress) and to the five succeeding Congresses. 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]

During Congressional consideration of [Lend-Lease](/source/Lend-Lease) in early 1941, Rich was among the bill's most vocal opponents in the House, along with [Hamilton Fish III](/source/Hamilton_Fish_III) and [Roy Woodruff](/source/Roy_Woodruff), among others. Speaking often during the debates, Rich became somewhat notorious for longer speeches and belligerent statements, especially in opposition to President [Franklin D. Roosevelt](/source/Franklin_D._Roosevelt). During one particular address on February 4, 1941, Rich infamously declared:

I do not care what the people in my district think. If I received a telegram tomorrow from everybody in my district wanting me to vote for this bill, I would resign my job in Congress before I would vote for it.[4]

In the same address, Rich went on to disparage aliens residing in the United States as being potentially dangerous [fifth columnists](/source/Fifth_columnists), arguing that all of them should be forced to swear allegiance to the United States, be shipped back to their home countries, or else "we ought to put them into concentration camps."[5]

He did not seek renomination in 1942, but was again elected to the [Seventy-ninth](/source/79th_Congress), [Eightieth](/source/80th_Congress), and [Eighty-first](/source/81st_Congress) Congresses. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1950.

## Woolrich Woolen Mills

He served as general manager of the [Woolrich Woolen Mills](/source/Woolrich_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 at [Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania](/source/Jersey_Shore%2C_Pennsylvania),[6] and is interred in Woolrich Cemetery.

## References

Constructs such as ibid., loc. cit. and idem are discouraged by Wikipedia's style guide for footnotes, as they are easily broken. Please improve this article by replacing them with named references (quick guide), or an abbreviated title. (March 2026) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** John F. Piper, *Lycoming College, 1812–2012: On the Frontiers of American Education* ([Lexington Books](/source/Lexington_Books), 2011), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781611483703](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781611483703), pp. 405 & *passim*. [Excerpts available](https://books.google.com/books?id=mo_nwF-JbEwC&q=woolrich+&pg=PA405) at [Google Books](/source/Google_Books).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** McMeekin, Sean (2021). *Stalin's war*. London. p. 350. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-241-36643-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-241-36643-1). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1242769798](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1242769798).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Manion, Christopher (2011-12-07) [A Debate That Will Live In Infamy](http://www.crisismagazine.com/2011/debates-that-will-live-in-infamy), *Crisis*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** 87 Cong. Rec. (Bound) - Volume 87, Part 1 (January 3, 1941 to February 18, 1941), 561

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Ibid.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Robert Rich, Industrialist"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zNhaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=emwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4722,4945023&dq=woolrich+congressman+robert+rich&hl=en), [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press) in *[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](/source/Pittsburgh_Post-Gazette)*, April 30, 1968.

## Sources

- United States Congress. ["Robert F. Rich (id: R000209)"](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000209). *[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress](/source/Biographical_Directory_of_the_United_States_Congress)*.

- [The Political Graveyard](http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/rich-richard.html)

## External links

- [Robert F. Rich](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7765730) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

U.S. House of Representatives Preceded by Edgar R. Kiess Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district 1930–1943 Succeeded by Thomas E. Scanlon Preceded by Wilson D. Gillette Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district 1945–1951 Succeeded by Alvin Bush

v t e Pennsylvania's delegation(s) to the 71st–77th & 79th–81st United States Congresses (ordered by seniority) 71st Senate: ▌D. Reed (R) ▌W. Vare (R) ▌J. Grundy (R) ▌J. Davis (R) House: ▌W. Griest (R) ▌S. Porter (R) ▌G. Graham (R) ▌E. Kiess (R) ▌H. Temple (R) ▌G. Darrow (R) ▌L. McFadden (R) ▌H. Watson (R) ▌M. C. Kelly (R) ▌G. Campbell (R) ▌N. Strong (R) ▌M. Shreve (R) ▌S. Kendall (R) ▌H. Ransley (R) ▌J. Casey (D) ▌J. Connolly (R) ▌A. Wyant (R) ▌E. Beers (R) ▌J. Kurtz (R) ▌L. Watres (R) ▌G. Welsh (R) ▌B. Golder (R) ▌F. Magrady (R) ▌F. Menges (R) ▌G. Brumm (R) ▌J. Chase (R) ▌T. Cochran (R) ▌I. Doutrich (R) ▌H. Estep (R) ▌J. Leech (R) ▌J. H. Swick (R) ▌J. Beck (R) ▌J. Wolfenden (R) ▌W. Coyle (R) ▌C. Esterly (R) ▌P. Sullivan (R) ▌C. Turpin (R) ▌J. Kinzer (R) ▌E. Erk (R) ▌R. Rich (R) 72nd Senate: ▌D. Reed (R) ▌J. Davis (R) House: ▌G. Graham (R) ▌H. Temple (R) ▌G. Darrow (R) ▌L. McFadden (R) ▌H. Watson (R) ▌M. C. Kelly (R) ▌G. Campbell (R) ▌N. Strong (R) ▌M. Shreve (R) ▌S. Kendall (R) ▌H. Ransley (R) ▌J. Connolly (R) ▌A. Wyant (R) ▌E. Beers (R) ▌J. Kurtz (R) ▌G. Welsh (R) ▌B. Golder (R) ▌F. Magrady (R) ▌G. Brumm (R) ▌J. Chase (R) ▌T. Cochran (R) ▌I. Doutrich (R) ▌H. Estep (R) ▌J. Leech (R) ▌J. H. Swick (R) ▌J. Beck (R) ▌J. Wolfenden (R) ▌W. Coyle (R) ▌P. Sullivan (R) ▌C. Turpin (R) ▌J. R. Kinzer (R) ▌E. Erk (R) ▌R. Rich (R) ▌P. Boland (D) ▌H. Haines (D) ▌N. Lichtenwalner (D) ▌E. Stokes (R) ▌H. Stull (R) ▌J. Biddle (R) ▌R. Davis (R) 73rd Senate: ▌D. Reed (R) ▌J. Davis (R) House: ▌G. Darrow (R) ▌L. McFadden (R) ▌H. Watson (R) ▌M. C. Kelly (R) ▌N. Strong (R) ▌H. Ransley (R) ▌B. Focht (R) ▌J. Connolly (R) ▌G. Edmonds (R) ▌J. Kurtz (R) ▌G. Brumm (R) ▌T. Cochran (R) ▌I. Doutrich (R) ▌J. H. Swick (R) ▌J. Beck (R) ▌J. Wolfenden (R) ▌C. Turpin (R) ▌J. R. Kinzer (R) ▌B. Rich (R) ▌P. Boland (D) ▌H. Haines (D) ▌E. Stokes (R) ▌B. Berlin (D) ▌J. T. Brooks (D) ▌C. Crosby (D) ▌J. W. Ditter (R) ▌M. Dunn (D) ▌H. Ellenbogen (D) ▌C. Faddis (D) ▌M. Muldowney (R) ▌W. Richardson (D) ▌J. B. Snyder (D) ▌A. Waldron (R) ▌F. Walter (D) ▌O. Frey (D) 74th Senate: ▌J. Davis (R) ▌J. Guffey (D) House: ▌G. Darrow (R) ▌H. Ransley (R) ▌B. Focht (R) ▌I. Doutrich (R) ▌J. Wolfenden (R) ▌C. Turpin (R) ▌J. R. Kinzer (R) ▌R. Rich (R) ▌P. Boland (D) ▌H. Haines (D) ▌B. Berlin (D) ▌J. T. Brooks (D) ▌C. Crosby (D) ▌J. W. Ditter (R) ▌M. Dunn (D) ▌H. Ellenbogen (D) ▌C. Faddis (D) ▌W. Richardson (D) ▌J. B. Snyder (D) ▌F. Walter (D) ▌O. Frey (D) ▌J. B. Daly (D) ▌C. Dietrich (D) ▌F. Dorsey (D) ▌D. Driscoll (D) ▌C. Eckert (D) ▌C. Fenerty (R) ▌J. Gildea (D) ▌D. Gingery (D) ▌J. Gray (D) ▌T. Moritz (D) ▌J. Quinn (D) ▌M. Stack (D) ▌W. Wilson (R) 75th Senate: ▌J. Davis (R) ▌J. Guffey (D) House: ▌B. Focht (R) ▌J. Wolfenden (R) ▌J. R. Kinzer (R) ▌R. Rich (R) ▌P. Boland (D) ▌H. Haines (D) ▌C. Crosby (D) ▌J. W. Ditter (R) ▌M. Dunn (D) ▌H. Ellenbogen (D) ▌C. Faddis (D) ▌J. B. Snyder (D) ▌F. Walter (D) ▌O. Frey (D) ▌J. B. Daly (D) ▌F. Dorsey (D) ▌C. Eckert (D) ▌J. Gildea (D) ▌D. Gingery (D) ▌J. Gray (D) ▌J. Quinn (D) ▌M. Stack (D) ▌B. Allen (D) ▌M. Bradley (D) ▌P. De Muth (D) ▌I. Drew (D) ▌H. Eberharter (D) ▌J. H. Flannery (D) ▌B. Jarrett (R) ▌J. McGranery (D) ▌G. Moser (D) ▌A. Rutherford (R) ▌L. Sacks (D) ▌G. Swope (D) ▌R. Simpson (D) 76th Senate: ▌J. Davis (R) ▌J. Guffey (D) House: ▌G. Darrow (R) ▌J. Wolfenden (R) ▌J. R. Kinzer (R) ▌R. Rich (R) ▌P. Boland (D) ▌J. W. Ditter (R) ▌M. Dunn (D) ▌C. Faddis (D) ▌J. B. Snyder (D) ▌F. Walter (D) ▌J. B. Daly (D) ▌B. Allen (D) ▌M. Bradley (D) ▌H. Eberharter (D) ▌J. H. Flannery (D) ▌B. Jarrett (R) ▌J. McGranery (D) ▌G. Moser (D) ▌A. Rutherford (R) ▌L. Sacks (D) ▌R. Simpson (R) ▌B. Corbett (R) ▌I. Fenton (R) ▌F. Gartner (R) ▌C. Gerlach (R) ▌L. Graham (R) ▌C. Gross (R) ▌J. Kunkel (R) ▌J. McArdle (D) ▌J. McDowell (R) ▌F. Myers (D) ▌B. Rodgers (R) ▌H. Tibbott (R) ▌J. Van Zandt (R) ▌J. Sheridan (D) 77th Senate: ▌J. Davis (R) ▌J. Guffey (D) House: ▌J. Wolfenden (R) ▌J. R. Kinzer (R) ▌B. Rich (R) ▌P. Boland (D) ▌J. W. Ditter (R) ▌C. Faddis (D) ▌J. B. Snyder (D) ▌F. Walter (D) ▌H. Haines (D) ▌M. Bradley (D) ▌H. Eberharter (D) ▌J. H. Flannery (D) ▌B. Jarrett (R) ▌J. McGranery (D) ▌G. Moser (D) ▌A. Rutherford (R) ▌L. Sacks (D) ▌R. Simpson (R) ▌I. Fenton (R) ▌C. Gerlach (R) ▌L. Graham (R) ▌J. Kunkel (R) ▌J. McArdle (D) ▌F. Myers (D) ▌B. Rodgers (R) ▌H. Tibbott (R) ▌J. Van Zandt (R) ▌J. Sheridan (D) ▌A. Kelley (D) ▌T. Scanlon (D) ▌H. Scott (R) ▌F. Smith (D) ▌S. Weiss (D) ▌J. Wright (D) ▌W. Gillette (D) ▌E. Holland (D) ▌T. Miller (R) ▌V. Boland (D) 79th Senate: ▌J. Guffey (D) ▌F. Myers (D) House: ▌J. Wolfenden (R) ▌J. R. Kinzer (R) ▌R. Rich (R) ▌J. B. Snyder (D) ▌F. Walter (D) ▌M. Bradley (D) ▌H. Eberharter (D) ▌R. Simpson (R) ▌I. Fenton (R) ▌C. Gerlach (R) ▌L. Graham (R) ▌J. Kunkel (R) ▌B. Rodgers (R) ▌H. Tibbott (R) ▌J. Sheridan (D) ▌A. Kelley (D) ▌S. Weiss (D) ▌W. Gillette (R) ▌C. Gross (R) ▌L. Gavin (R) ▌D. Hoch (D) ▌J. Murphy (D) ▌D. E. Brumbaugh (R) ▌S. McConnell (R) ▌B. Corbett (R) ▌B. Barrett (D) ▌H. Campbell (R) ▌D. Flood (D) ▌J. Fulton (R) ▌W. Granahan (D) ▌W. Green (D) ▌H. McGlinchey (D) ▌T. Morgan (D) ▌F. Buchanan (R) ▌C. Hoffman (R) ▌J. Scoblick (R) 80th Senate: ▌F. Myers (D) ▌E. Martin (R) House: ▌R. Rich (R) ▌F. Walter (D) ▌H. Eberharter (D) ▌R. Simpson (R) ▌I. Fenton (R) ▌C. Gerlach (R) ▌L. Graham (R) ▌J. Kunkel (R) ▌H. Tibbott (R) ▌A. Kelley (D) ▌W. Gillette (R) ▌C. Gross (R) ▌J. Van Zandt (R) ▌L. Gavin (R) ▌S. McConnell (R) ▌B. Corbett (R) ▌H. Scott (R) ▌J. Fulton (R) ▌T. Morgan (D) ▌F. Buchanan (D) ▌J. Scoblick (R) ▌J. Gallagher (R) ▌J. McDowell (R) ▌W. Chadwick (R) ▌W. Crow (R) ▌P. Dague (R) ▌M. Jenkins (R) ▌C. Kearns (R) ▌F. Maloney (R) ▌B. McGarvey (R) ▌F. Muhlenberg (R) ▌G. Sarbacher (R) ▌Ha. Scott (R) ▌F. Lichtenwalter (R) 81st Senate: ▌F. Myers (D) ▌E. Martin (R) House: ▌R. Rich (R) ▌F. Walter (D) ▌H. Eberharter (D) ▌R. Simpson (R) ▌I. Fenton (R) ▌L. Graham (R) ▌J. Kunkel (R) ▌A. Kelley (D) ▌W. Gillette (R) ▌J. Van Zandt (R) ▌L. Gavin (R) ▌S. McConnell (R) ▌B. Corbett (R) ▌H. Scott (R) ▌J. Fulton (R) ▌T. Morgan (D) ▌F. Buchanan (D) ▌P. Dague (R) ▌C. Kearns (R) ▌Ha. Scott (R) ▌F. Lichtenwalter (R) ▌B. Barrett (D) ▌D. Flood (D) ▌W. Granahan (D) ▌W. Green (D) ▌A. Cavalcante (D) ▌E. Chudoff (D) ▌R. Coffey (D) ▌H. Davenport (D) ▌B. James (R) ▌J. Lind (D) ▌H. O'Neill (D) ▌G. Rhodes (D) ▌J. Saylor (R)

Authority control databases: People US Congress

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robert F. Rich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Rich) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Rich?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.