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Armey graduated from Jamestown College, the University of North Dakota and the University of Oklahoma with a Ph.D. in economics. He went on to become a professor of economics at the University of Montana and later North Texas State University.

Armey graduated from Jamestown College, the University of North Dakota and the University of Oklahoma with a Ph.D. in economics. He went on to become a professor of economics at the University of Montana and later North Texas State University.

==Congress==

==Congress==

A Republican, Armey was elected to the House in 1984. He was dubbed a member of the "Texas Six Pack", a group of six freshman Republicans from the state of Texas who were elected that year. After easily winning reelection, Armey sponsored legislation that shut down obsolete military bases, which was supported by congressional Democrats and opposed by the Reagan Defense Department. Armey advocated the privatization of [[Social Security]] and the phasing out of farm subsidies. A political ally of [[Newt Gingrich]], Armey was a leader in the 1994 Republican Revolution - where Republicans took control of both houses of [[Congress]] for the first time since 1954 - and was the main author of the Contract with America. In the 104th Congress, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as Majority Leader. Armey declined to run for reelection in 2002 and became a Washington lobbyist.

A Republican, Armey was elected to the House in 1984 in a mild upset, defeating incumbent Tom Vandergriff (the long time mayor of Arlington, notable for bringing the Texas Rangers baseball team to DFW) who served the first two years in the newly-created 26th District.  (Since Armey's win, the seat has become a safe seat for the Republican Party.)

 

He was dubbed a member of the "Texas Six Pack", a group of six freshman Republicans from the state of Texas who were elected that year. After easily winning reelection, Armey sponsored legislation that shut down obsolete military bases, which was supported by congressional Democrats and opposed by the Reagan Defense Department. Armey advocated the privatization of [[Social Security]] and the phasing out of farm subsidies. A political ally of [[Newt Gingrich]], Armey was a leader in the 1994 Republican Revolution - where Republicans took control of both houses of [[Congress]] for the first time since 1954 - and was the main author of the Contract with America. In the 104th Congress, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as Majority Leader. Armey declined to run for reelection in 2002 and became a Washington lobbyist.

 

==Activist==

==Activist==

Armey built a new base in Washington as a lobbyist and (separately) as head of "FreedomWorks". In 2009 he emerged as the prime mover behind the [[tea parties]].  

Armey built a new base in Washington as a lobbyist and (separately) as head of "FreedomWorks". In 2009 he emerged as the prime mover behind the [[tea parties]].