Barr, Bob (1948-…), was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. Barr represented Georgia. He was known as one of the most outspoken conservatives in the House, and he took strong stands against gun control and abortion. In May 2008, Barr became the Libertarian Party’s nominee for president in the 2008 election. He said he would work to control government spending and limit American military involvement overseas. However, Barr received only a small percentage of the November vote.
In the late 1990’s, Barr was a leader in the movement to impeach President Bill Clinton. Barr first called for an impeachment inquiry in 1997, charging that Clinton had abused the power of his office. House impeachment proceedings against Clinton did take place in 1998, though for other charges. Barr was one of the prosecutors during the proceedings. The House voted to impeach Clinton for his activities involving an affair with a White House intern, but the Senate acquitted him in 1999.
Robert Laurence Barr, Jr., was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on Nov. 5, 1948. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California in 1970 and a master’s degree from George Washington University in 1972. He graduated from Georgetown University School of Law in 1977.
From 1970 to 1978, Barr worked as an analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency. He then moved to Georgia, where he practiced law from 1978 to 1986. He was appointed U.S. attorney for the northern district of Georgia in 1986. He held that post until 1990, when he became the president of the Southeastern Legal Foundation. He returned to private law practice in 1991. In 1992, Barr campaigned for a seat in the U.S. Senate but failed to win his party’s nomination.
Barr won his first election to the House of Representatives in 1994. He was reelected in 1996, 1998, and 2000. In 2002, he campaigned for reelection again but was defeated in a primary election.
