Representative Richard Howard Ichord

Richard Howard Ichord Jr. (June 27, 1926 – December 25, 1992) was a U.S. Representative from Missouri, a prominent Democratic Party officeholder, and a significant anti-Communist political figure in the mid‑twentieth century. Serving ten consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1981, he represented Missouri’s 8th congressional district and played a visible role in national debates over internal security, civil rights, and defense policy. He was the last chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee, which was renamed the House Internal Security Committee in 1969, and he held that chairmanship from 1969 until the committee’s termination in 1975.

Ichord was born in Licking, Texas County, Missouri, on June 27, 1926. He grew up in rural south-central Missouri, an area whose agricultural and small‑town character shaped his later political base and outlook. During World War II, he entered military service and served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. His wartime experience coincided with his formative years and preceded his pursuit of higher education and a legal career.

Following his military service, Ichord attended the University of Missouri in Columbia. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1949 and continued at the same institution to study law, receiving a Juris Doctor in 1952. After completing his legal education, he was admitted to the bar and entered private practice as a lawyer in Missouri. His work as an attorney provided the professional foundation for his subsequent entry into public office and informed his approach to legislative issues, particularly those involving legal procedure and constitutional questions.

Ichord’s political career began in state government. From 1952 to 1960 he served as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives. During his tenure in the state legislature he rose quickly in leadership, serving as speaker pro tempore in 1957 and as Speaker of the Missouri House in 1959. These positions gave him experience in parliamentary procedure, legislative management, and coalition building, and they enhanced his visibility within the Missouri Democratic Party, setting the stage for his move to national office.

In 1960, Ichord was elected as the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s 8th congressional district. He took his seat in the Eighty-seventh Congress on January 3, 1961, and was subsequently re-elected nine times, serving through the Ninety-sixth Congress (1961–1980). His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, encompassing the height of the Cold War, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the Watergate era. As a member of the House of Representatives, Richard Howard Ichord participated in the democratic process, represented the interests of his largely rural Missouri constituents, and contributed to the legislative process during his 10 terms in office. He did not run for reelection in 1980, ending his congressional service on January 3, 1981.

Within the House, Ichord was best known for his work on internal security and defense issues. A committed anti-Communist, he served on the House Un-American Activities Committee and became its last chairman, presiding over the body from 1969 until 1975, by which time it had been renamed the House Internal Security Committee. In this role he oversaw investigations into alleged subversive activities and domestic security threats during the later stages of the Cold War. In addition to his internal security work, he served on the House Armed Services Committee, where he participated in deliberations on military policy, defense spending, and national security. Although closely associated with anti-Communist efforts, Ichord also supported major civil rights legislation, voting in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

After leaving Congress, Ichord remained active in public affairs. He became a professional advocate in Missouri, drawing on his legal background and legislative experience. Nationally, he continued his involvement in conservative and anti-Communist circles, serving as co-chairman of the American Freedom Coalition alongside Congressman Bob Wilson. He also contributed to the public debate on internal security and patriotism through writing; in 1979 he co‑authored the book “Behind Every Bush: Treason or Patriotism” with Boyd Upchurch, reflecting his long-standing concerns about subversion and national loyalty.

Richard Howard Ichord Jr. died in Houston, Missouri, on December 25, 1992, at the age of 66. His papers from his years in Congress, spanning 1960 to 1980, have been preserved for research, documenting his role in Missouri and national politics during a transformative era in American history.