Representative Robert Potter Hill

Robert Potter Hill (April 18, 1874 – October 29, 1937) was an American politician and a United States Representative from both Illinois and Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in Congress during a significant period in American history, participating in the legislative process and representing the interests of his constituents in two different states. His congressional service from Oklahoma extended from 1913 to 1939, and he also held office as a U.S. Representative from Illinois, making him one of the relatively few members of Congress to represent more than one state during his career.

Hill’s early life and formative years preceded his entry into public service, but by the early twentieth century he had established himself sufficiently in public and political affairs to seek national office. His background and experiences before entering Congress helped shape his outlook as a legislator, informing his approach to the issues that came before the House of Representatives during a time of rapid economic, social, and political change in the United States.

Hill first entered the national legislature as a U.S. Representative from Illinois, aligning with the Democratic Party. His initial service in Congress from Illinois placed him in the midst of debates over progressive-era reforms, economic regulation, and the evolving role of the federal government. As a member of the House of Representatives, he participated in the democratic process by introducing and considering legislation, serving on committees, and advocating for the needs and priorities of his Illinois constituents.

Subsequently, Hill continued his congressional career as a Representative from Oklahoma. Serving from 1913 to 1939, he represented Oklahoma during an era that encompassed World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the onset of the Great Depression, and the early years of the New Deal. Throughout these years, he contributed to the legislative process on matters of national importance, including economic policy, agricultural issues, and federal responses to economic hardship, while also attending to the specific concerns of the people of Oklahoma.

During his long tenure in the House of Representatives, Hill’s work reflected the broader transformations of early twentieth-century America. As a Democrat serving through multiple administrations, he witnessed and participated in shifts in party priorities and national policy, helping to shape federal legislation at a time when the government’s role in economic and social life was expanding. His service in Congress, both from Illinois and from Oklahoma, underscored his adaptability and his sustained engagement with the evolving needs of his constituents.

Robert Potter Hill died on October 29, 1937, bringing to a close a career that spanned representation of two different states and extended over decades of profound change in American public life. His years in Congress, particularly his service from Oklahoma between 1913 and 1939, left a record of continuous participation in the legislative affairs of the nation and in the representation of the citizens who elected him.