From 1983 to 1993, Olin, a Democrat, served in the United States House of Representatives for Virginia's 6th congressional district.

[1][2] He attended Deep Springs College, before moving on to Cornell University, from which he earned an electrical engineering degree in 1943.

The district's six-term Republican incumbent, M. Caldwell Butler, hadn't even faced major-party opposition since 1974.

As a member of the United States House Committee on Agriculture, Olin advocated reducing milk price subsidies.

His preferred choice to replace him as the Democratic nominee lost at the district convention to Stephen Musselwhite, who was then handily defeated by Republican Bob Goodlatte, a former aide to Butler.