Within months, Archer was drafted and served as a captain in the United States Air Force after the onset of the Korean War.

During the same year, he became a member of the Texas House of Representatives and served until he was elected the successor for fellow Republican and future president George H. W. Bush as the U.S.

Jumping into the race after Bush protégé, James Baker, withdrew, he won his first election with 65% of the vote and was reelected 14 times, never facing serious opposition in what had become one of the most Republican districts in Texas.

[2] In 1999, Archer was instrumental in giving temporary Most favoured nation (MFN) status to China, with the support of then-president Bill Clinton, despite deep concerns over human rights issues and the trade deficit.

In the last year of his presidency Clinton called on Congress to help him change China’s normal trade relations status with the U.S. to permanent.

The highly competitive program brings students from all over the UT System to Washington, D.C. for a full semester of classes and internships in the nation's political center.