Voting Station

H.R. Gross

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U.S. Congressman

The Resume

    (June 30, 1899-September 22, 1987)
    Birth name is Harold Royce Gross
    Republican Representative from Iowa (1949-1975)

Why he might be annoying:

    He called a trip by Harry S. Truman a 'lush travel orgy.'
    He called the Peace Corps 'a haven for draft dodgers.'
    Shortly after the Kennedy assassination, he protested that the taxpayer shouldn't have to pay for an eternal flame for John F. Kennedy.
    He voted against many civil rights acts, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
    When presented with a bill, he would consistently make remarks like 'Just what's in this turkey?' and 'How much will this boondoggle cost?'
    He voted against the 26th Amendment in 1971, which gave eighteen-year-olds the right to vote.
    He voted against the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which was the first major disability civil rights bill.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Back in the 1930s, he was a radio commentator known as having 'the fastest tongue in radio.'
    He was a taxpayer's best friend, voting against all sorts of spending bills, including bills regarding war.
    He stood out so much from others that Gerald Ford said, 'There are three parties in the House: Democrats, Republicans, and H.R. Gross.'
    He voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1960.
    His one regret was that he voted 'present' on the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution rather than 'nay.'
    In 1965, he and Rep. Durward G. Hall (R-MO) unsuccessfully attempted to defeat the creation of the National Endowment for the Arts by adding an amendment which added after the word 'dance' a description of all the bodily movements of a belly dancer in performance, which, when read aloud, caused roars of laughter in the House.
    He liked to watch wrestling on TV.
    When criticized for his lack of junkets, he stated, 'I just might take a trip one of these days, but it'll be at my own expense.'
    He was married to the same woman for fifty-eight years until his death.

Credit: Wuffle


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 17 Votes: 76.47% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 272 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 39 Votes: 48.72% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 73 Votes: 64.38% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 126 Votes: 68.25% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 269 Votes: 60.22% Annoying