LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Robert Marion Berry, an Arkansas Democrat who served seven terms in Congress and is known for his tough rhetoric and advocacy for farmers and senior citizens , died. He was 80 years old.
Berry, who was known as “Marion,” died Friday, his family confirmed in a statement Saturday. The cause of death was not provided.
“With his quick wit and way of speaking, he lived his life in service to others,” said Berry’s son, Mitch. “He truly believed that the role of government was to help people, and it was a position he took very seriously. He was generous with his time and talent, as his dozens of female mentors can testify.”
Berry was first elected to Congress in 1996, but decided not to seek re-election in 2010 due to health reasons. He underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor in July 2011.
A licensed pharmacist and farmer, Berry was elected to represent the 1st District in eastern Arkansas after serving in President Bill Clinton’s administration as a special assistant for agricultural trade and food assistance. He quickly focused on issues likely to affect his particularly poor district, including agriculture.
Clinton praised Berry on Saturday as someone who “never forgot where she came from.”
“Marion Berry was a great leader, a completely genuine person and a great friend,” Clinton said in a statement. “For more than 40 years, Hillary and I appreciated her support, valued her no-nonsense advice, and loved her incredible sense of humor.”
Berry was known as much for his folksy manner and verbal destruction of his political enemies, on both sides of the aisle, as for his defense of his rural district. He once referred to a Texas Republican congressman on the House floor as a “Howdy-Doody-looking nimrod.”
Frustrated with the George W. Bush administration’s response to the disasters in Arkansas, he called the Federal Emergency Management Agency “an incompetent bunch of puppets who just can’t run their agency.”
His congressional district was a major producer of soybeans, rice, and cotton, and Berry pushed aggressively to end the US trade embargo with Cuba, which could have increased exports of those products. Berry also championed lowering prescription costs for seniors and criticized a prescription drug program enacted by the former Bush as a “catastrophic mess” and a “true legislative disaster.”
Berry, a member of a coalition of moderate and conservative lawmakers known as the “Blue Dog Democrats,” was unapologetic about his jokes, saying they reflected his passion for representing his district. He said he would criticize anyone “when I think they are making a serious political mistake.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with what I’ve done,” he said.
Berry certainly did not spare any criticism of President Barack Obama. Shortly before announcing his retirement, Berry said he was disappointed by Obama’s “lack of leadership” on key issues such as health care and climate change.
Berry voted against the Affordable Care Act, the federal health care law also known as “Obamacare.” Berry complained that the measure did not provide enough protection against federal money going toward abortion and tried to offer an alternative before the measure passed.
“A son of the Delta, Marion was a farmer and statesman whose blend of homely wisdom and hard-earned political knowledge always made him a formidable representative of our state,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.
Berry was born in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and grew up in Bayou Meto near DeWitt. He graduated from the University of Arkansas College of Pharmacy in 1965.
In addition to his son, survivors include his wife of more than 60 years, Carolyn, a daughter, four grandchildren and a great-grandson. A memorial service will be held June 24 at the Gillett Methodist Church in Gillett, Arkansas.
