View source for Bob Birch

{{stub}}
{{sidebar/character
| title            = Bob Birch
| image            = File:Speaker_Birch.png
| alias            =
| status           = Alive
| age              =69
| birthdate        =
| birthplace       =Lansing, Michigan 
| deathdate        =
| deathplace       =
| nationality      = {{nationality|us}}
| residence        = <small>[[Washington, D.C.]]</small>
| education        =George Washington University (BA)
| affiliation      = Democratic Party <br>[[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]
| profession       =House Democratic Leader, former [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House of Representatives]]. 
| father           =
| mother           =
| siblings         = 
| marital          =Married
| spouse           = 
| children         =Three Sons 
| sigothers        = 
| others           =
| actor            = [[Larry Pine]]
| seasons          = [[Season 1|1]], [[Season 2|2]], [[Season 3|3]], [[Season 4|4]], [[Season 5|5]]
| appearances      = <small>[[#Appearances|5 seasons, 13 episodes]]</small>
| firstseenepisode = [[Chapter 2]]
| lastseenepisode  =
| firstmentioned   =
| lastmentioned    =
| gallery          = 
|fullname = Robert T. Birch|party = }}
'''Robert "Bob" Birch''' is the current [[Leaders of the United States House of Representatives|Democratic (Minority) Leader]] and former [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House of Representatives]]. A member of the Democratic Party, he represents Michigan's 9th Congressional District.

==Biography==

=== Season One ===
Birch, then-Speaker of the House, feared that [[Donald Blythe|Donald Blythe’s]] education bill could be used as fodder for the Republicans and that [[Frank Underwood|Frank Underwood’s]] deletion of collective bargaining from the education bill would result in him losing the next election. He refused to give a date to introduce the bill in the House, leading to some friction between him and the President's [[White House Chief of Staff|Chief of Staff]] [[Linda Vasquez]]. Frank responded by trying to get House Majority Leader [[David Rasmussen]] to oust Birch; although this plan failed to remove Birch, it did convince Birch to support the education bill and result in Rasmussen being replaced by [[Terry Womack]].  
[[File:Bob Birch.png|thumb|220x220px|Birch and Underwood question Rasmussen on his alleged coup.]]
Underwood later leaked the private schedule of President Walker, in which the President was meeting with Birch, to make the media believe he was being considered for [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] as part of one of his maneuvers to gain the position himself.

=== Season Two ===
Following Underwood’s accession to the Vice-Presidency, Birch backed [[Howard Webb]] during the contest for the position of Chief Whip among the Democratic caucus while Underwood secretly backed [[Jackie Sharp]]. Later in the season, Birch was invited to Underwood’s private swearing-in ceremony and was also present when Underwood became President. 

=== Season Three ===
Along with Womack, Sharpe, [[Willard Erickson]] and [[Casey Giallo]], Birch asked Underwood to consider not running for office in 2016. Underwood immediately suspected that Birch was behind the movement, but discovered later that it was in fact Womack.  In retaliation for Birch continuing to give him the cold shoulder regarding his ambitious jobs creation programme [[America Works]], Underwood put him at the far end of the dinner table during the state dinner with Russian President [[Viktor Petrov]] so he could work with Senate Republican Majority Leader [[Hector Mendoza]] instead. Birch was further angered when the Mayor of Washington D.C [[Barney Hull]] requested America Works be put into action, even threatening to impeach Underwood for raiding Congressional funds. With the new Senate Republican Majority Leader [[Henry Mitchell]], Birch successfully forced Underwood into returning the funding for [[America Works|AmWorks]] to the [[DRF|Disaster Relief Fund]].

=== Season Four ===
Birch was against Acting President Blythe going to the G7 Conference in Brandenburg while the President was recovering from [[Lucas Goodwin|Lucas Goodwin’s]] assassination attempt. Following Underwood’s recovery, Birch joined the rest of the Democratic Leadership in reviewing the President’s choice of a running mate for the 2016 election, pushing for a politician moderate on gun rights. Senator [[Dean Austen]] was Birch’s choice, and was upset when he backed out following a leak orchestrated by Underwood. 

== Personality ==
Bob Birch had formerly chaired the House Ways and Means Committee before becoming Speaker of the House. He is also one of the most liberal members of Congress, thus, explaining his opposition to a few of President Walker's campaign promises, like the Education Bill.  

He had trouble trusting [[Jackie Sharp]], whom he considered to be under Frank’s influence. Lorrie Tate referred to Birch as a "pig," to which Jackie Sharp replied, "He used to have two white, middle-aged guys at his side, now he’s got [[Terry Womack|a Black guy]] and a woman twenty years his junior ([[Chapter 16]]).”   

The "Friends of a Better America" PAC accused him of being "out of touch" before the 2014 Congressional elections ([[Chapter 20]]).  

Birch has a large penis, which he has dangled in front of Frank in the congressional restrooms at least twice to assert his superiority ([[Chapter 2]]).  

==Behind the Scenes==
*Bob Birch was portrayed by [[Larry Pine]].
*The character of Birch can be considered a minor antagonist. While he is rarely on Frank's side, he is also not one of Frank's nemesis like Raymond Tusk.

== Quotes ==
* “Vasquez must be shitting herself. Shitting herself while Walker is shitting himself then shoveling his shit on her shit.” ([[Chapter 2]])
* “The President can go fuck himself.” ([[Chapter 4]])
* (On [[Barney Hull]] and Frank Underwood) "Motherfucker..." ([[Chapter 31]])
===Appearances===
{{Season 1 appearances|no|yes|no|yes|no|yes|yes|yes|no|no|no|no|yes}}
{{Season 2 appearances|yes|yes|yes|no|no|no|yes|no|no|no|no|no|yes}}
{{Season 5 appearances}}{{Season 3 appearances|yes|yes|yes|no|yes|no|no|no|no|no|no|no|no}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birch, Bob}}
[[Category:Americans]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Males]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Recurring Characters]]
[[Category:Residents of Washington D.C]]
[[Category:Speakers of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democrats]]
[[Category:Members of Congress]]
[[Category:U.S. Congressmen]]

[[Category:Alive]]

[[Category:Political whips]]