 He even ran unopposed in 1976, 1990, 1992 and 1994 and faced no major-party opposition in 1998.Archer served as the chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means from 1995 until the end of his political career in 2001.As chairman, he was known to be a "tough fiscal conservative"
Archer believed that the government had been taking too much from the United States citizens, and as the chairman he sought to downsize Washington by reducing the money it takes away from the people (in reference to taxes), a political strategy referred to as "starving the beast".