Robert Daniel Hynes

Bob is survived by Gail Raiman, his adoring wife of almost 40 years; his son Jim, by a previous marriage (Lisa); grandson James Robert; brothers Michael (Carol) and Richard; sister Kathleen, and his beloved nieces and nephews, devoted friends and family.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Bob grew up in Cincinnati, where he was the first of four children. At age 16, Bob’s life changed abruptly when, as a renowned high school football running back, he contracted polio. Encased in an iron lung for six months and told he was going to die, Bob changed his life goals from pro football to public policy and beat his death predictions. His steely determination coupled with his strong Jesuit education at St. Xavier High School prepared him for life, following his graduation from the University of Cincinnati with B.A. and J.D. degrees.

After a brief period practicing law, he was director of public affairs and house counsel for the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants in Columbus from 1962-1964. In 1964, he came to Washington, D.C. where he served as Minority Counsel to the Committee on Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. During that time, he was co-author of a manual of House Procedures, updated editions of which are still used by House Committee counsels today. Bob served as the Legislative Counsel and Parliamentarian to Republican Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford and was Assistant Parliamentarian at three Republican National conventions.

In 1972, Bob joined NBC’s Washington office as Director of Government Relations. From October – December 1973, while on leave from NBC, Bob served as a member of the legal team for Ford’s Congressional confirmation hearings for the vice presidency, the first time the provisions of the 25th Amendment were implemented. Following Ford’s successful confirmation, Bob returned to NBC where he was named Vice President, Legislative Liaison in 1981 and appointed Vice President, Washington NBC in 1983, a position he held until his retirement in 1992.

While at NBC, Bob headed the networks’ successful efforts seeking to repeal the FCC’s financial interest and syndication rules, which prohibited network companies from having any ownership interest in programs they financed and presented on the network. Following his retirement from NBC, he was a partner in the lobbying firm, Colling, Swift & Hynes. In addition, he was a founding partner and participant in the Backroom Politics podcast.

Bob was known for his incredible kindness, warmth, big smile and infectious laugh. He was respectful, humble, brilliant and politically astute, a truly honorable gentleman who loved a good party, jazz, his Irish heritage and the game of golf. Most important was his love for his family and friends, for whom he was always there through thick and thin. Anyone who knew him knew of his and Gail’s absolute devotion to each other.

Bob is a past chair of the Arlington County Disability Commission, having served on the Executive Committee of the Citizen’s Counsel, advising county government on matters of emergency preparedness. He also served as a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Law and, from 2009-2020, was a trustee of the Gerald R Ford Presidential Foundation which operates the Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan and supports the School of Political Science at the University of Michigan.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 22 at 11 a.m. at Murphy Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Bob with donations to the Robert D. Hynes Scholarship Fund, University of Cincinnati College of Law, Attn: Carolyn Adam, P.O. Box 210040, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, or in his memory to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Attn: Gleaves Whitney, 303 Pearl Street, N.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505.