Robert Goodloe Harper graduated from Princeton University and studied law in Charleston, South Carolina, where he was admitted to the bar. He began his career in the legal profession and transitioned into politics, serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives and as a U.S. Representative. Harper held significant roles, including Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, and was involved in notable impeachment cases. His professional background encompasses both legal and legislative expertise.

Robert Goodloe Harper combines a commitment to fiscal responsibility with an advocacy for protective tariffs, suggesting an ideologically agile approach to economic policy. His involvement in high-profile impeachment cases, both as a manager and defense counsel, highlights a strategic engagement with constitutional governance. Harper's military background and subsequent advocacy for veteran affairs reveal a nuanced stance on national service and its societal impacts.