Robert Jay Mathews (also known as Bob Mathews) was the co-founder and leader of a notorious U.S. white supremacist domestic terrorist cell called The Order Bruder Schweigen (or the Silent Brotherhood). In the early 1980s, Bob Mathews and other members of his organization were responsible for a number of bank robberies including one of the largest in U.S. history. The group is also responsible for the murder of Alan Berg, a controversial Denver Jewish talk show host.

Mathews and the other members of the Order were eventually betrayed by one of their members, a counterfeiter named Tom Martinez. After Martinez revealed critical information regarding Mathews's activities to the FBI, Mathews was eventually hunted down and ambushed in a small cabin on Whidbey Island in Washington by over 50 agents.

He was killed during a ferocious gun battle on December 8, 1984. The Order helped to spawn many other small and large white supremacist organizations that are still in existence today.

There are suspected but unconfirmed reports of monies from The Order's heists going to the National Alliance. Shortly before beginning his RAHOWA, Mathews gave a lengthy hour long speech at a National Alliance meeting called Call Of Arms. It is also interesting to note the similiarities between The Order, Timothy McVeigh and Elohim City. Both are said to have been inspired by William Pierce's Turner Diaries novel.