Felix Edward Hébert
| Felix Edward Hébert | |
 | |
U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 1st Congressional District
| |
| In office January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Joachim O. Fernández |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Richard Alvin Tonry |
| Born | October 12, 1901 New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Died | December 29, 1979 (aged 78) New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Gladys Bofill |
| Alma mater | Tulane University |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Felix Edward Hébert (October 12, 1901 – December 29, 1979), also known as F. Edward Hébert (French surname pronounced "ay-bear"[1][2]), was an anti-Long journalist and Democrat segregationist[3] from Louisiana known mostly for his reporting of the corrupt Long family that led to indictments of many cronies. He served as a representative from the state's 1st congressional district for over three decades.
Contents
Early life and career
Hébert was born in October 1902 to Lea Naquin and Joseph Edward Hébert.[2] Reared in New Orleans, he attended Jesuit High School and then entered Tulane University, where he was champion of debating and edited the school's newspaper.[4]
An editor for the New Orleans States, Hébert eventually reported on scandals related to Huey Pierce Long and received an award for "courage in journalism",[4] helping build an image as an investigator which would propel his political career.
U.S. House of Representatives
He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1940 unopposed[5] and would be re-elected seventeen times.[6]
Hébert, who feuded with Harry Truman,[2] was among a number of Southern Democrats who led the Dixiecrat revolt against the incumbent president during the 1948 election, supporting staunch segregationist Strom Thurmond.[7]
Along with the rest of the Louisiana congressional delegation during the time, Hébert signed the Southern Manifesto in opposition to Brown v. Board of Education, which desegregated all public schools in the U.S.[8] He voted against the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,[9] 1960,[10] 1968,[11] as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[12] He also voted "Nay" for the first House floor vote on the Civil Rights Act of 1964[13] though didn't vote on the final House approval of the bill after being amended by the Senate.[14]
Following the 1974 elections, the newly elected Congress voted to remove Hébert from a top position in the House.[15][16] His ousting was opposed by local politicians in Louisiana, including Edwin Edwards and Moon Landrieu,[17] the father of U.S. senator Mary Landrieu and New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu. Suffering a broken arm from a fall later that year,[4] Hébert subsequently did not run for re-election in 1976 and was succeeded by Democrat Richard Alvin Tonry.
Legacy
He has the F. Edward Hebert Federal Building named after him, which is located in New Orleans.[18]
See also
References
- ↑ Hébert. The Free Dictionary. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Halloran, Richard (October 17, 1970). Advocate of the Military. The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ Appendix: F. Edward Hébert, Tulane and Beyond. Tulane University. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Weil, Martin (December 30, 1979). Former Rep. F. Edward Hebert Dies. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ LA District 1. Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ Hebert, F. Edward. Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ King, Larry L. (February 21, 1978). Creed of a Congressman. The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf. Congressional Record. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ HR 8601. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960. APPROVAL BY THE HOUSE OF THE SENATE'S AMENDMENTS.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE 8 ACTIVITIES PROTECTED UNDER THIS BILL MUST BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED TO INCUR THE BILL'S PENALTIES.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ H.R. 7152. PASSAGE.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ H.R. 7152. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION (H. RES. 789) PROVIDING FOR HOUSE APPROVAL OF THE BILL AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ Lyons, Richard D. (January 23, 1975). HOUSE DEMOCRATS OUST 3 CHAIRMEN, BUT RETAIN HAYS. The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ F. EDWARD HEBERT, EX‐LAWMAKER, DIES. The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ HEBERT'S TENURE AIDED HOME TOWN. The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ↑ F. Edward Hebert Federal Building, New Orleans, LA. U.S. General Services Administration. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
