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==Do conservatives have a home in the GOP?==

==Do conservatives have a home in the GOP?==

In 1968, Charlton Lyons attended the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach and thereafter headed the Louisiana campaign to elect Nixon as president; He had similarly worked for Barry M. Goldwater in 1964. Hall Lyons, however, favored former Alabama Governor George Wallace, a populist-style Democrat and then segregationist, who was running under his own "American Independent Party" label. Wallace won Louisiana's ten electoral votes, and Nixon ran a weak third in the state, losing out even to Democratic national nominee Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

In 1968, Charlton Lyons attended the [[Republican National Convention]] in [[Miami Beach, Florida]] and thereafter headed the Louisiana campaign to elect [[Richard Nixon]] as president; He had similarly worked for [[Barry Goldwater|Barry M. Goldwater]] in 1964. Hall Lyons, however, favored former Alabama Governor George Wallace, a populist-style Democrat and then segregationist, who was running under his own "American Independent Party" label. Wallace won Louisiana's ten electoral votes, and Nixon ran a weak third in the state, losing out even to Democratic national nominee Vice President [[Hubert Humphrey]].

In the 1972 governor's race, Charlton Lyons, who had served as state Republican chairman after his own loss for governor, supported [[David C. Treen]] as his party's gubernatorial candidate. Charlton Lyons was embarrassed because Hall Lyons was running for governor too, not as a Republican primary rival to Treen, but as the projected AIP candidate on the general election ballot. Lyons convinced his son to withdraw so that conservatives could unite behind Republican Treen. This campaign was some nine months before Treen would be elected to Congress in November 1972.

In the 1972 governor's race, Charlton Lyons, who had served as state Republican chairman after his own loss for governor, supported [[David C. Treen]] as his party's gubernatorial candidate. Charlton Lyons was embarrassed because Hall Lyons was running for governor too, not as a Republican primary rival to Treen, but as the projected AIP candidate on the general election ballot. Lyons convinced his son to withdraw so that conservatives could unite behind Republican Treen. This campaign was some nine months before Treen would be elected to Congress in November 1972.

Hall Lyons questioned whether the GOP could be the permanent home of conservatives such as himself. He had grown disillusioned with the Nixon administration even before the Watergate affair triggered a collapse in Republican popularity. He also opposed many of the nationally-know Republican senators, such as Minority Leader [[Hugh Scott]] of Pennsylvania, Charles H. Percy of Illinois, and Jacob K. Javits of New York, who had voting records only slightly to the "right" of many Democratic senators.

Hall Lyons questioned whether the GOP could be the permanent home of conservatives such as himself. He had grown disillusioned with the Nixon administration even before the [[Watergate]] affair triggered a collapse in Republican popularity. He also opposed many of the nationally-know Republican senators, such as Minority Leader [[Hugh Scott]] of Pennsylvania, [[Charles H. Percy]] of Illinois, and [[Jacob K. Javits]] of New York, who had voting records only slightly to the "right" of many Democratic senators.

In the fall of 1972, Hall Lyons emerged as the AIP candidate for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by [[Allen J. Ellender]], who died during the Democratic primary campaign, and the nomination, still equivalent to election in Louisiana, went to Shreveport's former state senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]] Johnston had initially been elected to the Louisiana House on the same day that McKeithen had topped Charlton Lyons for the governorship. The Republican Senate nominee in 1972 was [[Ben C. Toledano]], who had lost the mayoral election in 1970 in New Orleans. Moreover, McKeithen, unable to enter the Democratic primary after Ellender's death, filed to run as an [[Independent]] in the general election.

In the fall of 1972, Hall Lyons emerged as the AIP candidate for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by [[Allen J. Ellender]], who died during the Democratic primary campaign, and the nomination, still equivalent to election in Louisiana, went to Shreveport's former state senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]] Johnston had initially been elected to the Louisiana House on the same day that McKeithen had topped Charlton Lyons for the governorship. The Republican Senate nominee in 1972 was [[Ben C. Toledano]], who had lost the mayoral election in 1970 in New Orleans. Moreover, McKeithen, unable to enter the Democratic primary after Ellender's death, filed to run as an [[Independent]] in the general election.

This time, Hall Lyons did not yield to his father but remained in the Senate campaign even though Toledano was arguably as conservative as Hall Lyons himself. Hall Lyons' total vote was meager: 28,910 votes (2.6 percent). Hall Lyons found that voters would not seriously consider "fringe" candidates for major or even minor offices but would restrict themselves to the major parties. Johnston won the seat, with 598,987 votes (55.2 percent); McKeithen drew 250,161 (23.1 percent), and Toledano finished third with 206,846 (19.1 percent). Toledano's vote was not even as strong in terms of percent as that of Taylor W. O'Hearn of Shreveport, who had unsuccessfully challenged Democrat Russell B. Long in 1962.

This time, Hall Lyons did not yield to his father but remained in the Senate campaign even though Toledano was arguably as conservative as Hall Lyons himself. Hall Lyons' total vote was meager: 28,910 votes (2.6 percent). Hall Lyons found that voters would not seriously consider "fringe" candidates for major or even minor offices but would restrict themselves to the major parties. Johnston won the seat, with 598,987 votes (55.2 percent); McKeithen drew 250,161 (23.1 percent), and Toledano finished third with 206,846 (19.1 percent). Toledano's vote was not even as strong in terms of percent as that of Taylor W. O'Hearn of Shreveport, who had unsuccessfully challenged Democrat [[Russell B. Long]] in 1962.

Charlton Lyons died on August 8, 1973, and the Lyons family role in Louisiana politics subsided thereafter. Charlton Lyons was so highly regarded that his funeral was televised on a statewide hookup.

Charlton Lyons died on August 8, 1973, and the Lyons family role in Louisiana politics subsided thereafter. Charlton Lyons was so highly regarded that his funeral was televised on a statewide hookup.

By 1984, Lyons had become a donor to the [[Lyndon LaRouche]] Democratic presidential campaign.

By 1984, Lyons had become a donor to the [[Lyndon LaRouche]] Democratic presidential campaign.

==Lyons' obituary==

==Lyons' obituary==