Changes

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 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.

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