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Dodd was born in Liberty in southeastern [[Texas]] but came to Louisiana as a child so that his father could work in the logging industry. He graduated from [[Northwestern State University]] in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] and the [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]]. After teaching in Allen Parish, he was elected to the legislature in 1940 but took time off for [[United States Army]] service in [[World War II]]. In 1948, he was elected lieutenant governor but grew estranged from his mentor, Earl Long. He lost out to fellow Democrat [[Robert F. Kennon]] in the gubernatorial race in 1952 and failed again in 1959, when [[Jimmie Davis]] won his second non-consecutive term as governor. In the meantime, he was state auditor for a term and education superintendent for two terms until he was unseated  in 1971 in the party [[primary]] by Louis Joseph Michot, Jr. (1922-2012), a wealthy [[business]]man from [[Lafayette]]. Dodd failed in a comeback bid for education superintendent in the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary in Louisiana held on November 1, 1975.

Dodd was born in Liberty in southeastern [[Texas]] but came to Louisiana as a child so that his father could work in the logging industry. He graduated from [[Northwestern State University]] in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] and the [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]]. After teaching in Allen Parish, he was elected to the legislature in 1940 but took time off for [[United States Army]] service in [[World War II]]. In 1948, he was elected lieutenant governor but grew estranged from his mentor, Earl Long. He lost out to fellow Democrat [[Robert F. Kennon]] in the gubernatorial race in 1952 and failed again in 1959, when [[Jimmie Davis]] won his second non-consecutive term as governor. In the meantime, he was state auditor for a term and education superintendent for two terms until he was unseated  in 1971 in the party [[primary]] by Louis Joseph Michot, Jr. (1922-2012), a wealthy [[business]]man from [[Lafayette]]. Dodd failed in a comeback bid for education superintendent in the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary in Louisiana held on November 1, 1975.

Dodd was reconciled with Earl Long and campaigned for the ex-governor in the 1960 congressional primary. Long won the Democratic nomination, then through a closed primary, but died thereafter. Then the losing candidate to Long, Harold B. McSween of Alexandria, was named the nominee and won the 1960 general election, when [[John F. Kennedy]] defeated [[Richard Nixon]] for Louisiana's then ten electoral votes. The congressional seat, the 8th district, no longer exists. Prior to 1958, it was held by one of Long's brothers, George Long, who died in office.

Dodd was reconciled with Earl Long and campaigned for the ex-governor in the 1960 congressional primary. Long won the Democratic nomination, then through a closed primary, but died thereafter. Then the losing candidate to Long, Harold Barnett McSween (1926-2002), a banker from Alexandria, was named the nominee and won the 1960 general election, when [[John F. Kennedy]] defeated [[Richard Nixon]] for Louisiana's then ten electoral votes. The congressional seat, the 8th district, no longer exists. Prior to 1958, it was held by one of Long's brothers, George Long, who died in office.

Shortly before his death, Claitors Publishing in Baton Rouge released Dodd's lengthy memoir, ''Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics''. Dodd, a [[Southern Baptist]], is interred in Baton Rouge.  

Shortly before his death, Claitors Publishing in Baton Rouge released Dodd's lengthy memoir, ''Peapatch Politics: The Earl Long Era in Louisiana Politics''. Dodd, a [[Southern Baptist]], is interred in Baton Rouge.