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In the 1960 presidential election, Reggie was a leading Kennedy supporter in Louisiana. In 1959, he invited Kennedy and his wife, [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]], to attend the International Rice Festival in Crowley as honored guests. This afforded Kennedy the opportunity to address a crowd of 130,000 people.<ref>[http://www.reggiefamilyarchives.com/Crowley-Rice-Festival-1959.html Crowley Rice Festival, 1959]</ref> The Kennedys were greeted by enthusiastic crowds — the largest JFK addressed prior to his presidential nomination in July 1960. Working with Reggie in the campaign was the former Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Sidney McCrory of Ascension Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepineywoods.com/ABarefootBoy.htm|title=W. C. Abbott, Jr., "A barefoot boy from Home Villa had a hand in history"|publisher=thepineywoods.com|accessdate=May 2, 2013}}</ref>
In the 1960 presidential election, Reggie was a leading Kennedy supporter in Louisiana. In 1959, he invited Kennedy and his wife, [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]], to attend the International Rice Festival in Crowley as honored guests. This afforded Kennedy the opportunity to address a crowd of 130,000 people.<ref>[http://www.reggiefamilyarchives.com/Crowley-Rice-Festival-1959.html Crowley Rice Festival, 1959]</ref> The Kennedys were greeted by enthusiastic crowds — the largest JFK addressed prior to his presidential nomination in July 1960. Working with Reggie in the campaign was the former Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Sidney McCrory of Ascension Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepineywoods.com/ABarefootBoy.htm|title=W. C. Abbott, Jr., "A barefoot boy from Home Villa had a hand in history"|publisher=thepineywoods.com|accessdate=May 2, 2013}}</ref>
Reggie was nominated as [[presidential elector]] in Louisiana for the Democratic ticket of John F. Kennedy-[[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and cast his vote when Kennedy handily prevailed in the statewide popular vote. Other national Democratic electors that year were Louisiana Attorney General] Jack Paul Fastin Gremillion, former interim [[U.S. Senator]] William C. Feazel, former state Senator Frank Burton Ellis of Covington, and [[Leon Gary]] of Houma, later director of the Louisiana Department of Public Works.<ref>''Minden Press,'' November 7, 1960,</ref>
Reggie was nominated as a [[Electoral college|presidential elector]] in Louisiana for the Democratic ticket of John F. Kennedy-[[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and cast his vote when Kennedy handily prevailed in the statewide popular vote. Other national Democratic electors that year were Louisiana Attorney General] Jack Paul Fastin Gremillion, former interim [[U.S. Senator]] William C. Feazel, former state Senator Frank Burton Ellis of Covington, and [[Leon Gary]] of Houma, later director of the Louisiana Department of Public Works.<ref>''Minden Press,'' November 7, 1960,</ref>
Following his inauguration, President Kennedy sent Reggie on a 1961 [[State Department]] cultural exchange to the [[Middle East]],<ref>[http://www.reggiefamilyarchives.com/279-6/20/1961.html Reggie Called JFK Emissary]</ref> where in Lebanon he was given a hero's welcome in his parents' hometown of Ihden.<ref>[http://www.reggiefamilyarchives.com/1196-In-Lebanon-Carrying-Daddy.html Photo of Reggie on shoulders of Lebanese crowd]</ref> Reggie continued to serve the president as liaison with then Louisiana Governor [[Jimmie Davis]] from 1961 until the [[ Kennedy assassination]] in 1963.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark |last=Schleifstein|title=Reggie a player in politics|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=May 25, 1989|page=A-1}}</ref>
Following his inauguration, President Kennedy sent Reggie on a 1961 [[State Department]] cultural exchange to the [[Middle East]],<ref>[http://www.reggiefamilyarchives.com/279-6/20/1961.html Reggie Called JFK Emissary]</ref> where in Lebanon he was given a hero's welcome in his parents' hometown of Ihden.<ref>[http://www.reggiefamilyarchives.com/1196-In-Lebanon-Carrying-Daddy.html Photo of Reggie on shoulders of Lebanese crowd]</ref> Reggie continued to serve the president as liaison with then Louisiana Governor [[Jimmie Davis]] from 1961 until the [[Kennedy assassination]] in 1963.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark |last=Schleifstein|title=Reggie a player in politics|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=May 25, 1989|page=A-1}}</ref>
In 1963, Reggie introduced the young political consultant [[Gus Weill]] of Lafayette to Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[John McKeithen]], who retained Weill to manage McKeithen's gubernatorial campaign. Weill previously managed the Davis campaign and later wrote a biography of his mentor entitled ''Your Are My Sunshine,''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.la.gov/tabid/227Default.aspx|title=Oral Histories: Gus Weill|publisher=www.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 21, 2012}}</ref> also the title of Davis' most memorable song.
In 1963, Reggie introduced the young political consultant [[Gus Weill]] of Lafayette to Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[John J. McKeithen]], who retained Weill to manage McKeithen's gubernatorial campaign. Weill previously managed the Davis campaign and later wrote a biography of his mentor entitled ''Your Are My Sunshine,''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.la.gov/tabid/227Default.aspx|title=Oral Histories: Gus Weill|publisher=www.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 21, 2012}}</ref> also the title of Davis' most memorable song.
In 1968, Judge Reggie spearheaded the [[Robert F. Kennedy]] presidential primary campaign in Louisiana. Reggie invited Kennedy to speak at the 1968 International Rice Festival in October of that year, just as Kennedy's brother, John, had done nine years earlier. As history unfolded, Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968, four months prior to his planned appearance at the rice festival.
In 1968, Judge Reggie spearheaded the [[Robert F. Kennedy]] presidential primary campaign in Louisiana. Reggie invited Kennedy to speak at the 1968 International Rice Festival in October of that year, just as Kennedy's brother, John, had done nine years earlier. As history unfolded, Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968, four months prior to his planned appearance at the rice festival.