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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=George Joseph Despot​

|name=George Joseph Despot​

|office=Chairman, [[Louisiana]] [[Republican Party]]​

|office=Chairman, [[Louisiana]] [[Republican Party]]​

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'''George Joseph Despot''' (January 28, 1927 – February 14, 1991) was a [[business]]man in his native [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], and a pioneer in the establishment of a competitive [[Republican Party]]. He was the state Republican chairman from 1978 to 1985. His leadership began when the state party was so small that there was a standing joke that the Louisiana GOP] could operate from a phone booth, few of which still exist, though the Republicans had become the majority party in Louisiana by 2012.​

'''George Joseph Despot''' (January 28, 1927 – February 14, 1991) was a [[business]]man in his native [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], and a pioneer in the establishment of a competitive [[Republican Party]]. He was the state Republican chairman from 1978 to 1985. His leadership began when the state party was so small that there was a standing joke that the Louisiana GOP could operate from a phone booth, few of which still exist, though the Republicans had become the majority party in Louisiana by 2012.​

​<ref>"GOP Leader Despot, 64, dies," ''The Shreveport Times,'' February 15, 1991.</ref>

​<ref>"GOP Leader Despot, 64, dies," ''The Shreveport Times,'' February 15, 1991.</ref>

   

   

George Despot encountered opposition from [[conservative]] groups that flocked to the Republican Party over social issues, such as [[abortion]] and opposition to [[homosexual]] preferences. Among those defending Despot were [[Frank Spooner]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], the defeated 1976 Republican candidate for Louisiana's 5th congressional district seat, and state Representative [[Charles Lancaster]], of Jefferson Parish, who was first elected to the state House in 1972, when Treen ran unsuccessfully the first time against [[Edwin Edwards]]. Spooner called Despot "the best chairman we ever had."<ref>Billy Hathorn, "Otto Passman, Jerry Huckaby, and Frank Spooner: The Louisiana Fifth Congressional District Election of 1976", ''Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association'', LIV No. 3 (Summer 2013), pp. 347-348</ref>​

George Despot encountered opposition from [[conservative]] groups that flocked to the Republican Party over social issues, such as [[abortion]] and opposition to [[homosexual]] preferences. Among those defending Despot were [[Frank Spooner]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], the defeated 1976 Republican candidate for Louisiana's 5th congressional district seat, and state Representative [[Charles Lancaster]], of Jefferson Parish, who was first elected to the state House in 1972, when Treen ran unsuccessfully the first time against [[Edwin Edwards]]. Spooner called Despot "the best chairman we ever had."<ref>Billy Hathorn, "Otto Passman, Jerry Huckaby, and Frank Spooner: The Louisiana Fifth Congressional District Election of 1976", ''Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association'', LIV No. 3 (Summer 2013), pp. 347-348</ref>​

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In 1988, Despot lost his own seat on the GOP central committee when supporters of the presidential candidate, the evangelist] [[Pat Robertson]] of [[Virginia]]

In 1988, Despot lost his own seat on the GOP central committee when supporters of the presidential candidate, the evangelist] [[Pat Robertson]] of [[Virginia]], captured a third of the 144 seats on the committee. Despot wrote a prophetic internal memo at the time in which he warned that the Robertson forces wanted "to take control" of the state GOP. Beyond support of Robertson, the overriding issue was abortion. To Louisiana party loyalists, such as Despot, most of whom already opposed abortion, the challenge from the Robertson forces brought intra-party upheaval, which led to disastrous Republican election results in Louisiana in both 1991 and 1992.​

, captured a third of the 144 seats on the committee. Despot wrote a prophetic internal memo at the time in which he warned that the Robertson forces wanted "to take control" of the state GOP. Beyond support of Robertson, the overriding issue was abortion. To Louisiana party loyalists, such as Despot, most of whom already opposed abortion, the challenge from the Robertson forces brought intra-party upheaval, which led to disastrous Republican election results in Louisiana in both 1991 and 1992.​

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According to Rebecca Despot, an unnamed aide to then [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Breaux]], a Democrat, told her that the outcome of Louisiana elections "right after my father was ousted would have been different had he still been the chairman. I don't think people understand the passion he felt about what he was doing and that he was a man with a mission. They took his mission away, and people will never know what that did to him."<ref name=statement/>​

According to Rebecca Despot, an unnamed aide to then [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Breaux]], a Democrat, told her that the outcome of Louisiana elections "right after my father was ousted would have been different had he still been the chairman. I don't think people understand the passion he felt about what he was doing and that he was a man with a mission. They took his mission away, and people will never know what that did to him."<ref name=statement/>​

==Republicans assess Despot's record==​

==Republicans assess Despot's record==​

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Fellow Republicans throughout the state mourned Despot's death. Then chairman [[William A. Nungeser|Wiliam Aicklen "Billy" Nungesser]] of Belle Chasse, in Plaquemines Parish, aid that Despot's political savvy, his close relationship with President [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], and his ability to raise campaign funds would be missed by the state GOP.​

Fellow Republicans throughout the state mourned Despot's death. Then chairman [[William A. Nungeser|Wiliam Aicklen "Billy" Nungesser]] of Belle Chasse in Plaquemines Parish, aid that Despot's political savvy, his close relationship with President [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], and his ability to raise campaign funds would be missed by the state GOP.​

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Then Caddo Republican Chairman Reginald Hargrove said that the party members "all owe him a debt of gratutide." According to Hargrove, Despot had encouraged local GOP factions to mend their differences in preparation for the 1991 state and parish elections and the 1992 national elections. "He had been telling people to go out and work with us," Hargrove added.​

Then Caddo Republican Chairman Reginald Hargrove said that the party members "all owe him a debt of gratutide." According to Hargrove, Despot had encouraged local GOP factions to mend their differences in preparation for the 1991 state and parish elections and the 1992 national elections. "He had been telling people to go out and work with us," Hargrove added.​

Despot's last political role was in 1987 as an advisor to Fourth Congressional District Republican chairman Ken Frazier in Frazier's unsuccessful bid for a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Frazier lost to the late Democrat Roy McArthur "Hoppy" Hopkins of Oil City in Cado Parish. "George was the old master. There have been differences within the party, but they had nothing to do with personal relationships. He's been a friend to everybody, and everybody will grieve for him," Frazier said.​

Despot's last political role was in 1987 as an advisor to Fourth Congressional District Republican chairman Ken Frazier in Frazier's unsuccessful bid for a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Frazier lost to the late Democrat Roy McArthur "Hoppy" Hopkins of Oil City in Cado Parish. "George was the old master. There have been differences within the party, but they had nothing to do with personal relationships. He's been a friend to everybody, and everybody will grieve for him," Frazier said.​

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State Representative Arthur Wiliam "Art"  Sour], of Shreveport, who served from 1972 to 1992, said that he always found his fellow Catholic Despot to be "a good Christian man and a man of principle" despite any political differences that the two may have had. Sour said Despot's death may bring the factions together. Sour lthen ost his seat to a Democrat, Melissa Flournoy, just nine months after Despot's death.​

State Representative Arthur William "Art"  Sour (1924-2000), of Shreveport, who served from 1972 to 1992, said that he always found his fellow Catholic Despot to be "a good Christian man and a man of principle" despite any political differences that the two may have had. Sour said Despot's death may bring the factions together. Sour lthen ost his seat to a Democrat, Melissa Flournoy, just nine months after Despot's death.​

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James Quillen Wellborn (1927-2004), a native of Daingerfield, [[Texas]], a mathematics teacher at Bossier High School, and a chairman of the Bossier Parish Republican Party,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Wellborn&GSfn=James&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=130755666&df=all&|title=James Quillen Wellborn|publisher=findagrave.com|author=John Andrew Prime|date=June 2004|accessdate=January 27, 2015}}</ref> said that Despot singlehandedly forged an effective state and local organization when registrars would routinely discourage prospective voters from registering as Republicans. Until the implementation of the nonpartisan blanket primary, registrars constantly told voters that they "would not be able to vote" in most elections unless they registered as Democrats.​

James Quillen Wellborn (1927-2004), a native of Daingerfield, [[Texas]], a mathematics teacher at Bossier High School, and a chairman of the Bossier Parish Republican Party,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Wellborn&GSfn=James&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=130755666&df=all&|title=James Quillen Wellborn|publisher=findagrave.com|author=John Andrew Prime|date=June 2004|accessdate=January 27, 2015}}</ref> said that Despot singlehandedly forged an effective state and local organization when registrars would routinely discourage prospective voters from registering as Republicans. Until the implementation of the nonpartisan blanket primary, registrars constantly told voters that they "would not be able to vote" in most elections unless they registered as Democrats.​

Graveside services were held on February 16, 1991, at Forest Park East Cemetery in Shreveport. In addition to his wife and daughter Rebecca, Despot was survived by his older daughter, Susan A. Despot, then of Shreveport and later of New Orleans, and two brothers, Gregory A. Despot (August 9, 1928 &ndash; May 17, 2007) and Camille C. Despot.​

Graveside services were held on February 16, 1991, at Forest Park East Cemetery in Shreveport. In addition to his wife and daughter Rebecca, Despot was survived by his older daughter, Susan A. Despot, then of Shreveport and later of New Orleans, and two brothers, Gregory A. Despot (August 9, 1928 &ndash; May 17, 2007) and Camille C. Despot.​

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Honorary pallbearers included Despot friend George Burton, with whom he had long labored in Republican ranks, U.S. District Judge [[Tom Stagg]]; Shreveport businessman Dalton Woods; and Dr. George A. Belchic, Jr., who with his wife, [[Harriet Belchic|Harriet Cameron Belchic]], worked with Despot in Shreveport Republican circles.​

Honorary pallbearers included Despot friend George Burton, with whom he had long labored in Republican ranks, U.S. District Judge [[Tom Stagg]]; Shreveport businessman Dalton Woods; and Dr. George A. Belchic, Jr., who with his wife, [[Harriet Belchic]], worked with Despot in Shreveport Republican circles.​

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==Despot's untimely death==

==Despot's untimely death==

Within a month of Despot's death, Democratic Governor [[Buddy Roemer]] switched his allegiance to the Republican Party. Roemer's switch did not unite the feuding wings of the GOP. Because he supported abortion, the right-to-life contingent of the party rejected Roemer and coalesced around Congressman Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016) of [[Rapides Parish]]. But few other Republicans would support Holloway. Holloway did win a preference poll among Republicans attending statewide endorsement caucuses. Also running for governor was the candidate who was anathema to party leaders: State Representative [[David Duke]] of Jefferson Parish]. When all the smoke had cleared, Duke eliminated Roemer from a general election berth, and Edwin Edwards staged a fourth-term victory over the unpopular Duke.​

Within a month of Despot's death, Democratic Governor [[Buddy Roemer]] switched his allegiance to the Republican Party. Roemer's switch did not unite the feuding wings of the GOP. Because he supported abortion, the right-to-life contingent of the party rejected Roemer and coalesced around Congressman Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016) of [[Rapides Parish]]. But few other Republicans would support Holloway. Holloway did win a preference poll among Republicans attending statewide endorsement caucuses. Also running for governor was the candidate who was anathema to party leaders: State Representative [[David Duke]] of Jefferson Parish]. When all the smoke had cleared, Duke eliminated Roemer from a general election berth, and Edwin Edwards staged a fourth-term victory over the unpopular Duke.​

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Thereafter, the bottom fell out politically for Despot's favorite, the first President Bush. Challenged from the right by Pat Buchanan and plagued by a troubling economy, Bush failed nationally and in Louisiana as well in the 1992 elections.​

Thereafter, the bottom fell out politically for Despot's favorite, the first President Bush. Challenged from the right by Pat Buchanan and plagued by a troubling economy, Bush failed nationally and in Louisiana as well in the 1992 elections.​ Both of those developments would have been especially troubling to George J. Despot had he lived.​

Both of those developments would have been especially troubling to George J. Despot had he lived.​

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Despot's Republican Party papers are in the archives section of Louisiana State University in Shreveport.​

Despot's Republican Party papers are in the archives section of Louisiana State University in Shreveport.​

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==References==​

==References==​

[[Category:Republicans]]​

[[Category:Republicans]]​

[[Category:Catholics]]

[[Category:Catholics]]

[Category:Catholic Politicians]]

[[Category:Catholic Politicians]]