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In 1960, Despot sponsored Republican advertisements for the presidential ticket of [[Richard M. Nixon]] and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Nixon and Lodge lost in Louisiana to the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]]-[[Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]] slate of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] electors.<ref>''Minden Press,'' October 17, 1960.</ref> In 1964, Despot rallied behind the [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidacy of Shreveporter [[Charlton Lyons]], who  waged the first serious Republican campaign in modern Louisiana history but fell far short of victory. Despot and a friend, Shreveport [[Certified Public Accountant|CPA]] [[George A. Burton]], were named by Lyons as the campaign co-chairmen, largely because it was Despot and Burton who convinced Lyons to run for governor. The winner was Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]]. While Lyons was running for governor, Despot was an unsuccessful candidate for the Caddo Parish Police Jury, now known as the Caddo Parish Commission.

In 1960, Despot sponsored Republican advertisements for the presidential ticket of [[Richard M. Nixon]] and Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Nixon and Lodge lost in Louisiana to the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]]-[[Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]] slate of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] electors.<ref>''Minden Press,'' October 17, 1960.</ref> In 1964, Despot rallied behind the [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidacy of Shreveporter [[Charlton Lyons]], who  waged the first serious Republican campaign in modern Louisiana history but fell far short of victory. Despot and a friend, Shreveport [[Certified Public Accountant|CPA]] [[George A. Burton]], were named by Lyons as the campaign co-chairmen, largely because it was Despot and Burton who convinced Lyons to run for governor. The winner was Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]]. While Lyons was running for governor, Despot was an unsuccessful candidate for the Caddo Parish Police Jury, now known as the Caddo Parish Commission.

 

On November 8, 1966, Despot lost a second race — for the Caddo Parish School Board. So did his friend George Burton.<ref>''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' November 9, 1966.</ref><ref>Three Republicans were then serving on the board: [[Billy Guin]], Edward Leo McGuire, Jr. (1914-1983), and Joel B. Brown.</ref> Despot never again sought office himself but instead labored for other Republican candidates. Burton went on to become in 1971 the first Shreveport Republican since [[Reconstruction]] to be elected to municipal office as the citywide Shreveport finance commissioner.​

On November 8, 1966, Despot lost a second race — for the Caddo Parish School Board. So did his friend George Burton.<ref>''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' November 9, 1966.</ref><ref>Three Republicans were then serving on the board: [[Billy Guin]], Edward Leo McGuire, Jr. (1914-1983), and Joel B. Brown.</ref> Despot never again sought office himself but instead labored for other Republican candidates. Burton went on to become in 1971 the first Shreveport Republican since [[Reconstruction]] to be elected to municipal office as the citywide Shreveport finance commissioner. In 1976, Despot was first elected by his fellow Caddo Parish party members from District 33, to the Republican State Central Committee. Two years later a majority of the committee members chose him as the state chairman by committee members. Chairman Despot demanded that party organizations call caucuses to endorse one specific candidate in races in which more than one Republican filed for office under the then new Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary. This was necessary to prevent GOP candidates from diluting their strength. Otherwise, none might poll enough primary votes even to make the ballot in the [[general election]].

 

In 1976, Despot was first elected by his fellow Caddo Parish party members from District 33, to the Republican State Central Committee. Two years later he was named state chairman by committee members. Chairman Despot demanded that party organizations call caucuses to endorse one specific candidate in races in which more than one Republican filed for office under the then new Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary. This was necessary to prevent GOP candidates from diluting their strength. Otherwise, none might poll enough primary votes even to make the ballot in the [[general election]].

In 1976, Despot was first elected by his fellow Caddo Parish party members from District 33, to the Republican State Central Committee. Two years later he was named state chairman by committee members. Chairman Despot demanded that party organizations call caucuses to endorse one specific candidate in races in which more than one Republican filed for office under the then new Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary. This was necessary to prevent GOP candidates from diluting their strength. Otherwise, none might poll enough primary votes even to make the ballot in the [[general election]].

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The party endorsement is worth a great deal. Some voters will not have a chance to meet either candidate. Without party endorsement, they might not vote for either Republican. I will enforce party discipline with an iron hand across this state. If the chair refuses to call a caucus, I will remove the Political Action Council chairwoman.<ref>''Shreveport Journal,'' January 8, 1980.</ref>​</blockquote>​

The party endorsement is worth a great deal. Some voters will not have a chance to meet either candidate. Without party endorsement, they might not vote for either Republican. I will enforce party discipline with an iron hand across this state. If the chair refuses to call a caucus, I will remove the Political Action Council chairwoman.<ref>''Shreveport Journal,'' January 8, 1980.</ref>​</blockquote>​

===Removal as chairman===

Despot noted that his party could not then realistically contest all offices on the ballot: "There are just some [legislative] districts in the state where there is little opportunity for a Republican to get elected." This pick-and-choose approach was not conducive to rapid growth for the GOP but instead contributed to the partisan complexion of the legislature remaining largely unchanged even when Republican [[David C. Treen]] was elected governor in 1979.===Removal as chairman===

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In 1985, Despot was removed as chairman  by a group identified with the "Religious Right," a number of whom had been supporters of former Governor Treen.] though it was unclear whether Treen was involved in the plot against Despot, and  Despot's predecessor as chairman, John Hamilton Cade, Jr. (1928-1988), a personal friend of Treen's from  [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], was a leader of the anti-Despot forces at the meeting of the Republican State Central Committee.George Despot encountered

In 1985, Despot was removed as chairman  by a group identified with the "Religious Right," a number of whom had been supporters of former Governor Treen.] though it was unclear whether Treen was involved in the plot against Despot, and  Despot's predecessor as chairman, John Hamilton Cade, Jr. (1928-1988), a personal friend of Treen's from  [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], was a leader of the anti-Despot forces at the meeting of the Republican State Central Committee.George Despot encountered

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/>

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​Fellow Republicans throughout the state mourned Despot's death. Then chairman [[William A. Nungesser|William 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. Nungesser|William 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.

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 4th 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 (1943-206) of Oil City in Caddo Parish, who had also ben the first president of the Caddo Parish Commission. "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 4th 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 (1943-206) of Oil City in Caddo Parish, who had also ben the first president of the Caddo Parish Commission. "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.​

​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.

​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.

Prior to his death, Despot had curtailed much of his local activity because he preferred to concentrate on national and state politics.​ The staunchly conservative Nungesser, who himself shocked his party when he endorsed [[Patrick J. Buchanan]] for the 1992 Republican nomination, said that Despot was "strong-willed, and had his own strong ideas, but he always had what was best for Louisiana at heart." Nungesser, who was in the catering business serving ships, was the only state chairman who did not support the first George Bush in the 1992 primaries.

Prior to his death, Despot had curtailed much of his local activity because he preferred to concentrate on national and state politics.​ The staunchly conservative Nungesser, who himself shocked his party when he endorsed [[Patrick J. Buchanan]] for the 1992 Republican nomination, said that Despot was "strong-willed, and had his own strong ideas, but he always had what was best for Louisiana at heart." Nungesser, who was in the catering business serving ships, was the only state chairman who did not support the first George Bush in the 1992 primaries.

==Death and legacy==

==Death and legacy==