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After his defeat for Congress, Long accepted an appointment in 1965 from U.S. President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] as assistant secretary of the Office of Economic Opportunity, often referred to in 1965 and 1966 as the "War on Poverty."​ Despite his family connections, Long had not been reared in a wealthy family. Throughout his political career, he struggled to find ways to address the lingering problems of poverty. He appealed to poorer voters, with the pledge that he would work to improve income levels in Louisiana.​

After his defeat for Congress, Long accepted an appointment in 1965 from U.S. President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] as assistant secretary of the Office of Economic Opportunity, often referred to in 1965 and 1966 as the "War on Poverty."​ Despite his family connections, Long had not been reared in a wealthy family. Throughout his political career, he struggled to find ways to address the lingering problems of poverty. He appealed to poorer voters, with the pledge that he would work to improve income levels in Louisiana.​

Long's involvement with the federal [[anti-poverty agency]] in Louisiana led to his close friendship with R. Sargent Shriver, who ran for vice-president in 1972 on the Democratic ticket head by U.S. Senator [[George McGovern]] of [[South Dakota]]. Shriver, a native of [[Ilinois]], was a brother-in-law of [[John F. Kennedy]], [[Robert F. Kennedy]], and [[Edward M. Kennedy]]. Long's congressional voting record moved sharply to the left in his later years in the U.S. House; at times, his votes were consistent with the [[Congressional Black Caucus]], not with the more moderate of southern Democrats then still serving.  

Long's involvement with the federal [[anti-poverty agency]] in Louisiana led to the development of a close friendship with R. Sargent Shriver, who ran for vice-president in 1972 on the Democratic ticket head by U.S. Senator [[George McGovern]] of [[South Dakota]]. Shriver, a native of [[Ilinois]], was a brother-in-law of [[John F. Kennedy]], [[Robert F. Kennedy]], and [[Edward M. Kennedy]]. Long's congressional voting record moved sharply to the left in his later years in the U.S. House; at times, his votes were consistent with the [[Congressional Black Caucus]], not with the more moderate of southern Democrats then still serving.  

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The breach between Long and McKeithen lingered well past the 1963 campaign. In 1966, Long tried to defeat Amendment I, which allowed Louisiana governors, beginning with McKeithen, the right to serve two consecutive four-year terms if reelected. During the campaign over the succession amendment, U.S. Representative [[Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.]], of [[Harlem]], [[New York]], an African American, urged President Johnson to dismiss Sargent Shriver as head of the national anti-poverty program and replace him with Gillis Long, whom Powell considered more energetic than Shriver. Long, who was close to Shriver, blamed the Powell statement on McKeithen, who he claimed, was trying to discredit Long among white voters should Long again seek the governorship in 1967.<ref>Blame Laid to Governor by Gillis Long," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 1, 1966, p. 1.</ref>​

The breach between Long and McKeithen lingered well past the 1963 campaign. In 1966, Long tried to defeat Amendment I, which allowed Louisiana governors, beginning with McKeithen, the right to serve two consecutive four-year terms if reelected. During the campaign over the succession amendment, U.S. Representative [[Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.]], of [[Harlem]], [[New York]], an African American, urged President Johnson to dismiss Sargent Shriver as head of the national anti-poverty program and replace him with Gillis Long, whom Powell considered more energetic than Shriver. Long, who was close to Shriver, blamed the Powell statement on McKeithen, who he claimed, was trying to discredit Long among white voters should Long again seek the governorship in 1967.<ref>Blame Laid to Governor by Gillis Long," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 1, 1966, p. 1.</ref>​