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→Cathy Long succeeds her husband in Congress
<ref>{{cite web|title=Swearing-In Ceremony for President Ronald W. Reagan|url=http://www.inaugural.senate.gov/swearing-in/event/ronald-reagan-1985}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|title=Swearing-In Ceremony for President Ronald W. Reagan|url=http://www.inaugural.senate.gov/swearing-in/event/ronald-reagan-1985}}</ref>
Gillis Long is interred at the Alexandria National Cemetery in Pineville, Louisiana.
Gillis Long is interred at the Alexandria National Cemetery in Pineville, Louisiana.
In the special congressional election mandated in 1985 to choose his congressional successor, the winning candidate was his popular widow, Catherine Small Long, a native of [[Dayton, Ohio|Dayton]], [[Ohio]]. The Longs were married on June 21, 1947. At the time of his death, they had been together for nearly thirty-eight years. Bill Dodd, an observer of Louisiana politics, described Cathy Long in his memoirs as "the perfect wife for a politician. She was smart and made everyone feel perfectly at ease, and she was eager to help her husband ... everyone loved Cathy."<ref name=bdodd/>
In the special congressional election mandated in 1985 to choose his congressional successor, the winning candidate was his popular widow, Catherine Small Long, a native of [[Dayton, Ohio|Dayton]], [[Ohio]]. The Longs were married on June 21, 1947. At the time of his death, they had been together for nearly thirty-eight years. Bill Dodd, an observer of Louisiana politics, described Cathy Long in his memoirs as "the perfect wife for a politician. She was smart and made everyone feel perfectly at ease, and she was eager to help her husband ... everyone loved Cathy."<ref name=bdodd/>
Mrs. Long defeated four opponents including Republican Clyde Holloway, who had lost in 1980 to her husband, and then state Representative [[Jock Scott]], son of Judge Nauman Scott. Though Scott was a Democrat at the time of the special election, he switched parties later in 1985 and ran again for Congress in the revised 5th district in 2004, only to be defeated by incumbent fellow Republican [[Rodney Alexander]].
Mrs. Long defeated four opponents including Republican Clyde Holloway, who had lost in 1980 to her husband, and then state Representative [[Jock Scott]], son of Judge Nauman Scott. Though Scott was a Democrat at the time of the special election, he switched parties later in 1985 and ran again for Congress in the revised 5th district in 2004, only to be defeated by incumbent fellow Republican [[Rodney Alexander]].
When he died, Long was the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. Long was a transitional figure from the hegemony of conservative "Louisiana Democrats" who had supported segregation and states' rights to the later era of liberal "national Democrats," who embraced [[civil rights]] and federal social programs. Long also consolidated his hold on the district and demonstrated how one could use effective constituent service, media coverage, and public relations to remain in Congress even while repeatedly voting against the wishes of his conservative constituents.
When he died, Long was the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. Long was a transitional figure from the hegemony of conservative "Louisiana Democrats" who had supported segregation and states' rights to the later era of liberal "national Democrats," who embraced [[civil rights]] and federal social programs. Long also consolidated his hold on the district and demonstrated how one could use effective constituent service, media coverage, and public relations to remain in Congress even while repeatedly voting against the wishes of his conservative constituents.
==Legacy==
==Legacy==
Long was inducted posthumously into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield in 1994, along with his late colleague, Longite Senator [[Allen J. Ellender]]. Also inducted was former Representative Lindy Boggs of New Orleans, widow of Representative Hale Boggs.
Long was inducted posthumously into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield in 1994, along with his late colleague, Longite Senator [[Allen J. Ellender]]. Also inducted was former Representative Lindy Boggs of New Orleans, widow of Representative Hale Boggs.