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Line 37: − + − − In 1991, Bagert did not seek reelection to the Louisiana State Senate but instead ran unsuccessfully as the Republican choice for state attorney general in a bid to succeed the retiring [[William J. Guste]], also of New Orleans. Oddly David Duke was again at the top of the Republican ticket in an unsuccessful race for governor that year against [[Edwin Edwards]]. Bagert returned full-time to his law practice. He has been elected several times to the Republican State Central Committee and has been a delegate to the [[Republican National Convention]] in 1996, which met in [[San Diego]], [[California]]. Bagert was the lawyer for [[Robert Dole]] and [[Elizabeth Dole]] in each of their unsuccessful presidential campaigns. − − ===Six legislative elections as a Democrat=== − At the age of twenty-five, Bagert won a [[special election]] in 1970 for the Louisiana House of Representatives. He won full terms to the state House in 1972, 1975, and 1979. He was a member of the "Young Turks" reformers led by future House Speaker [[E. L. "Bubba" Henry]] of Jonesboro, in [[Jackson Parish]] and [[Robert G. Jones]] of [[Lake Charles]], the son of former Governor [[Sam Houston Jones]]. Bagert often questioned certain state expenditures. In the spring of 1972, for instance, he asked why the state continued to spend more than $214,000 per year to maintain the Louisiana Livestock Brand Commission, which he described as a useless entity whose members merely drove around searching for stolen cows and checking brands on the animals.<ref>Charles Leyton, United Press International, "Bagert Says Commission Wastes Taxpayers' Funds," June 2, 1972.</ref> + + + + + Line 49:
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'''Bernard John Bagert, Jr.''' (born January 10, 1944), known as '''Ben Bagert''', is an [[United States|American]] [[attorney]] based in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], who is a former member of both houses of his state legislature.
'''Bernard John Bagert, Jr.''' (born January 10, 1944), known as '''Ben Bagert''', is an [[United States|American]] [[attorney]] based in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], who is a former member of both houses of his state legislature.
==Personal life==
==Background==
Bagert was educated at Jesuit High School in New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans, and the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, from which he received his [[Juris Doctor]]ate in 1968. He was a "Blue Key" national honor fraternity member and the president of the student body in law school. While in college, he won [[boxing]] tournaments which led to part-time work as a longshoreman on the [[Mississippi River]]. These early friendships led to his political success.
Bagert was educated at Jesuit High School in New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans, and the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, from which he received his [[Juris Doctor]]ate in 1968. He was a "Blue Key" national honor fraternity member and the president of the student body in law school. While in college, he won [[boxing]] tournaments which led to part-time work as a longshoreman on the [[Mississippi River]]. These early friendships led to his political success.
As a legislator, he was known as a [[politician]] who did not follow structured party dogma. Though he was initially elected as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], he supported cultural and economic conservativism with a pro-environment orientation and later became a [[Republican Party|Republican]]. He was the first Louisiana legislator to warn of "Louisiana's tragic loss of wetland habitat."<ref>[http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/entertainment/music/10418675-171/quin-hillyer-john-m-barry Profile], theneworleansadvocate.com, October 7, 2014.</ref> He consistently opposed taxes and the expansion of government programs and enacted bills to reform the "welfare laws" then in effect.<ref>Senate Bill 512 (1990); ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' June 21, 1990.</ref> Bagert, who maintained an active litigation law practice while the legislature was not in session, authored the Louisiana Code of Evidence. His Senate Bill 155 became Act 515 in 1988r.
As a legislator, he was known as a [[politician]] who did not follow structured party dogma. Though he was initially elected as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], he supported cultural and economic conservativism with a pro-environment orientation and later became a [[Republican Party|Republican]]. He was the first Louisiana legislator to warn of "Louisiana's tragic loss of wetland habitat."<ref>[http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/entertainment/music/10418675-171/quin-hillyer-john-m-barry Profile], theneworleansadvocate.com, October 7, 2014.</ref> He consistently opposed taxes and the expansion of government programs and enacted bills to reform the "welfare laws" then in effect.<ref>Senate Bill 512 (1990); ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' June 21, 1990.</ref> Bagert, who maintained an active litigation law practice while the legislature was not in session, authored the Louisiana Code of Evidence. His Senate Bill 155 became Act 515 in 1988r.
In 1990, Bagert mounted a [[Republican Party|GOP]] challenge to entrenched incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator [[. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]]. Former [[Ku Klux Klan]]sman, [[David Duke]], then a state representative for Jefferson Parish, also entered the race as a Republican. Although Duke, a former Democrat, was opposed by the state Republican Party leadership, he gathered immense media attention and significant support from traditionally Democratic and union voters. At the time, Republican and Democratic candidates for Congress ran simultaneously under Louisiana's nonpartisan blanket primary. As the election drew near, Bagert withdrew from the contest in a last-minute bid to thwart Duke.<ref>Lousiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 6, 1990.</ref>
In 1990, Bagert mounted a [[Republican Party|GOP]] challenge to entrenched incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], of [[Shreveport]]. Former [[Ku Klux Klan]]sman, [[David Duke]], then a state representative for Jefferson Parish, also entered the race as a Republican. Although Duke, a former Democrat, was opposed by the state Republican Party leadership, he gathered immense media attention and significant support from traditionally Democratic and union voters. At the time, Republican and Democratic candidates for Congress ran simultaneously under Louisiana's nonpartisan blanket primary. As the election drew near, Bagert withdrew from the contest in a last-minute bid to thwart Duke.<ref>Lousiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 6, 1990.</ref>
In 1991, Bagert did not seek reelection to the Louisiana State Senate but instead ran unsuccessfully as the Republican choice for state attorney general in a bid to succeed the retiring [[William J. Guste]], also of New Orleans. He lost to the Democrat Richard Ieyoub of Lake Charles. Oddly David Duke was again at the top of the Republican ticket in an unsuccessful race for governor that year against [[Edwin Edwards]]. Bagert returned full-time to his law practice. He has been elected several times to the Republican State Central Committee and has been a delegate to the [[Republican National Convention]] in 1996, which met in [[San Diego]], [[California]]. Bagert was the lawyer for [[Robert Dole]] and [[Elizabeth Dole]] in each of their unsuccessful presidential campaigns.
===Six legislative elections as a Democrat===
At the age of twenty-five, Bagert won a [[special election]] in 1970 for the Louisiana House of Representatives. He won full terms to the state House in 1972, 1975, and 1979. He was a member of the "Young Turks" reformers led by future House Speaker [[E. L. "Bubba" Henry]] of Jonesboro, in [[Jackson Parish]] and [[Robert G. Jones]] of [[Lake Charles]], the son of former Governor [[Sam Houston Jones]]. Bagert often questioned certain state expenditures. In the spring of 1972, for instance, he asked why the state continued to spend more than $214,000 per year to maintain the Louisiana Livestock Brand Commission, which he described as a useless entity whose members merely drove around searching for stolen cows and checking brands on the animals.<ref>Charles Leyton, United Press International, "Bagert Says Commission Wastes Taxpayers' Funds," June 2, 1972.</ref>
In the House, Bagert held leadership positions including the chairmanships of the Criminal Justice Committee and the Commerce, Insurance, and Banking Committee. In 1983, he was elected to the first of two terms to the state Senate. In his last election victory, in the 1987 nonpartisan blanket primary, Bagert defeated his Republican opponent, Harry T. Begg, III, 23,953 votes (89 percent) to 3,043 (11 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 1987.</ref>
In the House, Bagert held leadership positions including the chairmanships of the Criminal Justice Committee and the Commerce, Insurance, and Banking Committee. In 1983, he was elected to the first of two terms to the state Senate. In his last election victory, in the 1987 nonpartisan blanket primary, Bagert defeated his Republican opponent, Harry T. Begg, III, 23,953 votes (89 percent) to 3,043 (11 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 1987.</ref>
In 1989, after voters rejected a $700 million tax reform package submitted by then Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], Bagert replied:<blockquote>'''Let's do some major budget cutting before we even think about more taxes. ... People voted for a revolution in state government in 1987 [when Roemer was elected] ... They are still waiting.'''<ref>"'So, Where's the Revolution?,'' Sen. Ben Bagert says people still waiting," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 17, 1989, g. 5A.</ref></blockquote>
In 1989, after voters rejected a $700 million tax reform package submitted by then Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], Bagert replied:<blockquote>'''Let's do some major budget cutting before we even think about more taxes. ... People voted for a revolution in state government in 1987 [when Roemer was elected] ... They are still waiting.'''<ref>"'So, Where's the Revolution?,'' Sen. Ben Bagert says people still waiting," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 17, 1989, g. 5A.</ref></blockquote>
===The aborted campaign against J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.===
===The aborted senatorial campaign of 1990===
Bagert was the official Republican Party choice to challenge Democratic Senator J. Bennett Johnston in the 1990 primary. At the state convention held in New Orleans on January 13, 1990, Bagert received 451 of the 792 delegate votes cast. Far behind were state Representative Quentin Dastugue and Louisiana Secretary of State Walter Fox McKeithen] (1946-2005)], whose father, former Governor [[John J. McKeithen]] had unsuccessfully challenged Johnston in 1972 as an [[Independent]]. Dastugue and McKeithen did not proceed to the primary, but a third candidate who failed at the convention continued forward.<ref>"GOP selects Bagert to challenge Johnston," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 16, 1990, p. 4.</ref>
Bagert was the official Republican Party choice to challenge Democratic Senator J. Bennett Johnston in the 1990 primary. At the state convention held in New Orleans on January 13, 1990, Bagert received 451 of the 792 delegate votes cast. Far behind were state Representative Quentin Dastugue and Louisiana Secretary of State Walter Fox McKeithen] (1946-2005)], whose father, former Governor [[John J. McKeithen]] had unsuccessfully challenged Johnston in 1972 as an [[Independent]]. Dastugue and McKeithen did not proceed to the primary, but a third candidate who failed at the convention continued forward.<ref>"GOP selects Bagert to challenge Johnston," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 16, 1990, p. 4.</ref>
Although Bagert campaigned hard, he continued to trail Duke and Johnston in the public opinion polls. Days before the primary, U.S. Senators [[John Danforth]] of [[Missouri]], [[Ted Stevens]] of [[Alaska]], and [[Nancy Kassebaum Baker]] of [[Kansas]] announced that they were "supporting" their Democratic colleague Johnston. At first, Bagert denounced Republicans who questioned his ability to win the race: "I wasn't [politically] dead; it's a mistake they made."<ref>"Johnston wins GOP endorsements," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 4, 1990, p. 1.</ref> But when it became clear to Bagert that by continuing the battle he would improve Duke's chances, he withdrew so that a runoff election between Duke and Johnston could have been avoided. Many of Bagert's campaign advisers urged him to remain in the race to protect his political viability. Of his withdrawal, Bagert said, "I do not want my footnote in history to read: 'His persistence led to the election of a man who tarnished American conservatism for many years.'"
Although Bagert campaigned hard, he continued to trail Duke and Johnston in the public opinion polls. Days before the primary, U.S. Senators [[John Danforth]] of [[Missouri]], [[Ted Stevens]] of [[Alaska]], and [[Nancy Kassebaum Baker]] of [[Kansas]] announced that they were "supporting" their Democratic colleague Johnston. At first, Bagert denounced Republicans who questioned his ability to win the race: "I wasn't [politically] dead; it's a mistake they made."<ref>"Johnston wins GOP endorsements," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 4, 1990, p. 1.</ref> But when it became clear to Bagert that by continuing the battle he would improve Duke's chances, he withdrew so that a runoff election between Duke and Johnston could have been avoided. Many of Bagert's campaign advisers urged him to remain in the race to protect his political viability. Of his withdrawal, Bagert said, "I do not want my footnote in history to read: 'His persistence led to the election of a man who tarnished American conservatism for many years.'"
Johnston won reelection to his fourth and final term with 753,198 votes (54 percent) to Duke's 607,091 (43 percent). Another 3 percent was shared by two minor Democratic candidates.<ref>Lousiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 6, 1990.</ref> Votes cast for Bagert were not tabulated because of his withdrawal. Ironically, many in the Republican establishment voted for Johnston even though they had recruited Bagert to try to unseat Johnston. It was not to be the last time that state party leaders would also vote for a Democrat to block David Duke. A year later, many Republicans supported discredited Governor Edwin Edwards to thwart Duke's ill-fated gubernatorial candidacy. The slogan used in 1991 was "Vote for the Crook. It's Important."
Johnston hence won reelection to his fourth and final term with 753,198 votes (54 percent) to Duke's 607,091 (43 percent). Another 3 percent was shared by two minor Democratic candidates.<ref>Lousiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 6, 1990.</ref> Votes cast for Bagert were not tabulated because of his withdrawal. Ironically, many in the Republican establishment voted for Johnston even though they had recruited Bagert to try to unseat Johnston. It was not to be the last time that state party leaders would also vote for a Democrat to block David Duke. A year later, many Republicans supported discredited Governor Edwin Edwards to thwart Duke's ill-fated gubernatorial candidacy. The slogan used in 1991 was "Vote for the Crook. It's Important."
In 1991, Bagert's political career ended when he lost his race for state attorney general to the Democrat Richard Ieyoub, a lawyer from Lake Charles. This was the last campaign that Bagert waged. He has since concentrated on his law practice.
In 1991, Bagert's political career ended when he lost his last race for state attorney general. He since concentrated on his law practice.
==References==
==References==