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Loyola University New Orleans College of Law​

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law​

| religion= [[Roman Catholic]]}}​

| religion= [[Roman Catholic]]}}​

 

'''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.

His peers have consistently voted Bagert as a “Top Lawyer” in the New Orleans area in a variety of fields.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myneworleans.com/My-New-Orleans/September-2014/Top-Lawyers-2014/|title=Top Lawyers of 2014|publisher=Myneworleans.com|accessdate=October 25, 2019}}</ref>​<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myneworleans.com/My-New-Orleans/September-2013/Sneak-Peek-Top-Lawyers-2013 Profile: Top Lawyers 2013|title=Top Lawyers of 2013|publisher=Myneworleans.com|accessdate June 28, 2015; no longer on-line}}</ref> He received highest rating as a lawyer in 2012 too.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=new+orleans+magazine+top+lawyers+2012|title=New Orleans Top Lawyers of 2012|publisher=google.com|accessdate=June 10, 2012}}</ref> He carries the highest possible rating conferred by Martindale-Hubbell for ethical standards and legal ability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.martindale.com/The-Bagert-Law-Firm/law-firm-503163-peer-review-ratings.htm|title=The Bagert Law Firm|publisher=Martindale.com|accessdate=October 25, 2019}}</ref>

His peers have consistently voted Bagert as a “Top Lawyer” in the New Orleans area in a variety of fields.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myneworleans.com/My-New-Orleans/September-2014/Top-Lawyers-2014/|title=Top Lawyers of 2014|publisher=Myneworleans.com|accessdate=October 25, 2019}}</ref>​<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myneworleans.com/My-New-Orleans/September-2013/Sneak-Peek-Top-Lawyers-2013 Profile: Top Lawyers 2013|title=Top Lawyers of 2013|publisher=Myneworleans.com|accessdate June 28, 2015; no longer on-line}}</ref> He received highest rating as a lawyer in 2012 too.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=new+orleans+magazine+top+lawyers+2012|title=New Orleans Top Lawyers of 2012|publisher=google.com|accessdate=June 10, 2012}}</ref> He carries the highest possible rating conferred by Martindale-Hubbell for ethical standards and legal ability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.martindale.com/The-Bagert-Law-Firm/law-firm-503163-peer-review-ratings.htm|title=The Bagert Law Firm|publisher=Martindale.com|accessdate=October 25, 2019}}</ref>

​Bagert's younger brother, Broderick A. Bagert, Sr., is a former member of the New Orleans City Council. As young men, the Bagerts were an unbeatable team on the New Orleans political scene. They were among the first to rely on computer technology to enhance campaign operations. Brod Bagert (born 1947) retired from politics and is a [[poet]], lecturer, and author of children's books.​

Bagert's younger brother, Broderick A. Bagert, Sr., is a former member of the New Orleans City Council. As young men, the Bagerts were an unbeatable team on the New Orleans political scene. They were among the first to rely on computer technology to enhance campaign operations. Brod Bagert (born 1947) retired from politics and is a [[poet]], lecturer, and author of children's books.​

Bagert's home in the Lakeview area of New Orleans was flooded in 2005 by [[Hurricane Katrina]]. The damage occurred when the nearby 17th Street Canal broke during the storm. He relocated to Jefferson Parish.​

Bagert's home in the Lakeview area of New Orleans was flooded in 2005 by [[Hurricane Katrina]]. The damage occurred when the nearby 17th Street Canal broke during the storm. He relocated to Jefferson Parish.​

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>

 

During his legislative service, Bagert received accolades from a variety of good government, environmental, and conservative organizations. The Alliance for Good Government named him Legislator of the Year in 1973, 1983, and 1985.​ The groups, Friends of the Environment and Citizens for Clean Environment, honored him in 1991 with the Brown Pelican Award because he was the first state official in Louisiana to address the near extinction of the brown pelican, the state bird that appears on the state seal. He authored measures to prevent programs spending  public funds for the aerial application of the pesticide Mirex] a chlorinated hydrocarbon similar to [[DDT]]. He was named "Conservationist of the Year" by the National and Louisiana Wildlife Federation in 1986 for his work to salvage depleted redfish and speckled trout stocks and again in 1988 for his work to abate the erosion of wetlands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawildlifefed.org/userfiles/file/Awd%20by%20Cat-cumulative.pdf|title=Louisiana Wildlife Federation Conservation Award Winners|publisher=lawildlifefed.org|accessdate=January 8, 201; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

During his legislative service, Bagert received accolades from a variety of good government, environmental, and conservative organizations. The Alliance for Good Government named him Legislator of the Year in 1973, 1983, and 1985.​ The groups, Friends of the Environment and Citizens for Clean Environment, honored him in 1991 with the Brown Pelican Award because he was the first state official in Louisiana to address the near extinction of the brown pelican, the state bird that appears on the state seal. He authored measures to prevent programs spending  public funds for the aerial application of the pesticide Mirex] a chlorinated hydrocarbon similar to [[DDT]]. He was named "Conservationist of the Year" by the National and Louisiana Wildlife Federation in 1986 for his work to salvage depleted redfish and speckled trout stocks and again in 1988 for his work to abate the erosion of wetlands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawildlifefed.org/userfiles/file/Awd%20by%20Cat-cumulative.pdf|title=Louisiana Wildlife Federation Conservation Award Winners|publisher=lawildlifefed.org|accessdate=January 8, 201; no longer on-line}}</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 senatorial campaign of 1990===

===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>​

In fact, State Representative David Duke ran far ahead of  Bagert in the primary process, having procured the support of many traditionally Democratic blue collar voters. Virginia Republican and [[Iran-Contra]] figure [[Oliver North]] campaigned for Bagert, four years before North would make his own unsuccessful race against Senator Charles Robb, a son-in-law of [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]].​

In fact, State Representative David Duke ran far ahead of  Bagert in the primary process, having procured the support of many traditionally Democratic blue collar voters. Virginia Republican and [[Iran-Contra]] figure [[Oliver North]] campaigned for Bagert, four years before North would make his own unsuccessful race against Senator Charles Robb, a son-in-law of [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]].​

In his campaign Bagert called Johnston "a bungling, milquetoast liberal"<ref>"Can Johnston be beaten?," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 19, 1989, p. 1.</ref> and "aloof and out of touch" with Louisiana voters. Bagert accused Johnston of having had little interest in the state's oil and gas industries but partial to large utility holdings and nuclear energy developers. Johnston's vote for the[windfall profits tax "hurt the independent oil producers in our state," declared Bagert.<ref>Joey White, "Bagert 'pulls no punches' on campaign trail," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' February 22, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

In his campaign Bagert called Johnston "a bungling, milquetoast liberal"<ref>"Can Johnston be beaten?," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 19, 1989, p. 1.</ref> and "aloof and out of touch" with Louisiana voters. Bagert accused Johnston of having had little interest in the state's oil and gas industries but partial to large utility holdings and nuclear energy developers. Johnston's vote for the windfall profits tax "hurt the independent oil producers in our state," declared Bagert.<ref>Joey White, "Bagert 'pulls no punches' on campaign trail," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' February 22, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

Bagert's impressive list of contributors included Governor [[David C. Treen]], the state's first Republican congressman and governor since [[Reconstruction]]; Bryan James Wagner (1943-2018), the first GOP member elected in the 20th century to the New Orleans City Council; John James Hainkel, Jr. (1938-2005), a Democrat and later Republican member of the state Senate from an Orleans-area district; party chairmen [[James H. Boyce]] (shortly before his death) of [[Baton Rouge]], [[George Despot]] of Shreveport, Donald G. Bollinger of Lockport, and [[William A. Nungesser|William A. "Billy" Nungesser]] of New Orleans; [[Louis Roussel, Jr.]], a businessman and financier who had bankrolled campaigns of earlier Democrats, including Edwin Edwards and [[Bill Dodd|William J. "Bill" Dodd]]; future U.S. Senator [[David Vitter]] of Metairie in Jefferson Parish, the late "Cajun" humorist, chef, and former Democrat Justin Wilson (1914-2001); Dalton Woods, a Shreveport oilman and friend of President [[George Herbert Walker Bush]]; state Representative [[E. Clark Gaudin]] of Baton Rouge, New Orleans businessman James A. Noe, Jr., son of a former Democratic governor; future U.S. Senate candidate Suzanne Haik Terrell, another former member of the New Orleans City Council; former state Senator Bob Jones, a stockbroker from Lake Charles, and even a [[Texas]]-Louisiana businessman, [[Albert Bel Fay]], who had once been the Republican national committeeman from Texas​.

Bagert's impressive list of contributors included Governor [[David C. Treen]], the state's first Republican congressman and governor since [[Reconstruction]]; Bryan James Wagner (1943-2018), the first GOP member elected in the 20th century to the New Orleans City Council; John James Hainkel, Jr. (1938-2005), a Democrat and later Republican member of the state Senate from an Orleans-area district; party chairmen [[James H. Boyce]] (shortly before his death) of [[Baton Rouge]], [[George Despot]] of Shreveport, Donald G. Bollinger of Lockport, and [[William A. Nungesser|William A. "Billy" Nungesser]] of New Orleans; [[Louis Roussel, Jr.]], a businessman and financier who had bankrolled campaigns of earlier Democrats, including Edwin Edwards and [[Bill Dodd|William J. "Bill" Dodd]]; future U.S. Senator [[David Vitter]] of Metairie in Jefferson Parish, the late "Cajun" humorist, chef, and former Democrat Justin Wilson (1914-2001); Dalton Woods, a Shreveport oilman and friend of President [[George Herbert Walker Bush]]; state Representative [[E. Clark Gaudin]] of Baton Rouge, New Orleans businessman James A. Noe, Jr., son of a former Democratic governor; future U.S. Senate candidate Suzanne Haik Terrell, another former member of the New Orleans City Council; former state Senator Bob Jones, a stockbroker from Lake Charles, and even a [[Texas]]-Louisiana businessman, [[Albert Bel Fay]], who had once been the Republican national committeeman from Texas​.

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 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."​

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."​

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Louisiana People]]​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]​