Changes

Thereafter, Passman sent Dodd an apologetic letter: "I have always considered you one of my best friends ... Bill, I am sorry that the unpleasant incidents of the last gubernatorial campaign had to mar our long friendship. I hope that our differences have been resolved, and we may now renew our friendship." Passman also issued a public statement saying that Dodd had not enriched himself while in public office, despite contrary reports presented to Passman. Such reports had come from Earl Long, who was then temporarily estranged from Dodd, but Passman never mentioned the source.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 338.</ref>

Thereafter, Passman sent Dodd an apologetic letter: "I have always considered you one of my best friends ... Bill, I am sorry that the unpleasant incidents of the last gubernatorial campaign had to mar our long friendship. I hope that our differences have been resolved, and we may now renew our friendship." Passman also issued a public statement saying that Dodd had not enriched himself while in public office, despite contrary reports presented to Passman. Such reports had come from Earl Long, who was then temporarily estranged from Dodd, but Passman never mentioned the source.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 338.</ref>

 

==Opposition to foreign aid==​

==Opposition to foreign aid==​

​

​

Passman chaired a pivotal House subcommittee that ruled on foreign aid appropriations. He took the view of [[Doug Bandow]], a former scholar with the [[Cato Institute]], that foreign aid involves "taking money from poor people in rich countries and giving it to rich people in poor countries." He claimed that foreign aid is often harmful because it propped up despotic regimes that might otherwise have collapsed from corruption, failure, or unpopularity. Passman could not remove foreign aid from the budget, but he frequently was able to cut the program wherever he could.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 335-336.</ref>​

Passman chaired a pivotal House subcommittee that ruled on foreign aid appropriations. He took the view of [[Doug Bandow]], a former scholar with the [[Cato Institute]], that foreign aid involves "taking money from poor people in rich countries and giving it to rich people in poor countries." He claimed that foreign aid is often harmful because it propped up despotic regimes that might otherwise have collapsed from corruption, failure, or unpopularity. Passman could not remove foreign aid from the budget, but he frequently was able to cut the program wherever he could.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 335-336.</ref>​

​

​

For several years on the subcommittee, Passman clashed with Congressman Walter Judd, a [[Minnesota]] Republican and a former medical missionary to [[China]], who was frequently the point-man to argue for expanded foreign aid to needy countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,811186,00.html|title=The Congress: The Rivals|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''|date=August 10, 1959|accessdate=January 8, 2020}}</ref> Judd had even been considered for the vice presidency by Richard Nixon in 1960. Passman also disliked the [[Peace Corps]], which was championed by President Kennedy. Passman's critics, mostly within his own party, claimed that the Monroe Democrat was trying to "bleed" the Peace Corps of sufficient appropriations to make the program work. Passman said at the time, "If I had three minutes left to live, I'd kill the Peace Corps."<ref name="Louisiana History,'' p. 336.</ref> President Johnson, who inadvertently displayed his lack of knowledge of Louisiana geography, lambasted Passman as "a cave man, a goddamned Cajun from the hills of Louisiana."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whitehousetapes.net/|title=Lyndon B. Johnson presidential tapes|publisher=whitehousetapes.net|accessdate=June 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 336-337.</ref>​

For several years on the subcommittee, Passman clashed with Congressman Walter Judd, a [[Minnesota]] Republican and a former medical missionary to [[China]], who was frequently the point-man to argue for expanded foreign aid to needy countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,811186,00.html|title=The Congress: The Rivals|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''|date=August 10, 1959|accessdate=January 8, 2020}}</ref> Judd had even been considered for the vice presidency by Richard Nixon in 1960. Passman also disliked the [[Peace Corps]], which was championed by President Kennedy. Passman's critics, mostly within his own party, claimed that the Monroe Democrat was trying to "bleed" the Peace Corps of sufficient appropriations to make the program work. Passman said at the time, "If I had three minutes left to live, I'd kill the Peace Corps."<ref name=''Louisiana History,'' p. 336.</ref> President Johnson, who inadvertently displayed his lack of knowledge of Louisiana geography, lambasted Passman as "a cave man, a goddamned Cajun from the hills of Louisiana."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whitehousetapes.net/|title=Lyndon B. Johnson presidential tapes|publisher=whitehousetapes.net|accessdate=June 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 336-337.</ref>​

​

​

An intraparty critic, Representative Jack Brooks, from [[Beaumont, Texas|Beaumont]], [[Texas]], noted that Passman succeeded in cutting foreign aid by some 25 percent during the early 1960s.<ref>

An intraparty critic, Representative Jack Brooks, from [[Beaumont, Texas|Beaumont]], [[Texas]], noted that Passman succeeded in cutting foreign aid by some 25 percent during the early 1960s.<ref>

"Louisiana History, p. 336.</ref>​

"Louisiana History, p. 336.</ref>​

 

==Segregationist in his time==​

==Segregationist in his time==​

​

​

Like nearly all of his southern colleagues, Passman in 1956 signed the '[['Southern Manifesto]]'' to voice objection to the [[United States Supreme Court]]'s [[Segregation|desegregation]] decision, ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]].'' Like most of his constituents, Passman supported segregation. By August 1970, however, all of the public schools in Louisiana had been desegregated, and the issue quickly waned.​<ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 339.</ref>​

Like nearly all of his southern colleagues, Passman in 1956 signed the [[Southern Manifesto]] to voice objection to the [[United States Supreme Court]]'s [[Segregation|desegregation]] decision of the [[United States Supreme Court]] opinion, ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]].'' Like most of his constituents, Passman supported segregation. Congress struck down racial discrimination in the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], and by August 1970, all of the public schools in Louisiana had been desegregated, and the issue quickly waned.​<ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 339.</ref>​

 

==Charged with sexual discrimination==​

==Charged with sexual discrimination==

 

In 1974, Passman dismissed a female employee from his office, Shirley Davis, because he preferred a man in her position. Davis sued Passman and won a judgment, affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1979 (''Davis v. Passman''), which held that Passman's action constituted [[sexual discrimination]]. The case remains an important precedent in holding that there is an implied right of action against U.S. congressmen for such discrimination. As such, it recognized a citizen's right to bring a suit against elected federal representatives for violation of constitutional rights.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 340-341.</ref>​

In 1974, Passman dismissed a female employee from his office, Shirley Davis, because he preferred a man in her position. Davis sued Passman and won a judgment, affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1979 (''Davis v. Passman''), which held that Passman's action constituted [[sexual discrimination]]. The case remains an important precedent in holding that there is an implied right of action against U.S. congressmen for such discrimination. As such, it recognized a citizen's right to bring a suit against elected federal representatives for violation of constitutional rights.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' pp. 340-341.</ref>​

​

​

==Legal troubles==​

==Legal troubles==

 

In 1978, Passman was implicated in the Tongsun Park scandal, by which time his congressional service had already ended a year earlier. Media reports of the scandal began in 1975–1976, and they worked to sink Passman's reelection. A South Korean businessman, Tongsun Park described himself as an "American success story," when he came to the attention of the [[FBI]]. Park lavished valuable gifts to prominent politicians in an influence peddling scheme known as "Koreagate."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.congressionalbadboys.com/Koreagate.htm|title=Koreagate|publisher=congressionalbadboys|accessdate=June 20, 2014}}</ref> The scandal involved alleged [[bribery]] of over a hundred sitting or former members of Congress, including Louisiana Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. In April 1978, Park sat before [[television]] cameras in a U.S. House hearing and listed a long list of payments — mostly in cash — to some thirty members of Congress. He said that he had given the money in little white envelopes. Only ten members of Congress were seriously implicated. Three avoided prosecution through the expiration of the [[statute of limitations]]. Passman was not immediately prosecuted because of illness.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 341.</ref>​

In 1978, Passman was implicated in the Tongsun Park scandal, by which time his congressional service had already ended a year earlier. Media reports of the scandal began in 1975–1976, and they worked to sink Passman's reelection. A South Korean businessman, Tongsun Park described himself as an "American success story," when he came to the attention of the [[FBI]]. Park lavished valuable gifts to prominent politicians in an influence peddling scheme known as "Koreagate."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.congressionalbadboys.com/Koreagate.htm|title=Koreagate|publisher=congressionalbadboys|accessdate=June 20, 2014}}</ref> The scandal involved alleged [[bribery]] of over a hundred sitting or former members of Congress, including Louisiana Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. In April 1978, Park sat before [[television]] cameras in a U.S. House hearing and listed a long list of payments — mostly in cash — to some thirty members of Congress. He said that he had given the money in little white envelopes. Only ten members of Congress were seriously implicated. Three avoided prosecution through the expiration of the [[statute of limitations]]. Passman was not immediately prosecuted because of illness.<ref>''Louisiana History,'' p. 341.</ref>​

​

​