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Line 61: − + − − In July 1959, Grevemberg rejected cries of "It can't be done" and switched parties in<ref>''Ruston Daily Leader,'' July 28, 1959, p. 1.</ref> in preparation for another run for governor, this time as a Republican. He challenged former Governor [[Jimmie Davis]], winner of a hard-fought Democratic primary and runoff against Mayor deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison (1912-1964) of New Orleans. Grevemberg called for abolition of useless positions in state government and industrial recruitment efforts. Among his supporters were [[Charles and Virginia deGravelles]]. − − His candidacy offered the state something that it had not seen since the 19th century, an actually contested general election for governor.<ref>[[Harrison Bagwell]], a delegate for [[Dwight Eisenhower]] to the 1952 [[Republican National Convention]], had been on the ballot for governor in April 1952, but he did not campaign, and lost to Kennon, 96-4 percent.</ref>"Never before have the voters in this state been given such an opportunity for self-expression," opined ''The Alexandria Town Talk'' on Grevemberg's candidacy. "It is a rare opportunity for us to take part in an advanced course in government and politics." ''Town Talk'' managing editor [[Adras LaBorde]] gave more attention to the Davis-Grevemberg contest than did most of the other Louisiana newspapers. + + + + − + − + − + − + − +
→Democratic gubernatorial race, 1956
Grevemberg's choice for lieutenant governor on his statewide intra-party ticket, was the Democrat Wesley H. Clanton (1906–1986) of Eunice. Clanton faced Mayor Morrison's choice, incumbent [[C. E. "Cap" Barham]] and Preaus's preference, A. Brown Moore, a member of the [[New Orleans City Council]] since 1950 and a decorated World War II veteran. Grevemberg's candidate for state attorney general, Ben C. Bennett, Jr., was eliminated when victory went to the Earl Long choice, [[Jack P. F. Gremillion]]. Grevemberg's candidate for state auditor, Robert Lindsey, was defeated, and former Lieutenant Governor [[Bill Dodd]] toppled the incumbent [[Allison Kolb]] in that race.
Grevemberg's choice for lieutenant governor on his statewide intra-party ticket, was the Democrat Wesley H. Clanton (1906–1986) of Eunice. Clanton faced Mayor Morrison's choice, incumbent [[C. E. "Cap" Barham]] and Preaus's preference, A. Brown Moore, a member of the [[New Orleans City Council]] since 1950 and a decorated World War II veteran. Grevemberg's candidate for state attorney general, Ben C. Bennett, Jr., was eliminated when victory went to the Earl Long choice, [[Jack P. F. Gremillion]]. Grevemberg's candidate for state auditor, Robert Lindsey, was defeated, and former Lieutenant Governor [[Bill Dodd]] toppled the incumbent [[Allison Kolb]] in that race.
==Republican gubernatorial campaign, 1960==
==Republican gubernatorial campaign, 1960==
In July 1959, Grevemberg rejected cries of "It can't be done" and switched parties in<ref>''Ruston Daily Leader,'' July 28, 1959, p. 1.</ref> preparation for another run for governor, this time as a Republican. He challenged former Governor [[Jimmie Davis]], winner of a hard-fought Democratic primary and runoff against Mayor deLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison (1912-1964) of New Orleans. Grevemberg called for abolition of useless positions in state government and industrial recruitment efforts. Among his supporters were [[Charles and Virginia deGravelles]].
His candidacy offered the state something that it had not seen since the 19th century, an actually contested general election for governor.<ref>[[Harrison Bagwell]], a delegate for [[Dwight Eisenhower]] to the 1952 [[Republican National Convention]], had been on the ballot for governor in April 1952, but he did not campaign, and lost to Kennon, 96-4 percent.</ref>"Never before have the voters in this state been given such an opportunity for self-expression," opined ''The Alexandria Town Talk'' on Grevemberg's candidacy. "It is a rare opportunity for us to take part in an advanced course in government and politics." ''Town Talk'' managing editor [[Adras LaBorde]] gave more attention to the Davis-Grevemberg contest than did most of the other Louisiana newspapers.
Democrats were sufficiently confident of overwhelming victories to restrict their general election activities to a few party-harmony speeches. Davis had stopped campaigning after he defeated Morrison and did not return to active campaign status until a few weeks prior to the general election. National Republicans had promised financial help to Grevemberg, but none arrived.
Democrats were sufficiently confident of overwhelming victories to restrict their general election activities to a few party-harmony speeches. Davis had stopped campaigning after he defeated Morrison and did not return to active campaign status until a few weeks prior to the general election. National Republicans had promised financial help to Grevemberg, but none arrived.
Grevemberg polled only 86,135 votes (17 percent); Davis, 407,907 (81.5 percent). Grevemberg scored his highest percent, 39.9 in Terrebonne Parish, and his second-best showing was the 27.2 percent in [[Lafayette|Lafayette Parish]]. In several parishes, including Kennon's Webster Parish, Grevemberg polled less than 2 percent of the ballots.
Grevemberg polled only 86,135 votes (17 percent); Davis, 407,907 (81.5 percent). Grevemberg scored his highest percent, 39.9 in Terrebonne Parish, and his second-best showing was the 27.2 percent in [[Lafayette|Lafayette Parish]]. In several parishes, including Kennon's Webster Parish, Grevemberg polled less than 2 percent of the ballots.
Grevemberg was outraged at newspaper editorials against him. "My main purpose for entering this race was toward a two-party system.... I hope I have convinced a sizable number of people we do need two parties." Grevemberg was particularly hostile toward ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' which called him a "turncoat" after he left the Democratic Party, adding: "I risked my life and those of my family in attempts to rid this state of racketeers.... These newspapers have lived up to the reputation given them by Huey Long that they were yellow journals."
Grevemberg was outraged at newspaper editorials against him. "My main purpose for entering this race was toward a two-party system.... I hope I have convinced a sizable number of people we do need two parties." Grevemberg was particularly hostile toward ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' which called him a "turncoat" after he left the Democratic Party, adding: "I risked my life and those of my family in attempts to rid this state of racketeers.... These newspapers have lived up to the reputation given them by Huey Long that they were yellow journals."
The GOP was still four years away from offering voters a more competitive choice in a Louisiana gubernatorial general election, when [[John J. McKeithen]] defeated the Republican pioneer [[Charlton Lyons]] . At the close of the campaign, Grevemberg called upon President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] to investigate Mafia figure Carlos Marcello of Gretna in Jefferson Parish, in light of failed efforts to have Marcello deported.<ref>Marcello was later deported during the [[Kennedy Administration]] but soon slipped back into the United States. See the [[Carlos Marcello|Marcello]] article for the related [[conspiracy theory]] about the [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy]].</ref> Grevemberg said that he harbored no ill will toward Davis but was merely trying to plant the seeds of a two-party system in Louisiana.<ref>See the article on the 1959 Louisiana gubernatorial election in the ''Alexandria Town Talk,''April 14, 1960, 18, 20.</ref>
The GOP was still four years away from offering voters a more competitive choice in a Louisiana gubernatorial general election, when [[John J. McKeithen]] defeated the Republican pioneer [[Charlton Lyons]] . At the close of the campaign, Grevemberg called upon President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] to investigate Mafia figure Carlos Marcello of Gretna in Jefferson Parish, in light of failed efforts to have Marcello deported.<ref>Marcello was later deported during the [[Kennedy Administration]] but soon slipped back into the United States. See the [[Carlos Marcello|Marcello]] article for the related [[conspiracy theory]] about the [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy]].</ref> Grevemberg said that he harbored no ill will toward Davis but was merely trying to plant the seeds of a two-party system in Louisiana.<ref>See the article on the 1959 Louisiana gubernatorial election in the ''Alexandria Town Talk,''April 14, 1960, 18, 20.</ref>
As a delegate to the 1960 Republican National Convention in [[Chicago]], Grevemberg was among ten delegates who still cast their votes for [[U.S. Senator]] [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]], after Goldwater had lectured conservatives "to grow up" and support [[Richard M. Nixon]] for the party's nomination against U.S. Senator [[John F. Kennedy]] of [[Massachusetts]].
As a delegate to the 1960 Republican National Convention in [[Chicago]], Grevemberg was among ten delegates who still cast their votes for [[U.S. Senator]] [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]], after Goldwater had lectured conservatives "to grow up" and support [[Richard M. Nixon]] for the party's nomination against U.S. Senator [[John F. Kennedy]] of [[Massachusetts]].