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Why, for years, the party was just kind of performing ministerial duties and didn't do anything from a political standpoint. We supported state Democrats and national Republicans. But with President [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]]'s election in 1976 -- when we carried Louisiana for only the third time since 1944 -- we broke away from the old Perez group. We were able to get blacks as officers for the first time. We elected Henry "Hank" Braden, an [[African American]] state senator from [[New Orleans]]] as national committeeman. That was the first time we actually came out, as a party, and endorsed the national party's presidential ticket, and that caused a real revolution.<ref name=sj>''Shreveport Journal,'' March 20, 1980, p. 4D.</ref></blockquote>​

Why, for years, the party was just kind of performing ministerial duties and didn't do anything from a political standpoint. We supported state Democrats and national Republicans. But with President [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]]'s election in 1976 -- when we carried Louisiana for only the third time since 1944 -- we broke away from the old Perez group. We were able to get blacks as officers for the first time. We elected Henry "Hank" Braden, an [[African American]] state senator from [[New Orleans]]] as national committeeman. That was the first time we actually came out, as a party, and endorsed the national party's presidential ticket, and that caused a real revolution.<ref name=sj>''Shreveport Journal,'' March 20, 1980, p. 4D.</ref></blockquote>​

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Bankston noted that during the time that the state Democrats balked over their national nominees, the much smaller Louisiana GOP had largely rallied to support its candidates.<ref>This did not apply to the 2015 gubernatorial general election, when two failed Republican candidates refused to support [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]] in the race against Democrat [[John Bel Edwards]].</ref> Bankston said that he had warned the Louisiana Democratic congressional representatives in 1979 that Republican Treen could take the governorship:​

Bankston noted that during the time that the state Democrats balked over their national nominees, the much smaller Louisiana GOP had largely rallied to support its candidates.<ref>This did not apply to the 2015 gubernatorial general election, when two failed Republican candidates in the primary refused to support [[U.S. Senator]] [[David Vitter]] in Vitter's unsuccessful race against Democrat [[John Bel Edwards]].</ref> Bankston said that he had warned the Louisiana Democratic congressional representatives in 1979 that Republican Treen could take the governorship:​

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<blockquote>"I went to [[Washington, D.C.]], to meet with the Democrats in the congressional delegation and the national party people, and I told them that unless we get our act together and get some money and organization, the Republicans were going to take it. But they wouldn't listen. They said, 'Louisiana is a surplus state: we don't ever put money into Louisiana.' I said, 'Well, this time you better, or you are going to lose the governor and maybe then the congressional delegation<ref>By the time of Bankston's death, the Republicans held six of the seven congressional seats from Louisiana.</ref> because the governor's office in Louisiana is the most powerful office in the United States<ref>In Louisiana, despite the separation of powers, the governor selected the House [[Speaker]] and the president of the state Senate.</ref> except the office of [[U.S. President]], and the governor can have a lot of influence on who is elected to Congress."<ref name=sj/></blockquote>​

<blockquote>"I went to [[Washington, D.C.]], to meet with the Democrats in the congressional delegation and the national party people, and I told them that unless we get our act together and get some money and organization, the Republicans were going to take it. But they wouldn't listen. They said, 'Louisiana is a surplus state: we don't ever put money into Louisiana.' I said, 'Well, this time you better, or you are going to lose the governor and maybe then the congressional delegation<ref>By the time of Bankston's death, the Republicans held six of the seven congressional seats from Louisiana.</ref> because the governor's office in Louisiana is the most powerful office in the United States<ref>In Louisiana, despite the separation of powers, the governor has traditionally selected the House [[Speaker]] and the president of the state Senate. However, in 2016, the House chose as Speaker [[Taylor Barras]], rather than the choice of the governor. In 2020, the governor's choice was selected with a coalition of Democrats and twenty-three dissident [[Moderate Republican]]s whom [[conservative]]s denounced as the [[Louisiana Republican Fraud Squad|Fraud Squad]].</ref> except the office of [[U.S. President]], and the governor can have a lot of influence on who is elected to Congress."<ref name=sj/></blockquote>​

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After going to Washington, Bankston said party officials contacted him and asked what they could do. Bankston said that he told them, "Nothing, you're too dad-blamed late."<ref name=sj/> Bankston said that Fitzmorris, Hardy, Henry, and Mouton "completely misjudged the wrath brought on by the party." Bankston predicted that future Louisiana Democrats eliminated in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] would not dare to endorse a Republican in a general election showdown.<ref name=sj/>​

After going to Washington, Bankston said party officials contacted him and asked what they could do. Bankston said that he told them, "Nothing, you're too dad-blamed late."<ref name=sj/> Bankston said that Fitzmorris, Hardy, Henry, and Mouton "completely misjudged the wrath brought on by the party." Bankston predicted that future Louisiana Democrats eliminated in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] would not dare to endorse a Republican in a general election showdown.<ref name=sj/>​