Changes

===Defeating Charlton Lyons===

===Defeating Charlton Lyons===

Waggonner was initially elected to Congress in a [[special election]] held in December 1961 to succeed Democrat Thomas Overton Brooks, who died in office. He defeated the Republican choice, [[business]]man [[Charlton Lyons]], an oilman from [[Shreveport]] but like Waggonner's former intra-party opponent for state comptroller, Roy Theriot, Lyons was a native of Abbeville. Waggonner carried the backing of the conservative ''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' edited at the time by [[George W. Shannon]]. Lyons subsequently ran for governor in 1964 against Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]], that time with Shannon's editorial support.  

Waggonner was initially elected to Congress in a [[special election]] held on December 19, 1961, to succeed Democrat Thomas Overton Brooks (1897-1961), who had won won his thirteenth and final term in Congress by defeating the Republican [[business]]man [[Fred C. McClanahan]] in 1960. Waggonner defeated a Shreveport oilman [[Charlton Lyons]], who like Waggonner's former intra-party opponent for state comptroller, Roy Theriot, was a native of Abbeville. Waggonner carried the backing in the special election of the conservative ''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' edited at the time by [[George W. Shannon]]. Lyons subsequently ran for governor in 1964 against Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]], that time with Shannon's editorial support.<ref>"Shreveport Journal Endorses Waggonner," reprinted in ''Minden Herald,'' December 14, 1961, p. 8.</ref>

On December 19, 1961, Waggonner won a [[special election]] to succeed long-time U.S. Representative Thomas Overton Brooks (1897-1961), who had won his thirteenth consecutive term in the House in 1960 by defeating the Republican businessman [[Fred C. McClanahan]] of [[Shreveport]]. When Brooks died in office in the first year of his last term, Waggonner filed in the special election to succeed him. Already, Waggonner had announced his intention to oppose Brooks for re-nomination in the 1962 Democratic [[primary]]. Waggonner's decision was spurred by Brooks' congressional vote to expand the House Rules Committee to permit [[Speaker]] [[Sam Rayburn]], who would died in office shortly after the passing of Brooks, to add new [[liberal]] members to the panel and thus stymie [[conservative]]s in both parties on the committee.

When Brooks died in office in the first year of his last term, Waggonner filed in the special election to succeed him. Already, Waggonner had announced his intention to oppose Brooks for re-nomination in the 1962 Democratic [[primary]]. Waggonner's decision was spurred by Brooks' congressional vote to expand the House Rules Committee to permit [[Speaker]] [[Sam Rayburn]], who would died in office shortly after the passing of Brooks, to add new [[liberal]] members to the panel and thus stymie [[conservative]]s in both parties on the committee.

Both Waggonner and Lyons were segregationists and conservatives. Waggonner polled 33,892 votes (54.5 percent) to Lyons' 28,250 ballots (45.5 percent). Plain Dealing banker John Jones, Jr. (1923–2004), the son of a former state senator, served as Waggonner's campaign manager. Waggonner received majorities in six of the seven parishes in the district, having lost only in Lyons'  Caddo Parish, which includes Shreveport. In the congressional race, Waggonner carried the editorial support of the ''[[Shreveport Journal]]'' and its conservative editor [[George W. Shannon]].<ref>"Shreveport Journal Endorses Waggonner," reprinted in ''Minden Herald,'' December 14, 1961, p. 8.</ref>

Both Waggonner and Lyons were segregationists and conservatives. Waggonner polled 33,892 votes (54.5 percent) to Lyons' 28,250 ballots (45.5 percent). Plain Dealing banker John Jones Doles, Jr. (1923–2004), the son of a former state senator, served as Waggonner's campaign manager. Waggonner received majorities in six of the seven parishes in the district, having lost only in Lyons'  Caddo Parish, which includes Shreveport.

===Seventeen years in Congress===

===Seventeen years in Congress===