Changes

|preceded=Thomas Overton Brooks

|preceded=Thomas Overton Brooks

|succeeded=Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach, Jr.

|succeeded=Claude Anthony "Buddy" Leach, Jr.

}}

}}

'''Joseph David Waggonner, Jr.''', known as '''Joe Waggonner''' (September 7, 1918 – October 7, 2007), was a [[Democratic]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[Louisiana]]'s Fourth Congressional District, who served from 1961 to 1979. He was active in what was later known as the [[Conservative Democrat|Boll Weevil Democrats]], who sometimes supported [[Republican]] positions on fiscal and foreign policies.

'''Joseph David Waggonner, Jr.''', known as '''Joe Waggonner''' (September 7, 1918 – October 7, 2007), was a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] for [[Louisiana]]'s 4th congressional district, who served from late December 1961 to January 3, 1979. He was active in what was later known as the Boll Weevil Democrats, who sometimes supported [[Republican Party|Republican]] positions on fiscal and foreign policies. A confidant of Republican [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]], he hosted in 1974 Nixon's first public appearance after the resignation amid the [[Watergate]] affair.

 

==Background==

==Background==

Waggonner was born in Plain Dealing to Joe Waggonner, Sr. (June 11, 1873 – March 9, 1950), and the former Elizzibeth (unusual but correct spelling from grave marker) Johnston (November 23, 1882 – December 24, 1957). He graduated from Plain Dealing High School and in 1941 from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] in Lincoln Parish, at which he was a member of Kappa Sigma and became a lifelong advocate for his alma mater. During [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]], he served in the [[United States Navy]], attained the rank of lieutenant commander, and thereafter remained in the Naval Reserve.

 

Waggonner was born in Plain Dealing to Joe Waggonner, Sr. (June 11, 1873 &ndash; March 9, 1950), and the former Elizzibeth (unusual but correct spelling from grave marker) Johnston (November 23, 1882 &ndash; December 24, 1957). He graduated from Plain Dealing High School and in 1941 from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]] in Lincoln Parish, at which he was a member of Kappa Sigma. On December 14, 1942, he married the former Mary Ruth Carter (born February 12, 1921 &ndash; May 3, 2017), a native of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in Webster Parish. The couple resided in their later years in Benton, the seat of government of Bossier Parish, and then in the more populous [[Bossier City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179018956/mary-ruth-waggonner|title=Mary Ruth Carter Waggonner|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=June 28, 2020}}</ref>

During [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]], Waggonner served in the [[United States Navy]], having attained the rank of lieutenant commander. He remained thereafter in the Naval Reserve.

On December 14, 1942, Waggonner wed the former Mary Ruth Carter (February 1921 &ndash; May 3, 2017), a native of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in neighboring Webster Parish. The couple resided in their later years in Benton, the parish seat of government of Bossier Parish, and then in the last years the more populous [[Bossier City]]. The couple had a daughter and a son.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179018956/mary-ruth-waggonner|title=Mary Ruth Carter Waggonner|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=June 29, 2020}}</ref>

For his livelihood, Waggonner operated ran a wholesale [[petroleum]] products distribution agency that serviced northern Bossier Parish.

For his livelihood Waggoner operated a wholesale [[petroleum]] distribution company in Bossier Parish.

==Political life==

==Political life==

Waggonner was first elected to public office in 1954 to a seat on the Bossier Parish School Board, of which he was president from 1956 to 1957. In 1959, Waggonner ran in the Democratic primary for the position of Louisiana state comptroller, previously known as auditorand since abolished. He was defeated for the nomination by [[Roy Theriot]] (pronounced TERRY OH), the mayor of Abbeville in Vermilion Parish in south Louisiana. Waggonner ran on the intra-party ticket headed by [[Segregation|segregationist]] [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidate [[William Rainach]], a state senator and a former state representative from Claiborne Parish.<ref>''[[Minden Press-Herald]]'', November 13, 1959, p. 13.</ref>

In the 1950s, he was from 1954 to 1960 a member of the Bossier Parish School Board and the board president from 1956 to 1957. In 1959, Waggonner was an unsuccessful [[primary]] candidate for the since disbanded position of Louisiana state comptroller, having run on the strongly [[segregation]]ist intra-party ticket headed by state Senator [[William Rainach]] of Claiborne Parish. Victory in the race went to another Democrat, [[Roy Theriot]] (pronounced TERRY OH), the [[mayor]] of Abbeville in Vermilion Parish near [[Lafayette]]. Waggonner ran on the intra-party ticket headed by [[Segregation|segregationist]] [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidate [[William Rainach]], a state senator and a former state representative for Claiborne Parish.<ref>''Minden Press,'' November 13, 1959, p. 13.</ref59, p. 13.</ref

Shortly thereafter on July 23, 1960, Waggonner was nominated in the Democratic primary to the Louisiana State Board of Education, now the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Waggonner won the seat for the Third Public Service Commission District, a configuration since disbanded that then included twenty-eight north Louisiana parishes. Waggonner unseated the incumbent, C. Raymond Heard, and was then unopposed in the November 8 general election, in which [[John F. Kennedy]] defeated [[Richard M. Nixon]]. In this campaign, Waggonner posed as a more determined segregationist than his opponent.<ref>''Minden Press,'' July 25, 1960, p. 1.</ref> One of his advertisements proclaimed: "For: Our Youth and Segregation; Against: Federal Aid to Education."<ref>Waggonner advertisement, ''Minden Press,'' July 18, 1960, p. 5.</ref>

Shortly thereafter on July 23, 1960, Waggonner was nominated in the Democratic primary to the Louisiana State Board of Education, now the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. He won the seat for the Third Public Service Commission District, a configuration since disbanded that then included twenty-eight north Louisiana parishes. Waggonner unseated the incumbent, C. Raymond Heard, and was then unopposed in the November 8 general election, in which [[John F. Kennedy]] defeated [[Richard M. Nixon]]. In this campaign, Waggonner posed as a more determined segregationist than his opponent.<ref>''Minden Press,'' July 25, 1960, p. 1.</ref> One of his advertisements proclaimed: "For: Our Youth and Segregation; Against: Federal Aid to Education."<ref>Waggonner advertisement, ''Minden Press,'' July 18, 1960, p. 5.</ref>

As Kennedy defeated Nixon, Waggonner, [[David C. Treen]], and Leander Henry Perez, Sr. (1891-1969) of Plaquemines Parish, were among the ten presidential electors for an unpledged slate in Louisiana. Nixon won the 4th congressional district, but Kennedy took a strong plurality in the balloting statewide.<ref>"GOP Eyes Louisiana Hot Congressional Election Tomorrow, ''The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, [[Michigan]]), December 18, 1961, p. 2.</ref>

As Kennedy defeated Nixon, Waggonner, [[David C. Treen]], and Leander Henry Perez, Sr. (1891-1969) of Plaquemines Parish, were among the ten presidential electors for an unpledged slate in Louisiana. Nixon won the 4th congressional district, but Kennedy took a strong plurality in the balloting statewide.<ref>"GOP Eyes Louisiana Hot Congressional Election Tomorrow, ''The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, [[Michigan]]), December 18, 1961, p. 2.</ref>

In 1961, Waggonner was chosen president of (1) the Louisiana School Boards Association and (2) the United Schools Committee of Louisiana. He had also been instrumental, along with William Rainach, in the founding of the White Citizens Council in the late 1950s.

In 1961, Waggoneer in his only year as a member of the state Board of Education, was chosen as the president of (1) the Louisiana School Boards Association and (2) the United Schools Committee of Louisiana. He had also been instrumental, along with William Rainach, in the founding of the White Citizens Council in the late 1950s.

===Defeating Charlton Lyons===

===Defeating Charlton Lyons===

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>

Waggonner was initially elected to the U.S. House 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>

   

   

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.