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In 1968, Waggonner spoke against the legislation introduced by [[Moderate Republican]] U.S. Representative Robert McClory of [[Illinois]], which designates the third Monday of February as what has become "President's Day," rather than the traditional February 22 holiday in honor of the birth of [[George Washington]]. Waggonner told the sponsors of the bill: “You have further commercialized and made further meaningless something that has the respect of the people of this country.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://amgreatness.com/2018/02/18/make-washingtons-birthday-great/|title=Make Washington’s Birthday Great Again|author=John Fonte|publisher=Amgreatness.com|date=February 18, 2018|accessdate=June 28, 2020}}</ref>

In 1968, Waggonner spoke against the legislation introduced by [[Moderate Republican]] U.S. Representative Robert McClory of [[Illinois]], which designates the third Monday of February as what has become "President's Day," rather than the traditional February 22 holiday in honor of the birth of [[George Washington]]. Waggonner told the sponsors of the bill: “You have further commercialized and made further meaningless something that has the respect of the people of this country.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://amgreatness.com/2018/02/18/make-washingtons-birthday-great/|title=Make Washington’s Birthday Great Again|author=John Fonte|publisher=Amgreatness.com|date=February 18, 2018|accessdate=June 28, 2020}}</ref>

After 1969, Waggonner struck up a friendship with President Richard Nixon, who was elected the previous year over the Democrat [[Hubert Humphrey]] and the [[Independent voter|Independent]] [[George Wallace]]. He became a liaison between Nixon and the House Democratic majority. Through this relationship, Waggonner was able to procure public works projects for his 4th district, including the attempt to establish year-round navigation of the Red River between Shreveport and [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]].

After 1969, Waggonner struck up a friendship with President Nixon, who was elected the previous year over the Democrat [[Hubert Humphrey]] of [[Minnesota]] and the [[Independent voter|Independent]] [[George Wallace]] of [[Alabama]]. He became a liaison between Nixon and the House Democratic majority. Through this relationship, Waggonner was able to procure public works projects for his 4th district, including the attempt to establish year-round navigation of the Red River between Shreveport and [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]].

===The Republican/Southern Democrat coalition===

===The Republican/Southern Democrat coalition===

In Congress, Waggonner often supported a Republican-Southern Democratic coalition on various issues. These conservative Democrats were later known as the "Boll weevils." Waggonner was fiscally conservatism and opposed many of the federal social programs as well as [[civil rights]] legislation in 1964, 1965, and 1968. He took a "hawkish" position on the [[Vietnam War]].

In Congress, Waggonner often supported a Republican-Southern Democratic coalition on various issues. These conservative Democrats were later known as the "Boll weevils." Waggonner was fiscally conservatism and opposed many of the federal social programs as well as [[civil rights]] legislation in 1964, 1965, and 1968. He took a "[[hawkish]]" position on the [[Vietnam War]].

Waggonner said that he spent much of his time in Congress trying to convince liberals of the error of their politics. "The trend to socialism is not accidental, but reflects the attitude of the majority, or it would not be the prevailing trend. I spend all of my time talking to the liberals in Congress, doing all I can to persuade them of the rightness of our views, not to conservatives who already share our philosophy."<ref>"Says Waggonner, Missionary Work Among Liberals Is Necessary", ''Minden Press'', June 3, 1963, p. 1</ref>

Waggonner said that he spent much of his time in Congress trying to convince liberals of the error of their politics. "The trend to socialism is not accidental, but reflects the attitude of the majority, or it would not be the prevailing trend. I spend all of my time talking to the liberals in Congress, doing all I can to persuade them of the rightness of our views, not to conservatives who already share our philosophy."<ref>"Says Waggonner, Missionary Work Among Liberals Is Necessary", ''Minden Press'', June 3, 1963, p. 1</ref>

Waggonner opposed the efforts to [[Impeachment|impeach]] President Nixon prior to the resignation over [[Watergate]]-related matters. While leading southern conservatives in the U. S. House, he wielded power with Nixon that was often reserved for the Speaker or a key committee chairman. He was an influential member of the House Ways and Means Committee and a key player the Republican president needed to get legislation passed in the House. Waggonner later revealed that he also had close contacts with Democratic Presidents Kennedy and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], neither of whom had carried the 4th congressional district.  

Waggonner opposed the efforts to [[Impeachment|impeach]] President Nixon prior to the resignation over [[Watergate]]-related matters. While leading southern conservatives in the U. S. House, he wielded power with Nixon that was often reserved for the Speaker or a key committee chairman. He was an influential member of the House Ways and Means Committee and a key player the Republican president needed to get legislation passed in the House. Waggonner later revealed that he also had close contacts with Democratic Presidents Kennedy and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], neither of whom had carried the 4th congressional district.  

On August 8, 1974, Waggonner prepared a special list of House and Senate lawmakers who were among a shrinking band of Nixon supporters. The lawmakers met that night with a "visibly distraught" Nixon, who told the group that he would resign on Friday, August 9, at noon. "'I am sorry I have let you down,'" Waggonner recalled Nixon having said.

On August 8, 1974, Waggonner prepared a special list of House and Senate lawmakers who were among a shrinking band of Nixon supporters. The lawmakers met that night with a "visibly distraught" Nixon, who told the group that he would resign on Friday, August 9, at noon. Waggonner recalled that Nixon said, "'I am sorry I have let you down."

In April 1994, Waggonner flew to Yorba Linda, [[California]], to attend Nixon's funeral, at which [[Bob Dole]] delivered a brief eulogy. Indeed, he had maintained communication with Nixon long after both had left Washington. Nixon's first outing after his resignation was a trip to Shreveport for an event the Waggonners hosted at their home, remembered Rene Gibson, a former Waggonner staffer, as reported in ''The Shreveport Times'' on the occasion of Waggonner's death.

In April 1994, Waggonner flew to Yorba Linda, [[California]], to attend Nixon's funeral. Indeed, he had maintained communication with Nixon long after both had left [[Washington, D.C.]] Nixon's first outing after his resignation was a trip to Shreveport for an event that the Waggonners hosted at their home, remembered Rene Gibson, a former Waggonner staffer, as reported in ''The Shreveport Times'' on the occasion of Waggonner's death.

In the 1964 gubernatorial primary runoff and general election, Waggonner endorsed Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]] who, like Waggonner in 1961, was opposed by the Republican Charlton Lyons. Waggonner objected to the strengthening of the Republican Party in Louisiana. He once said that Louisiana, unlike other southern states, already had a two-party system through its "[[Earl Long|Long]]" and "anti-Long" factions. Nevertheless, in his later years, Waggonner occasionally endorsed Republicans, including 1996 presidential nominee Bob Dole of [[Kansas]], who had been Ford's vice-presidential choice in the 1976 loss to [[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Walter Mondale]]. In 1981, Carter's successor as president, [[Ronald W. Reagan]], who had campaigned for Charlton Lyons for governor of Louisiana in 1964, appointed Waggonner to the 15-member National Commission on Social Security Reform, headed by the famous economist [[Alan Greenspan]].

In the 1964 gubernatorial primary runoff and general election, Waggonner endorsed Democrat [[John J. McKeithen]] who, like Waggonner in 1961, was opposed by the Republican Charlton Lyons. Waggonner objected to the strengthening of the Republican Party in Louisiana. He once said that Louisiana, unlike other southern states, already had a two-party system through its "[[Earl Long|Long]]" and "anti-Long" factions. Nevertheless, in his later years, Waggonner occasionally endorsed Republicans, including 1996 presidential nominee [[Bob Dole]] of [[Kansas]], who had been Ford's vice-presidential choice in the 1976 loss to [[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Walter Mondale]]. In 1981, Carter's successor as president, [[Ronald W. Reagan]], who had campaigned for Charlton Lyons for governor of Louisiana in 1964, appointed Waggonner to the 15-member National Commission on Social Security Reform, headed by the economist [[Alan Greenspan]].

===Arrest in 1976===

===Arrest in 1976===

In 1976, Waggonner was arrested for soliciting an undercover police decoy in [[Washington, D.C.]], for purposes of [[prostitution]]. He was released because at that time lawmakers enjoyed immunity from prosecution for [[misdemeanor]] offenses. After the Waggonner case, the law was changed to allow congressional members to face misdemeanor charges with the exception of parking violations.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ppIIbWkftv4C&pg=PA194&lpg=PA194&dq=Joe+D.+Waggonner+arrest&source=bl&ots=WgR2ondm8i&sig=bD9XbjT4DrFQF3ut8Yby-bzeNco&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Y8VCT7aBNISq2QWg6qjdBg&sqi=2&ved=0CEcQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Joe%20D.%20Waggonner%20arrest&f=false|author=Jeffrey M. Eliot et al|title=The Congressional-Presidential Political Dictionary|date=1984|page= 194|publisher=Google Books||accessdate=June 28, 2020}}</ref>

In 1976, Waggonner was arrested for soliciting an undercover police decoy posing as a [[prostitute]]. He was released because at that time lawmakers enjoyed immunity from prosecution for [[misdemeanor]] offenses. After the Waggonner case, the law was changed to allow congressional members to face misdemeanor charges with the exception of parking violations.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ppIIbWkftv4C&pg=PA194&lpg=PA194&dq=Joe+D.+Waggonner+arrest&source=bl&ots=WgR2ondm8i&sig=bD9XbjT4DrFQF3ut8Yby-bzeNco&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Y8VCT7aBNISq2QWg6qjdBg&sqi=2&ved=0CEcQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Joe%20D.%20Waggonner%20arrest&f=false|author=Jeffrey M. Eliot et al|title=The Congressional-Presidential Political Dictionary|date=1984|page= 194|publisher=Google Books||accessdate=June 28, 2020}}</ref>

===His chosen successor, "Buddy" Leach===

===His chosen successor, "Buddy" Leach===

[[Buddy Roemer|Charles E. "Buddy" Roemer, III]], son of Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]' commissioner of administration, [[Charles E. Roemer, II]], entered the race, as did a lone Republican, [[Jimmy Wilson]], a former state legislator and former mayor of Vivian in northernmost Caddo Parish, who had recently switched parties. Waggonner endorsed Leach, who ultimately defeated Wilson in the general election by a margin of 266 disputed votes. However, Leach was unable to cement his hold on the district and was unseated in the 1980 [[general election]] after a single term by Democrat, later Republican, Buddy Roemer. That 1980 House election was alled the "battle of the Buddys" waged between the two wealthy Democrats.

[[Buddy Roemer|Charles E. "Buddy" Roemer, III]], son of Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]' commissioner of administration, [[Charles E. Roemer, II]], entered the race, as did a lone Republican, [[Jimmy Wilson]], a former state legislator and former mayor of Vivian in northernmost Caddo Parish, who had recently switched parties. Waggonner endorsed Leach, who ultimately defeated Wilson in the general election by a margin of 266 disputed votes. However, Leach was unable to cement his hold on the district and was unseated in the 1980 [[general election]] after a single term by Democrat, later Republican, Buddy Roemer. That 1980 House election was alled the "battle of the Buddys" waged between the two wealthy Democrats.

Waggonner's seat remained Democratic for nine years after his retirement, when a Democrat-turned-Moderate Republican, James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III, then from Leach's Leesville but a Shreveport native, won it in another special election held on March 8, 1988. (McCrery retired in January 2009 and was succeeded by the Republican [[John Fleming]], a [[physician]] from Minden. When Fleming stepped down in 2017, the seat went to still another Republican, [[Mike Johnson]] of Benton in Waggonner's Bossier Parish.

Waggonner's seat remained in Democrat hands for nine years after his retirement, when a Democrat-turned-[[Moderate Republican]], James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III, then from Leach's Leesville but a Shreveport native, won it in another special election held on March 8, 1988. (McCrery retired in January 2009 and was succeeded by the Republican [[John Fleming]], a conservative [[physician]] from Minden. When Fleming stepped down in 2017, the seat went to still another conservative Republican, [[Mike Johnson]] of Benton in Waggonner's Bossier Parish.

For a time the U.S. District Court facility in Shreveport was named for Waggonner. When a new courthouse was subsequently constructed, Waggonner's name was left off the building. Instead the Joe D. Waggonner Lock and Dam is named for him.

For a time the U.S. District Court facility in Shreveport was named for Waggonner, but his name was removed when a new courthouse was subsequently constructed. Instead the Joe D. Waggonner Lock and Dam on the Red River bears his name.

==Waggonner the Methodist==

==Waggonner the Methodist==

Waggonner was a member of the First [[United Methodist]] Church of Plain Dealing but later attended the First United Methodist in Benton.

Waggonner was a member of the First [[United Methodist]] Church of Plain Dealing but later attended the First United Methodist Church in Benton.

Daughter Carol W. Johnston (born December 1945), a former [[educator]], told ''The Shreveport Times'' that her father was "a strong [[Christian]]. As long as he was physically able, he never went to bed without getting on his knees to say his [[prayer]]. Everything he did was the result of following what he thought was the example of [[Jesus]]."

Daughter Carol W. Johnston (born December 1945), a former [[educator]], told ''The Shreveport Times'' that her father was "a strong [[Christian]]. As long as he was physically able, he never went to bed without getting on his knees to say his [[prayer]]. Everything he did was the result of following what he thought was the example of [[Jesus]]."

==Death==

==Death==

Waggonner had a [[stroke]] and suffered from [[heart]] problems. He had been hospitalized for several weeks prior to his death at Promise Specialty Hospital in Shreveport.

In 2007, Waggonner had a [[stroke]] and suffered from [[heart]] problems. He was hospitalized for several weeks prior to his death at Promise Specialty Hospital in Shreveport.

Services of forty-five minutes in length were held on October 9, 2007, at the Brown Memorial Chapel of Methodist-affiliated Centenary College, another institution of higher learning which Waggonner supported. Centenary President Emeritus Donald Webb officiated, with assistance from the Reverend Lynn Malone of the First United Methodist Church of Benton. Webb quipped that Waggonner had insisted thirty years earlier that Webb preach Waggonner's funeral, and Webb said he often hoped that Waggonner would outlive him and thus relieve Webb of that responsibility for which he felt "inadequate." Webb called Waggonner a "balanced man who could see both sides and bring them together." Reverend Malone said that Waggonner was the "ultimate patriot who loved his country." Waggonner himself requested the reading of that familiar passage from ''[[Ecclesiastes]]'' about there being a time for everything under the sun."

Services of forty-five minutes in length were held on October 9, 2007, at the Brown Memorial Chapel of Methodist-affiliated Centenary College, another institution of higher learning which Waggonner supported. Centenary President Emeritus Donald Webb officiated, with assistance from the Reverend Lynn Malone of the First United Methodist Church of Benton. Webb quipped that Waggonner had insisted thirty years earlier that Webb preach Waggonner's funeral, and Webb said he often hoped that Waggonner would outlive him and thus relieve Webb of that responsibility for which he felt "inadequate." Webb called Waggonner a "balanced man who could see both sides and bring them together." Reverend Malone said that Waggonner was the "ultimate patriot who loved his country." Waggonner himself requested the reading of that familiar passage from ''[[Ecclesiastes]]'' about there being a time for everything under the sun."