Block, Upload, Automoderated users, edit, move, protect, rollback
57,799
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 92:
Line 92: − + − + − + − + − + − + − + − +
→The battle of the Montgomerys, 1971
===The battle of the Montgomerys, 1971===
===The battle of the Montgomerys, 1971===
Montgomery decried "the loss of confidence in government, ... the thievery in office ... a governor [McKeithen] who appoints political hacks to office" and "the failure of authorities to reign in dope pushers and drunk drivers." Montgomery also singled out "employees who don't work" and "politicians who continually ask for more money without showing any accomplishment in return." He predicted a large turnover in legislative ranks.<ref>Harold Montgomery advertisement, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 27, 1971, p. 7.</ref> Harold also won the endorsement of the then conservative ''[[Shreveport Journal]]'', a newspaper that later moved far to the left politically under [[Moderate Republican]] publisher [[Charles T. Beaird]] before ceasing publication.<ref>''Shreveport Journal,'' November 1, 1971, editorial, p. 4A.</ref>
Montgomery decried "the loss of confidence in government, ... the thievery in office ... a governor [McKeithen] who appoints political hacks to office" and "the failure of authorities to reign in dope pushers and drunk drivers." Montgomery also singled out "employees who don't work" and "politicians who continually ask for more money without showing any accomplishment in return." He predicted a large turnover in legislative ranks.<ref>Harold Montgomery advertisement, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 27, 1971, p. 7.</ref> Harold also won the endorsement of the then conservative ''[[Shreveport Journal]]'', a newspaper that later moved far to the left politically under [[Moderate Republican]] publisher [[Charles T. Beaird]] before ceasing publication.<ref>''Shreveport Journal,'' November 1, 1971, editorial, p. 4A.</ref>
Montgomery urged voter to support him -- "the Right Montgomery! -- as he referred to himself. Harold Montgomery narrowly won the primary rematch with Jack Montgomery, 14,595 votes (51.2 percent) to 13,889 (48.8 percent),<ref>''Minden Press-Herald," November 8, 1971, p. 1.</ref> and headed back to the state Senate in 1972 to begin his third and final term. Though the vote was close, Harold prevailed district-wide except in Claiborne Parish. After the 1971 primary, neither Harold nor Jack Montgomery again sought public office.
Montgomery urged voter to support him -- "the Right Montgomery! -- as he referred to himself. Harold Montgomery narrowly won the primary rematch with Jack Montgomery, 14,595 votes (51.2 percent) to 13,889 (48.8 percent),<ref>''Minden Press-Herald," November 8, 1971, p. 1.</ref> and headed back to the state Senate in 1972 to begin his third and final term. Though the vote was close, Harold prevailed district-wide except in Claiborne Parish. After the 1971 primary, neither Harold nor Jack Montgomery again sought public office.
Harold Montgomery allied himself with newly elected Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], who had been Montgomery's state Senate colleague in 1964 and 1965. Edwards had personally befriended Harold Montgomery, and Montgomery was hence eager to get along with the new governor, considering his earlier differences with McKeithen. Edwards was a [[pallbearer]] at Montgomery's funeral; Montgomery died in the final months of Edwards' fourth gubernatorial term.<ref name=obit/>
Harold Montgomery allied himself with newly elected Governor [[Edwin Edwards]], who had been Montgomery's state Senate colleague in 1964 and 1965. Edwards had personally befriended Harold Montgomery, and Montgomery was hence eager to get along with the new governor, considering his earlier differences with McKeithen. Edwards was a [[pallbearer]] at Montgomery's funeral; Montgomery died in the final months of Edwards' fourth gubernatorial term.<ref name=obit/>
Hal Montgomery said that his father did not approve of Edwards' flamboyant lifestyle but thought that Edwards was "a great governor who did as much for the state as any other who ever held the office." In the late 1970s, Louisiana was leading the nation in industrial recruitment. In the 1980s, as the jobs picture improved nationwide, the state economy took a downturn in Louisiana. Some noted that industrial recruitment was most successful when directed by Lieutenant Governor [[Jimmy Fitzmorris|James Edward Fitzmorris, Jr.]], whose two terms coincided with Edwards' first terms as governor. Still, Fitzmorris had handled industrial recruitment in the administration of the first Louisiana Republican governor [[David C. Treen]].
Hal Montgomery said that his father did not approve of Edwards' flamboyant lifestyle but thought that Edwards was "a great governor who did as much for the state as any other who ever held the office." In the late 1970s, Louisiana was leading the nation in industrial recruitment. In the 1980s, as the jobs picture improved nationwide, the state economy took a downturn in Louisiana. Some noted that industrial recruitment was most successful when directed by Lieutenant Governor [[Jimmy Fitzmorris|James Edward Fitzmorris, Jr.]], whose two terms coincided with Edwards' first terms as governor. Still, Fitzmorris had handled industrial recruitment in the administration of the first Louisiana Republican governor [[David C. Treen]].
Hal Montgomery said that while his father and Jack Montgomery were "not friends" when the 1967 campaign began, they were "not enemies" after Harold Montgomery's return to the state senate.
Hal Montgomery also said that while his father and Jack Montgomery were "not friends" when the 1967 campaign began, they were "not enemies" after Harold Montgomery's return to the state senate.
Hal Montgomery said that politics was frequently discussed in the Montgomery household when he was growing up in the 1960s, but he never shared his father's interests in politics and government service. Hal Montgomery still operated the hardware store in Ruston after his father was no longer able to do so.
Hal Montgomery said that politics was frequently discussed in the Montgomery household when he was growing up in the 1960s, but he never shared his father's interests in politics and government service. Hal Montgomery still operated the hardware store in Ruston after his father was no longer able to do so.
===The Religious Right===
===The Religious Right===
Harold Montgomery for a time supported the Reverend Billy James Hargis' Christian Crusade radio and college ministry, which operated during the 1960s and 1970s from [[Tulsa]], [[Oklahoma]]. Hargis often cited Montgomery by name on his [[radio]] broadcasts. A forerunner of what became known as the "Religious Right," Hargis and Montgomery also shared a hostility to communism. Hargis ran into morals allegations, which dampened his ministry in 1976. Hargis's son, Billy James Hargis, Jr., (1954-2013), conducted a reduced version of his father's ministry in Houston, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?pid=167026139|title=Billy Hargis obituary|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|date=September 19, 2013|accessdate=July 14, 2020}}</ref>
Harold Montgomery for a time supported the Reverend Billy James Hargis' Christian Crusade radio and college ministry, which operated during the 1960s and 1970s from [[Tulsa]], [[Oklahoma]]. Hargis often cited Montgomery by name on his [[radio]] broadcasts. A forerunner of what became known as the "Religious Right," Hargis and Montgomery also shared a hostility to communism. Hargis ran into morals allegations, which dampened his ministry in 1976. Hargis's son, Billy James Hargis, Jr., (1954-2013), conducted a reduced version of his father's ministry in Houston, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?pid=167026139|title=Billy Hargis obituary|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|date=September 19, 2013|accessdate=July 14, 2020}}</ref>