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In 1963, Montgomery had supported Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[John J. McKeithen]] in the Democratic  runoff election against Chep Morrison. Then he quietly supported McKeithen's Republican opponent, [[Charlton Lyons]], a Shreveport [[oil]]man, in the general election held on  March 3, 1964. In time, Montgomery and McKeithen were consistently at political odds.​

In 1963, Montgomery had supported Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[John J. McKeithen]] in the Democratic  runoff election against Chep Morrison. Then he quietly supported McKeithen's Republican opponent, [[Charlton Lyons]], a Shreveport [[oil]]man, in the general election held on  March 3, 1964. In time, Montgomery and McKeithen were consistently at political odds.​

The next year, Montgomery was elected chairman of the Louisiana Committee for Free Electors, an organization that grew from a meeting of some two hundred conservative Democrats in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]]. Two representatives from each congressional district were chosen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jfk-online.com/jpsgblpjg.html|author=Jerry P. Shinley Archive|publisher=jfk-online.com|accessdate=August 17, 2010}}</ref> The free elector movement, however, was abandoned with the nomination in July 1964 of [[U.S. Senator]] [[Barry  Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]] as the Republican presidential nominee.<ref>Glen Jeansonne, ''Leander Perez of Louisiana,'' pp. 322-327, for discussion on free elector movement.</ref>

The next year, Montgomery was elected chairman of the Louisiana Committee for Free Electors, an organization that grew from a meeting of some two hundred conservative Democrats in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]]. Two representatives from each congressional district were chosen. The free elector movement, however, was abandoned with the nomination in July 1964 of [[U.S. Senator]] [[Barry  Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]] as the Republican presidential nominee.<ref>Glen Jeansonne, ''Leander Perez of Louisiana,'' pp. 322-327, for discussion on free elector movement.</ref>

In a state Senate speech, Montgomery excoriated [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] after Johnson signed into law the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. The address highlighted Johnson's long political life and declared him a "political thief," an "habitual liar," and "not worthy of your respect or mine." Montgomery said that Johnson should run for election under the skunk symbol, instead of the Democratic donkey emblem (the rooster in Louisiana).<ref name=blastjohnson>"Montgomery blasts Johnson in speech on Senate floor", ''Shreveport Journal,'' July 8, 1964, p. 1.</ref> Montgomery's Senate colleague, Jamar William Adcock (1917-1991) of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], disputed the remarks: "Lyndon Johnson is our president, and I will respect him and the office of President."<ref name=blastjohnson/> Montgomery pitched a tent on the state Capitol grounds to protest the public accommodations section of the Civil Rights Act after he learned that the hotel in which he had been staying had admitted an African-American couple.<ref name=blastjohnson/><ref>Montgomery-tent photo caption, ''Shreveport Journa,'' July 9, 1964, p. 4A.</ref>​

In a state Senate speech, Montgomery excoriated [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] after Johnson signed into law the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. The address highlighted Johnson's long political life and declared him a "political thief," an "habitual liar," and "not worthy of your respect or mine." Montgomery said that Johnson should run for election under the skunk symbol, instead of the Democratic donkey emblem (the rooster in Louisiana).<ref name=blastjohnson>"Montgomery blasts Johnson in speech on Senate floor", ''Shreveport Journal,'' July 8, 1964, p. 1.</ref> Montgomery's Senate colleague, Jamar William Adcock (1917-1991) of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], disputed the remarks: "Lyndon Johnson is our president, and I will respect him and the office of President."<ref name=blastjohnson/> Montgomery pitched a tent on the state Capitol grounds to protest the public accommodations section of the Civil Rights Act after he learned that the hotel in which he had been staying had admitted an African-American couple.<ref name=blastjohnson/><ref>Montgomery-tent photo caption, ''Shreveport Journa,'' July 9, 1964, p. 4A.</ref>​